[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3233-3234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-834]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129; FRL-8806-7]
Sulfometuron Methyl Amendment to Reregistration Eligibility
Decision
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify certain risk
mitigation measures that were specified in the 2008 Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the herbicide sulfometuron methyl. EPA
conducted this reassessment of the Sulfometuron Methyl RED in response
to public comments and risk reduction proposals received during the
comment period following the Sulfometuron Methyl RED. Based on the new
information received, and in a continuing effort to mitigate risk, the
Agency has made certain modifications to the Sulfometuron Methyl RED.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rusty Wasem, Pesticide Re-evaluation
Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6979; 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, 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 other parties may also 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?
EPA has established a docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129. Publicly available
docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at
http://www.regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129), or 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.
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 a RED for sulfometuron methyl under section 4(g)(2)(A) of
FIFRA. In response to a notice of availability published in the Federal
Register of November 12, 2008 (73 FR 219) (FRL-8388-5), the Agency
received comments and mitigation proposals submitted by the technical
registrant, user groups, and individuals. The Agency's response to
comments is available for viewing in the docket. The amended
Sulfometuron Methyl RED reflects changes resulting from Agency
consideration of these comments and mitigation proposals. The RED
amendment for sulfometuron methyl concludes EPA's reregistration
eligibility decision making process for this herbicide.
Stakeholder comments, mitigation proposals, and other information
received by the Agency following the publication of the Sulfometuron
Methyl RED allowed EPA to further refine the ecological risk assessment
for non-target plant species and to revise the buffer zone requirements
for sulfometuron methyl. Based on the comments and proposals, EPA also
refined the occupational handler exposure risk estimates and revised
the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for sulfometuron
methyl. The label table incorporated into the Sulfometuron Methyl RED
amendment includes modifications which specify label language for
required application parameters, buffer zones, and PPE requirements.
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 the active
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product
specific data on individual end-use products and
[[Page 3234]]
either reregistering products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory
action.''
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Sulfometuron
methyl.
Dated: January 12, 2010.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.,
Director, Pesticide Re-evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-834 Filed 1-19-10; 8:45 am]
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