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Sethoxydim; Pesticide Tolerances

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PDF Version (6 pp, 156K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: July 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 132)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39256-39261]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jy08-17]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0893; FRL-8370-9]

Sethoxydim; Pesticide Tolerances

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

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for combined residues
of sethoxydim and its metabolites containing the 2-cyclohexen-1-one
moiety, in or on various oilseed commodities. Interregional Research
Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is effective July 9, 2008. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before September 8, 2008,
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0893. To access the
electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced
Search,'' then ``Docket Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where
indicated and select the ``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on
the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access
available documents. All documents in the docket are listed in the
docket index available in regulations.gov. Although listed in the
index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or,
if only available in hard copy, at the OPP Regulatory Public Docket in
Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr.,
Arlington, VA. The Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Stanton, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone
number: (703) 305-5218; e-mail address: stanton.susan@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer.
Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to those
engaged in the following activities:
    • Crop production (NAICS code 111).

[[Page 39257]]

    • Animal production (NAICS code 112).
    • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
    • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to
provide a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by
this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in
determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. 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 Access Electronic Copies of this Document?

    In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal
Register document through the electronic docket at http://
www.regulations.gov, you may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a
frequently updated electronic version of EPA's tolerance regulations at
40 CFR part 180 through the Government Printing Office's pilot e-CFR
site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.

C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request?

    Under section 408(g) of FFDCA, any person may file an objection to
any aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those
objections. You must file your objection or request a hearing on this
regulation in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0893 in the subject line on the first page of
your submission. All requests must be in writing, and must be mailed or
delivered to the Hearing Clerk as required by 40 CFR part 178 on or
before September 8, 2008.
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of
the filing that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public
docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA
without prior notice. Submit this copy, identified by docket ID number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0893, by one of the following methods:
    • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    • Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
    • Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South
Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

II. Petition for Tolerance

    In the Federal Register of September 28, 2007 (72 FR 55204) (FRL-
8147-1), EPA issued a notice pursuant to section 408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21
U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP
7E7232) by Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4), 500 College
Road East, Suite 201W, Princeton, NJ 08540. The petition requested that
40 CFR 180.412 be amended by establishing tolerances for combined
residues of the herbicide sethoxydim, 2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-
(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one, and its metabolites
containing the 2-cyclohexen-1-one moiety (calculated as the herbicide),
in or on cuphea, seed at 35.0 parts per million (ppm); echium, seed at
35.0 ppm; gold of pleasure, seed at 35.0 ppm; gold of pleasure, meal at
40.0 ppm; hare's ear mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; lesquerella, seed at
35.0 ppm; lunaria, seed at 35.0 ppm; meadowfoam, seed at 35.0 ppm;
milkweed, seed at 35.0 ppm; mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; oil radish, seed
at 35.0 ppm; poppy, seed at 35.0 ppm; sesame, seed at 35.0 ppm; sweet
rocket, seed at 35.0 ppm; crambe, seed at 35.0 ppm; and crambe, meal at
40.0 ppm. That notice referenced a summary of the petition prepared by
BASF, the registrant, on behalf of IR-4, which is available to the
public in the docket, http://www.regulations.gov. There were no
comments received in response to the notice of filing.

III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure.
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue....''
    Consistent with section 408(b)(2)(D) of FFDCA, and the factors
specified in section 408(b)(2)(D) of FFDCA, EPA has reviewed the
available scientific data and other relevant information in support of
this action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to
make a determination on aggregate exposure for the petitioned-for
tolerances for combined residues of sethoxydim and its metabolites
containing the 2-cyclohexen-1-one moiety on crambe, meal at 40.0 ppm;
crambe, seed at 35.0 ppm; cuphea, seed at 35.0 ppm; echium, seed at
35.0 ppm; gold of pleasure, meal at 40.0 ppm; gold of pleasure, seed at
35.0 ppm; hare's ear mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; lesquerella, seed at
35.0 ppm; lunaria, seed at 35.0 ppm; meadowfoam, seed at 35.0 ppm;
milkweed, seed at 35.0 ppm; mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; oil radish, seed
at 35.0 ppm; poppy, seed at 35.0 ppm; sesame, seed at 35.0 ppm; and
sweet rocket, seed at 35.0 ppm. EPA's assessment of exposures and risks
associated with establishing these tolerances follows.

