[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 5808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2267]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0548; FRL-8863-6]
Petition for a Ban on Triclosan; Notice of Availability;
Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of December 8,
2010 concerning the availability of a petition submitted by Beyond
Pesticides and Food & Water Watch to the Environmental Protection
Agency for review and public comment. The petition asks EPA to use its
authority under various statutes to regulate triclosan. In a letter to
the EPA dated January 22, 2011, Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water
Watch requested a 60 day extension to the comment period. In response
to this request, this document extends the comment period for 60 days,
from February 7, 2011 to April 8, 2011.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPP-2010-0548, must be received on or before April 8, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES
in the Federal Register document of December 8, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy F. McMahon, Antimicrobials
Division (7510P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-6342; e-mail address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document extends the public comment
period established in the Federal Register of December 8, 2010 (75 FR
764613) (FRL-8852-8). In that document, the Agency made available for
review and public comment a petition submitted by Beyond Pesticides and
Food & Water Watch (hereafter referred to as ``the petitioners'') to
the Environmental Protection Agency (hereafter referred to as ``EPA''
or ``the Agency''), asking EPA to use its authority under various
statutes to regulate triclosan. Triclosan is an antimicrobial substance
used in pesticide products, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, and other
consumer products. The petitioners claim that the ``pervasive and
widespread use'' of triclosan poses significant risks to human health
and the environment. In addition, the petitioners claim that the
``agency failed to address the impacts posed by triclosan's degradation
products on human health and the environment, failed to conduct
separate assessments for triclosan residues in contaminated drinking
water and food, and is complacent in seriously addressing concerns
related to antibacterial resistance and endocrine disruption.'' Under
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the petitioners ask EPA
to act to cancel and suspend the registration of pesticides containing
triclosan. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the petitioners request
that the Administrator impose technology-based effluent limitations,
health-based toxic pollutant water quality pretreatment requirements,
and biosolids regulation for triclosan. Under the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA), the petitioners request that the Administrator conduct a
comprehensive assessment of the appropriateness of regulating triclosan
under SDWA. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the petitioners
request that the Administrator comply fully with ESA, including
consultation and biological assessment requirements. In a letter
submitted to the Agency dated January 22, 2011, Beyond Pesticides and
Food & Water Watch requested a 60 day extension to the comment period.
EPA is hereby extending the comment period, which was set to end on
February 7, 2011, to April 8, 2011.
To submit comments, or access the docket, please follow the
detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES in the December 8,
2010 Federal Register document. If you have questions, consult the
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Antimicrobial, Pesticides and pest,
Triclosan, Endocrine.
Dated: January 26, 2011.
Joan Harrigan Farrelly,
Director, Antimicrobials Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-2267 Filed 2-1-11; 8:45 am]
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