[Federal Register: May 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 84)]
[Notices]
[Page 24300-24301]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my07-59]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0874; FRL-8126-9]
Chlorflurenol; Reregistration Eligibility Decision
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide
chlorflurenol. The Agency's risk assessments and other related
documents also are available in the chlorflurenol docket. Chlorflurenol
is an herbicide and a plant growth regulator registered for use in
agricultural, commercial, and residential settings. Chlorflurenol has
no food/feed uses and, therefore, has no tolerances associated with its
use. EPA has reviewed chlorflurenol through the public participation
process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing
pesticide reregistration decisions. Through these programs, EPA is
ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy L. Perry, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-1028; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: perry.tracy@epa.gov.
[[Page 24301]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution,
or use of pesticides. Since others also may be interested, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0874. Publicly
available docket materials are available either in the electronic
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard
copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal
Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The Docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register
document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal
Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.
II. Background
A. What Action is the Agency Taking?
Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA
has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the
pesticide, chlorflurenol under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
Chlorflurenol is a plant growth regulator and an herbicide with no
food/feed uses and, therefore, no tolerances associated with its use.
It is used for the postemergent control of broadleaf weeds in turf, and
to retard the growth of ornamental turf/trees, and vegetation in
nonagricultural rights-of-way and forest management areas.
Chlorflurenol is also used to stimulate the growth of pineapple
planting material or sliplets. The Agency does not consider this use on
pineapples to be a food use, as the first harvest from chlorflurenol-
treated planting material occurs well over one year after planting. EPA
has determined that the data base to support reregistration is
sufficently complete and that products containing chlorflurenol are
eligible for reregistration, provided that the risk mitigation measures
identified in the RED document are adopted and label amendments are
made to reflect these measures. Upon submission of any required product
specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) and any necessary changes to the
registration and labeling (either to address concerns identified in the
RED or as a result of product specific data), EPA will make a final
reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C) for products
containing chlorflurenol.
EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The
Agency's Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public
Participation Process, published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2004, (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9) explains that in conducting these
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide.
Due to its uses, risks, and other factors, chlorflurenol was reviewed
through the modified 4-Phase public participation process. Through this
process, EPA worked extensively with stakeholders and the public to
reach the regulatory decisions for chlorflurenol.
The reregistration program is being conducted under Congressionally
mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both to make timely
decisions and to involve the public. Few substantive comments were
received during the Phase 3, 60-day comment period for chlorflurenol,
and all issues related to this pesticide were resolved through
consultations with stakeholders. The Agency therefore is issuing the
chlorflurenol RED without a comment period.
B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA as amended, directs that, after submission
of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product
specific data on individual end-use products and either reregistering
products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory action.''
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: April 25, 2007.
Peter Caulkins,
Acting Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-8265 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S