A. Toxicological Profile

    EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of
the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered
available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities
of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and
children.
    The acute toxicity data indicate that sethoxydim is minimally toxic
via oral, dermal and inhalation routes of exposure. It is neither
irritating to the eye nor the skin. With repeated dosing, the primary
target organ for this chemical is the liver. In the chronic toxicity
study in dogs, there were significantly increased absolute and

[[Page 39258]]

relative liver weights accompanied by supportive clinical chemistry and
histopathology. Dose-related clinical chemistry abnormalities were
observed in both sexes and included increased alkaline phosphatase and
aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and decreased albumin and cholesterol
synthesis. Dose-related histopathologic lesions were found in the
liver, spleen and bone marrow. A mild hepatocellular cytoplasmic
alteration was found in males at all doses and in females at the mid
and high doses. Adverse liver effects were also observed via the oral
route in mice and via the inhalation route in rats. There was no
evidence of carcinogenicity in studies in rats and mice and no evidence
of mutagencity, immunotoxicity or endocrine disruption in the toxicity
database for sethoxydim. In the prenatal developmental studies in rats
and rabbits and reproductive toxicity study in rats, the primary
effects noted in the young were fetal skeletal variations and decreases
in body weight. Although effects suggestive of neurotoxicity were noted
in adult and young rats in the developmental and/or reproductive
toxicity studies, EPA has concluded that sethoxydim is not a neurotoxic
chemical. The weight of evidence EPA considered in making this
determination is discussed in more detail in Unit III.D.3.ii.
    Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the
toxic effects caused by sethoxydim as well as the no-observed-adverse-
effect-level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level
(LOAEL) from the toxicity studies can be found in the final rule
published in the Federal Register of September 29, 2003 (68 FR 55858)
(FRL-7238-6)(http://www.epa.gov/EPA-PEST/2003/September/Day-29/
p24562.htm).

B. Toxicological Endpoints

    For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no
appreciable risk, a toxicological point of departure (POD) is
identified as the basis for derivation of reference values for risk
assessment. The POD may be defined as the NOAEL in the toxicology study
identified as appropriate for use in risk assessment. However, if a
NOAEL cannot be determined, the LOAEL or a Benchmark Dose (BMD)
approach is sometimes used for risk assessment. Uncertainty/safety
factors (UFs) are used in conjunction with the POD to take into account
uncertainties inherent in the extrapolation from laboratory animal data
to humans and in the variations in sensitivity among members of the
human population as well as other unknowns. Safety is assessed for
acute and chronic dietary risks by comparing aggregate food and water
exposure to the pesticide to the acute population adjusted dose (aPAD)
and chronic population adjusted dose (cPAD). The aPAD and cPAD are
calculated by dividing the POD by all applicable UFs. Aggregate short-
term, intermediate-term, and chronic-term risks are evaluated by
comparing food, water, and residential exposure to the POD to ensure
that the margin of exposure (MOE) called for by the product of all
applicable UFs is not exceeded. This latter value is referred to as the
Level of Concern (LOC).
    For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes that any amount of
exposure will lead to some degree of risk. Thus, the Agency estimates
risk in terms of the probability of an occurrence of the adverse effect
greater than that expected in a lifetime. For more information on the
general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete
description of the risk assessment process, see http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm.
    A summary of the toxicological endpoints for sethoxydim used for
human risk assessment can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in the
document Sethoxydim: Amended human health risk assessment to support
uses on the Rapeseed Crop Subgroup 20A at page 10 in docket ID number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0893.

