[Federal Register: June 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 26690-26692]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn09-61]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0518; FRL-8414-1]
Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium/Potassium, and Methyl
Bromide; Amendments to Reregistration Eligibility Decisions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 26691]]
SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify certain risk
mitigation measures that were specified in the 2008 Reregistration
Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for the soil fumigant pesticides
chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide. EPA
conducted this reassessment of the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/
potassium, and methyl bromide REDs in response to public comments
received during the comment period, and new data submitted by the
Chloropicrin Manufacturers' Task Force and the California Department of
Pesticide Regulation. Based on the new information received, and in a
continuing effort to mitigate risk, the Agency has made certain
modifications in the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and
methyl bromide REDs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For pesticide-specific information
contact the Chemical Review Manager identified in the Table in Unit II.
For general information contact John Leahy, Special Review and
Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6703; fax number: (703) 308-8090; e-
mail address: leahy.john@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, farm worker, 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 dockets for this action under the
docket ID numbers listed in the Table in Unit II. 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?
Section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) directs EPA to reevaluate existing pesticides to ensure
that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. In 2008,
EPA issued REDs for the soil fumigants chloropicrin, dazomet, metam
sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA.
In response to a notice of availability published in the Federal
Register on July 16, 2008 (73 FR 40871) (FRL-8372-3), the Agency
received substantive comments and new data and/or information from
commenters and the registrant(s). The Agency's response to comments is
available for viewing in the public dockets. The amended chloropicrin,
dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide REDs reflect
changes resulting from Agency consideration of the comments and the new
data received on provisions of the RED, as well as efforts by the
Agency to appropriately mitigate overall risk. The RED amendments for
chloropicrin, dazomet, and metam sodium/potassium, conclude EPA's
reregistration eligibility decision-making process for these
pesticides. For methyl bromide, the RED amendment concludes EPA's
reregistration eligibility decision-making process for the soil uses of
this chemical. Amendments to the commodity uses of methyl bromide will
be concluded in the near future.
Due to the broad scope of these decision documents the Agency put
the documents out for comment in 2008 to allow stakeholders the
opportunity to review and provide comments on issues related to the
implementation of the risk management measures. The Agency received
numerous comments on the RED mitigation measures and has made changes
to the following measures based on a review of the impacts and risks
described in the comments: buffer zones, buffer zone posting,
respiratory protection, tarp perforation and removal, good agricultural
practices, fumigant management plans, fumigant site monitoring,
response information to neighbors, training, and notice to state and
tribal lead agencies. The Agency also received new chloropicrin and
dazomet flux studies and has taken these new studies into consideration
and revised the chloropicrin and dazomet buffer zone tables. The label
table incorporated into the chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/
potassium, and methyl bromide RED amendments includes modifications
which specify label language for the changes to the mitigation measures
described above.
Table--Fumigant Contacts
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Chemical Review
Reregistration Case Name and Manager, Telephone
Number Docket ID Number Number, E-mail
Address
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Chloropicrin, 0040 EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-03 Andrea Carone
50 (703) 308-0122
carone.andrea@epa.
gov
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Dazomet, 2135 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01 Dana L. Friedman
28 (703) 347-8827
friedman.dana@epa.
gov
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Metam Sodium/Potassium, 2390 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01 Karen Santora
25 (703) 347-8781
santora.karen@epa.
gov
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Methyl Bromide, 0335 EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-01 Susan Bartow
23 (703) 603-0065
bartow.susan@epa.g
ov
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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: May 15, 2009.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-12559 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S