[Federal Register: April 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 20661-20662]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap08-56]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0302; FRL-8359-8]
Ethylene Oxide; 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 ethylene oxide (ETO). The
Agency's risk assessments and other related documents also are
available in the ETO Docket. ETO is used to sterilize medical or
laboratory equipment, pharmaceuticals, and aseptic packaging, or to
reduce microbial load on musical instruments, cosmetics, whole and
ground spices or other seasoning materials and artifacts, archival
material or library objects. In North Carolina, ETO is also used to
fumigate beehive equipment (e.g., woodenware boxes and frames) and wax
or plastic combs that are contaminated with the bacteria Paenibacillus
larvae, the cause of American Foulbrood Disease. EPA has
[[Page 20662]]
reviewed ETO 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: Susan Bartow, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 603-0065; fax
number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: bartow.susan@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 and
human health 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-2005-0203. 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. EPA
has completed a RED for the pesticide, ETO under section 4(g)(2)(A) of
FIFRA. ETO is used to sterilize medical or laboratory equipment,
pharmaceuticals, and aseptic packaging, or to reduce microbial load on
musical instruments, cosmetics, whole and ground spices or other
seasoning materials and artifacts, archival material or library
objects. In North Carolina, ETO is also used to fumigate beehive
equipment (e.g., woodenware boxes and frames) and wax or plastic combs
that are contaminated with the bacteria.
Paenibacillus larvae, the cause of American Foulbrood Disease. EPA
has determined that the database to support reregistration is
substantially complete and that products containing ETO 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 ETO.
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, ETO was reviewed through the
full 6-Phase public participation process. Through this process, EPA
worked extensively with stakeholders and the public to reach the
regulatory decisions for ETO.
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. During the reregistration process,
the Agency has provided ample opportunity for public comment and
stakeholder input through a full 6-Phase public participation process.
The Agency therefore is issuing the ETO 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 3, 2008.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-7997 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S