Jump to main content.


Pesticide Tolerances for Halosulfuron

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.


 [Federal Register: December 28, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[PP 3F4193/R2097; FRL-4926-9]
RIN 2070-AB78
 
Pesticide Tolerances for Halosulfuron

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule establishes tolerances for residues of the herbicide 
halosulfuron in or on the raw agricultural commodities corn, field 
grain at 0.1 part per million (ppm); corn, field forage at 0.3 ppm; 
corn, field fodder at 1.5 ppm; grain sorghum (milo) grain at 0.1 ppm; 
grain sorghum (milo) forage at 0.1 ppm; grain sorghum (milo) fodder/
stover at 0.1 ppm; and meat and meat byproducts (cattle, goats, hogs, 
horses, and sheep) at 0.1 ppm. The regulation also establishes 
tolerances to permit indirect or inadvertent residues when present as a 
result of application to field corn and/or grain sorghum (milo) in or 
on soybean seed at 0.5 ppm; soybean forage at 0.5 ppm; soybean hay at 
0.5 ppm; wheat grain at 0.1 ppm; wheat forage at 0.1 ppm; and wheat 
straw at 0.2 ppm. Monsanto Co. requested these regulations to establish 
maximum permissible levels for residues of the herbicide.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation becomes effective December 28, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the 
document control number, [PP 3F4193/R2097], may be submitted to: 
Hearing Clerk (1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. A copy of any objections and hearing 
requests filed with the Hearing Clerk should be identified by the 
document control number and submitted to: Public Response and Program 
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring copy of objections and hearing 
requests to Rm. 1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 
22202. Fees accompanying objections shall be labeled ``Tolerance 
Petition Fees'' and forwarded to: EPA Headquarters Accounting 
Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees), P.O. Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, 
PA 15251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Joanne I. Miller, Product 
Manager (PM-23), Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Rm. 237, CM #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-305-7830.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued a notice, published in the 
Federal Register of November 2, 1994 (59 FR 54910), which announced 
that Monsanto Co. had submitted pesticide petition (PP) 3F4193 to EPA 
requesting that the Administrator, pursuant to section 408(d) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), 
establish tolerances for residues of the herbicide halosulfuron (methyl 
5-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonylaminosulfonyl-3-chloro-
1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, and its metabolites determined as 
3-chloro-1-methyl-5-sulfamoylpyrazole-4-carboxylic acid and expressed 
as parent equivalents), in or on the raw agricultural commodities corn, 
field grain at 0.1 part per million (ppm); corn, field forage at 0.3 
ppm; corn, field fodder at 1.5 ppm; grain sorghum (milo) grain at 0.1 
ppm; grain sorghum (milo) forage at 0.1 ppm; grain sorghum (milo) 
fodder/stover at 0.1 ppm; and meat and meat byproducts (cattle, goats, 
hogs, horses, and sheep) at 0.1 ppm. The petition also requested that 
EPA establish tolerances to permit indirect or inadvertent residues 
when present as a result of application to field corn and/or grain 
sorghum (milo) in or on soybean seed at 0.5 ppm; soybean forage at 0.5 
ppm; soybean hay at 0.5 ppm; wheat grain at 0.1 ppm; wheat forage at 
0.1 ppm; and wheat straw at 0.2 ppm. This notice was published as an 
amendment to the original notice that was published in the Federal 
Register of October 21, 1993 (58 FR 54354).
    There were no comments received in response to the notices of 
filing. The scientific data submitted in the petition and other 
relevant material have been evaluated. The toxicological data 
considered in support of the tolerance include:
  1. Acute toxicological studies placing the technical-grade halosulfuron in Toxicity Category III.
  2. A 90-day feeding study in rats resulted in a lowest-observedeffect level (LOEL) of 497 mg/kg/day in males and 640 mg/kg/day in females, and a no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of 116 mg/kg/day in males and 147 mg/kg/day in females.
  3. A 21-day dermal toxicity study in rats resulted in a NOEL of 100 mg/kg/day in males and greater than 1,000 mg/kg/day in females. The only treatment-related effect was a decrease in body weight gain of the 1,000 mg/kg/day group in males.
  4. A 1-year chronic oral study in dogs resulted in a LOEL of 40 mg/ kg/day based on decreased weight gain and a NOEL of 10 mg/kg/day for systemic toxicity.
  5. A 78-week carcinogenicity study was performed on mice. Males in the 971.6 mg/kg/day group had decreased body weight gains and an increased incidence of microconcretion/ mineralization in the testis and epididymis. No treatment-related effects were noted in females. Based on these results, a LOEL of 971.9 mg/kg/day was established in males and NOEL's of 410 mg/kg/day in males and 1,214.6 mg/kg/day in females were established. The study showed no evidence of carcinogenicity.
  6. A combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study in rats resulted in a LOEL of 225.2 mg/kg/day in males and 138.6 mg/kg/day in females based on decreased body weight gains, and a NOEL of 108.3 mg/ kg/day in males and 56.3 mg/kg/day in females. The study showed no evidence of carcinogenicity.
