Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Preliminary Risk Assessments

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
 [Federal Register: January 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 8)]
[Notices]
[Page 1867-1869]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja00-72]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-34214; FRL-6486-9]


Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Preliminary Risk
Assessments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of documents that were
developed as part of the EPA's process for making reregistration
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for
tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of
1996 (FQPA). These documents are the preliminary human health risk
assessments and related documents for mevinphos and phosalone. This
notice also starts a 60-day public comment period for the preliminary
risk assessments. Comments are to be limited to issues directly
associated with the two organophosphates that have the risk assessments
placed in the docket and should be limited to issues raised in those
documents. By allowing access and opportunity for comment on the
preliminary risk assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder
involvement and help ensure our decisions under FQPA are transparent
and based on the best available information. The tolerance reassessment
process will ensure that the United States continues to have the safest
and most abundant food supply. The Agency cautions that these risk
assessments are preliminary assessments only and that further
refinements of the risk assessments will be appropriate for some, if
not all, of these organophosphate pesticides. These documents reflect
only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced
and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or
additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may
change.

DATES: Comments on these assessments, identified by the docket control
number for the particular organophosphate pesticide of interest, must
be received on or before March 13, 2000. Use the table in Unit I.C. of
the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' to determine the docket control
number.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit I. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify the docket
control number for the particular organophosphate pesticide of interest
in the subject line on the first page of your response. Use the table
in Unit I.C. to determine the docket control number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Special Review and
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8004; e-
mail address: angulo.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, nevertheless, a
wide range of stakeholders will be interested in obtaining the
preliminary risk assessments for mevinphos and phosalone, including
environmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical
industry; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the
use of pesticides on food. Since other entities 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 Additional Information, Including Copies of this
Document and Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this
document, and certain other related documents that might be available
electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/.
On the Home Page select

[[Page 1868]]

``Laws and Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document
under the ``Federal Register--Environmental Documents.'' You can also
go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/
fedrgstr/. In addition, copies of the preliminary risk assessments for
the two organophosphate pesticides may also be accessed at http://
www.epa.gov/pesticides/op.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for
this action under docket control number OPP-34215 for mevinphos, and
OPP-34216 for phosalone. The official record consists of the documents
specifically referenced in this action, and other information related
to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential
Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents
that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents
that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the
official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The
public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper
versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable
comment period is available for inspection in the Public Information
and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is
(703) 305-5805.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that
you identify the docket control number for the particular
organophosphate pesticide of interest in the subject line on the first
page of your response. Use the following table to determine the docket
control number:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Chemical                         OPP Docket no.
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Mevinphos                                   OPP-34215
Phosalone                                   OPP-34216
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    1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection
Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20460.
    2.  In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources
and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    3. Electronically. You may submit your comments electronically by
e-mail to: ``opp-docket@epa.gov,'' or you can submit a computer disk as
described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you
consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of
encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect 6.1/
8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be
identified by docket control number OPP-34215 for mevinphos, and OPP-
34216 for phosalone. Electronic comments may also be filed online at
many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI That I Want to Submit to the Agency?

    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to
this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete
version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,
please consult the person listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.''

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this
document.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
control number assigned to the organophosphate pesticide of interest in
the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also
provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

II. Background

     EPA is making available preliminary risk assessments that have
been developed as part of EPA's process for making reregistration
eligibility decisions for the organophosphate pesticides and for
tolerance reassessments consistent with the FFDCA, as amended by the
FQPA. The Agency's preliminary risk assessments for two organophosphate
pesticides are available in the individual organophosphate pesticide
dockets: Mevinphos and phosalone.
     Included in the individual organophosphate pesticide dockets are
the Agency's preliminary risk assessments. As additional comments,
reviews, and risk assessment modifications become available, these will
also be docketed for the two organophosphate pesticides listed in this
notice. The Agency cautions that these risk assessments are preliminary
assessments only and that further refinements of the risk assessments
will be appropriate for the two organophosphate pesticides. These
documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time
they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information
becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the
conclusions they contain may change.
     As the preliminary risk assessments for the remaining
organophosphate pesticides are completed and registrants are given a
30-day review period to identify possible computational or other clear
errors in the risk assessments, these risk assessments and registrant
responses will be placed in the individual organophosphate pesticide
dockets. A notice of availability for subsequent assessments will
appear in the Federal Register.
     The Agency is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide written

[[Page 1869]]

comments and input to the Agency on the preliminary risk assessments
for the pesticides specified in this notice. Such comments and input
could address, for example, the availability of additional data to
further refine the risk assessments, such as percent crop treated
information or submission of residue data from food processing studies,
or could address the Agency's risk assessment methodologies and
assumptions as applied to these specific chemicals. Comments should be
limited to issues raised within the preliminary risk assessments and
associated documents. EPA will provide other opportunities for public
comment on other science issues associated with the organophosphate
pesticide tolerance reassessment program. Failure to comment on any
such issues as part of this opportunity will in no way prejudice or
limit a commenter's opportunity to participate fully in later notice
and comment processes. All comments should be submitted by March 13,
2000 at the address given under Unit I. Comments will become part of
the Agency record for each individual organophosphate pesticide to
which they pertain.

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Chemicals, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: January 5, 2000.

Lois Rossi,

Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 00-627 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
Organophosphate Pesticides; Availability of Preliminary Risk Assessments

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