[Federal Register: July 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 40870-40871]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy08-76]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0014; FRL-8373-1]
Tetramethrin; 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 tetramethrin. The Agency's
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the
Tetramethrin Docket. Tetramethrin is a broad spectrum, synthetic
pyrethroid insecticide used to control flying and crawling insects in a
number of commercial, horticultural, and residential areas. EPA has
reviewed tetramethrin through the public participation process that the
Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide
reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these
programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and
safety standards.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Guerry, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (215) 814-2184; fax
number: (215) 814-3113; e-mail address: guerry.jacqueline@epa.gov.
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-2008-0014. 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 Facility 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. On
June 23, 2008, EPA completed a RED for the pesticide, tetramethrin
under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Tetramethrin is a broad-spectrum,
first-generation pyrethroid insecticide used as a rapid knockdown agent
against flying and crawling
[[Page 40871]]
insects. Tetramethrin is used for both indoor and outdoor residential
(including pets and clothes), institutional, industrial, and
horticultural sites. There are no registered food sites. Tetramethrin
is applied by aerosol can, handheld sprayers, foggers, and mechanical
sprayers. EPA has determined that the database to support
reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing
tetramethrin are eligible for reregistration, provided the labels are
amended in the manner described in the RED. Upon submission of any
required product specific data under section 4(g)(2)(B) of FIFRA 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) of FIFRA for products containing tetramethrin.
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, tetramethrin 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 tetramethrin.
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. A public comment period for the
Tetramethrin RED is not needed because all comments received during the
risk assessment public comment period were addressed in the Agency's
response to public comment documents, which are available in the public
docket, and because there are no risks of concern for the registered
use patterns. The Agency therefore is issuing the Tetramethrin 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: July 7, 2008.
Steven Bradbury
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-16016 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S