  7. A developmental toxicity study in rats resulted in a developmental LOEL of 750 mg/kg/day, based on decreases in mean litter size and fetal body weight, and increases in resorptions, resorptions/ dam, postimplantation loss and in fetal and litter incidences of soft tissue and skeletal variations, and a developmental NOEL of 250 mg/kg/ day. Maternal LOEL was 750 mg/kg/day based on increased incidence of clinical observations, reduced body weight gains, and reduced food consumption and food efficiency. The maternal NOEL was 250 mg/kg/day.
  8. A developmental toxicity study in rabbits resulted in a developmental LOEL of 150 mg/kg/day, based on decreased mean litter size and increases in resorptions, resorptions/dam and postimplantation loss, and a developmental NOEL of 50 mg/kg/day. The maternal LOEL was 150 mg/kg/day based on reduced body weight gain and reduced food consumption and food efficiency. The maternal NOEL was 50 mg/kg/day.
  9. A dietary two-generation reproduction study in rats resulted in parental toxicity at 223.2 mg/kg/day in males and 261.4 mg/kg/day in females in the form of decreased body weights, decreased body weight gains, and reduced food consumption during the premating period. Very slight effects were noted in body weight of the offspring at this dose. This effect was considered to be developmental toxicity (developmental delay) rather than a reproductive effect. No effects were noted on reproductive or other developmental toxicity parameters. The systemic/ developmental toxicity LOEL was 223.2 mg/kg/day in males and 261.4 mg/ kg/day in females; the systemic/developmental toxicity NOEL was 50.4 mg/kg/day in males and 58.7 mg/kg/day in females. The reproductive LOEL was greater than 223.2 mg/kg/day in males and 261.4 mg/kg/day in females; the reproductive NOEL was equal to or greater than 223.2 mg/ kg/day in males and 261.4 mg/kg/day in females.
  10. Bacterial/mammalian microsomal mutagenicity assays were performed and found not to be mutagenic.
  11. Two mutagenicity studies were performed to test gene mutation and found to produce no chromosal aberrations or gene mutations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells.
  12. An in vivo mouse micronucleus assay did not cause a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow cells.
  13. A mutagenicity study was performed on rats and found not to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary rat hepatocytes.
  14. A metabolism study in rats resulted in the administered dose being absorbed rapidly and incompletely. Most of the test article was eliminated by urine and feces within 72 hours, and appeared to be independent of dose and sex.
The Office of Pesticide Programs' Health Effects Division's Carcinogenicity Peer Review Committee (CPRC) has classified halosulfuron in Group E (no evidence of carcinogenicity) under the Agency's ``Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment'' published in the Federal Register of September 24, 1986 (51 FR 33992). In its evaluation, CPRC gave consideration to body weight gain changes and changes in hematological and blood chemistry parameters in the 1-year feeding study in dogs. The Reference Dose (RfD) is established at 0.1 mg/kg/day, based on a NOEL of 10 mg/kg/day from the 1-year feeding study in dogs and an uncertainty factor of 100. The Theoretical Maximum Residue Contribution (TMRC) from the current action is estimated at 0.00051 mg/kg of body weight/day for the general population, and utilizes less than 112f the RfD for the U.S. population. The TMRC for the most exposed subgroups is 0.00117 mg/kg body weight/day for nonnursing infants (less than 1 year old) and 0.00101 mg/kg body weight/day for children (1 to 6 years old), or 1 percent of the RfD for both groups. Therefore, no appreciable risk is expected from chronic dietary intake since the RfD is not exceeded for either the general population or any subgroup. The nature of the residue is adequately understood for the purposes of the tolerance. An adequate analytical method, gas chromatography with an electron capture detector, is available for enforcement purposes. The field corn and grain sorghum (milo) enforcement methodology has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for publication in the Pesticide Analytical Manual, Vol. II (PAM II). Because of the long lead time for publication of the method in PAM II, the analytical methodology is being made available in the interim to anyone interested in pesticide enforcement when requested from: Calvin Furlow, Public Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Rm. 1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703)-305-5232. Any secondary residues occurring in meat byproducts will fall within existing tolerances for these commodities. Tolerances were not deemed necessary on milk, eggs, meat, or fat. The pesticide is considered useful for the purpose for which the tolerances are sought and capable of achieving the intended physical or technical effect. There are currently no actions pending against the registration of this chemical. Based on the information and data considered, the Agency has determined that the tolerances established by amending 40 CFR part 180 will protect the public health. Therefore, the tolerances are established as set forth below. Any person adversely affected by this regulation may, within 30 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register, file written objections to the regulation and may also request a hearing on those objections. Objections and hearing