[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67511-67512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26966]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0343; FRL-8389-3]
Naphthalene 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 naphthalene. The Agency's
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the
naphthalene Docket. Naphthalene is an insecticide used primarily as a
moth repellant. EPA has reviewed naphthalene 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: Molly Clayton, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 603-0522; fax
number: (703) 308-7070; e-mail address: [email protected].
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-2008-0343. Publicly
available docket materials are available either in the electronic
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only
[[Page 67512]]
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. EPA
has completed a RED for the pesticide, naphthalene under section
4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Naphthalene is an insecticide used as a moth
repellant for the protection of wool clothing and as an animal
repellant against nuisance vertebrate pests. Naphthalene products are
formulated as moth balls, flakes, dusts, and granules. All pesticidal
uses of naphthalene are residential; no food or occupational uses are
registered.
EPA has determined that the database to support reregistration is
substantially complete and that products containing naphthalene are
eligible for reregistration, provided the risks are mitigated 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 naphthalene.
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, naphthalene 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 naphthalene.
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 comments were received during
the earlier comment period for this pesticide, and all issues related
to this pesticide were resolved through consultations with
stakeholders. The Agency therefore is issuing the naphthalene 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: November 5, 2008.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-26966 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S