requests must be filed with the Hearing Clerk, at the address given above (40 CFR 178.20). A copy of the objections and/or hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk should be submitted to the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The objections submitted must specify the provisions of the regulation deemed objectionable and the grounds for the objections (40 CFR 178.25). Each objection must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40 CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is requested, the objections must include a statement of the factual issue(s) on which a hearing is requested, the requestor's contentions on such issues, and a summary of any evidence relied upon by the objector (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing will be granted if the Administrator determines that the material submitted shows the following: There is genuine and substantial issue of fact; there is a reasonable possibility that available evidence identified by the requestor would, if established, resolve one or more of such issues in favor of the requestor, taking into account uncontested claims or facts to the contrary; and resolution of the factual issue(s) in the manner sought by the requestor would be adequate to justify the action requested (40 CFR 178.32). Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993), the Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to all the requirements of the Executive Order (i.e., Regulatory Impact Analysis, review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)). Under section 3(f), the order defines ``significant'' as those actions likely to lead to a rule (1) having an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely and materially affecting a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities (also known as ``economically significant''); (2) creating serious inconsistency or otherwise interfering with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) materially altering the budgetary impacts of entitlement, grants, user fees, or loan programs; or (4) raising novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order. Pursuant to the terms of this Executive Order, EPA has determined that this rule is not ``significant'' and is therefore not subject to OMB review. Pursuant to the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Administrator has determined that regulations establishing new tolerances or raising tolerance levels or establishing exemptions from tolerance requirements do not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. A certification statement to this effect was published in the Federal Register of May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180 Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: December 15, 1994. Daniel M. Barolo, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. Therefore, 40 CFR part 180 is amended as follows: PART 180--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows: Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a and 371. 2. By adding new Sec. 180.479, to read as follows: Sec. 180.479 Halosulfuron; tolerances for residues. (a) Tolerances. Tolerances are established for residues of the herbicide halosulfuron, methyl 5-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonylaminosulfonyl-3-chloro-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, and its metabolites determined as 3-chloro-1-methyl-5-sulfamoylpyrazole-4- carboxylic acid and expressed as parent equivalents, in or on the raw agricultural commodities listed below. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Parts per Commodity million ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle, mbyp............................................... 0.1 Corn, field, fodder........................................ 1.5 Corn, field, forage........................................ 0.3 Corn, field, grain......................................... 0.1 Goats, mbyp................................................ 0.1 Hogs, mbyp................................................. 0.1 Horses, mbyp............................................... 0.1 Sheep, mbyp................................................ 0.1 Sorghum, grain, fodder/stover.............................. 0.1 Sorghum, grain, forage..................................... 0.1 Sorghum, grain, grain...................................... 0.1 (b) Indirect or inadvertent tolerances. Tolerances are established for indirect or inadvertent residues of the herbicide halosulfuron, methyl 5-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonylaminosulfonyl-3- chloro-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, and its metabolites determined as 3-chloro-1-methyl-5-sulfamoylpyrazole-4-carboxylic acid and expressed as parent equivalents, in or on the following raw agricultural commodities when present therein as a result of the application of halosulfuron to growing crops: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Parts per Commodity million ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Soybean, forage............................................ 0.5 Soybean, hay............................................... 0.5 Soybean, seed.............................................. 0.5 Wheat, forage.............................................. 0.1 Wheat, grain............................................... 0.1 Wheat, straw............................................... 0.2 [FR Doc. 94-31927 Filed 12-27-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F

 
 


Local Navigation


Jump to main content.