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary
exposure to sethoxydim, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-
for tolerances as well as all existing sethoxydim tolerances in 40 CFR
180.412. EPA assessed dietary exposures from sethoxydim in food as
follows:
    i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk
assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide if a toxicological
study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure.
    In estimating acute dietary exposure, EPA used food consumption
information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
1994-1996 and 1998 Nationwide Continuing Surveys of Food Intake by
Individuals (CSFII). As to residue levels in food, EPA assumed that 100
percent of all crops with existing or pending tolerances are treated
with sethoxydim and contain tolerance-level residues.
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure
assessment EPA used the food consumption data from the USDA 1994-1996
and 1998 CSFII. As to residue levels in food, EPA assumed that 100
percent of all crops with existing or pending tolerances are treated
with sethoxydim and contain tolerance-level residues.
    iii. Cancer. Based on the results of carcinogenicity studies in
rats and mice, EPA classified sethoxydim as ``not likely to be
carcinogenic to humans''; therefore, an exposure assessment for
evaluating cancer risk is not needed for this chemical.
    iv. Anticipated residue and percent crop treated (PCT) information.
EPA did not use anticipated residue or PCT information in the dietary
assessment for sethoxydim. Tolerance level residues and 100 PCT were
assumed for all food commodities.
    2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency used screening
level water exposure models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk
assessment for sethoxydim in drinking water. These simulation models
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/transport
characteristics of sethoxydim. Further information regarding EPA
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be
found at http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/index.htm.
    Based on the First Index Reservoir Screening Tool (FIRST) and
Screening Concentration in Ground Water (SCI-GROW) models, the
estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of sethoxydim for acute
exposures are estimated to be 130 parts per billion (ppb) for surface
water and 1.5 ppb for ground water; and for chronic exposures for non-
cancer assessments are estimated to be 16 ppb for surface water and 1.5
ppb for ground water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly
entered into the dietary exposure model. For acute dietary risk
assessment, the water concentration value of 130 ppb was used to assess
the contribution to drinking water. For chronic dietary risk
assessment, the water concentration of value 16 ppb was used to assess
the contribution to drinking water.
    3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary
exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control,
termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets).
    Sethoxydim is currently registered for the following uses that
could result in residential exposures: Ornamentals and flowering
plants, recreational areas, and buildings/structures (outdoor). EPA
assessed residential handler and

[[Page 39259]]

postapplication exposures using the following assumptions:
    Homeowners who apply sethoxydim to ornamental gardens and turf may
be exposed for short-term durations via the dermal and inhalation
routes. Dermal endpoints of concern were not identified for sethoxydim;
therefore, dermal exposure and risk assessments are not appropriate.
Short-term inhalation exposure was assessed for residential handlers
who mix, load and apply liquid sethoxydim products using low-pressure
hand wands, backpack sprayers and garden hose-end sprayers.
    Sethoxydim can be used in areas, such as home lawns, that may be
frequented by adults and children. There is potential for dermal
exposure of adults and children as well as incidental oral exposure of
children following application of sethoxydim to such areas. Post-
application inhalation exposure of adults and children is expected to
be negligible. Since there are no dermal endpoints of concern for
sethoxydim, only post-application incidental oral exposure of children
was assessed. EPA assessed incidental oral exposure of toddlers from
hand-to-mouth, object-to-mouth and incidental soil ingestion activities
using Standard Operating Procedures for Residential Exposure Assessments.
    4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when
considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the
Agency consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative
effects of a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances
that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA has not found sethoxydim to share a common mechanism of
toxicity with any other substances, and sethoxydim does not appear to
produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the
purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that
sethoxydim does not have a common mechanism of toxicity with other
substances. For information regarding EPA's efforts to determine which
chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the
cumulative effects of such chemicals, see EPA's website at 
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.

D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children

    1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(c) of FFDCA provides that EPA
shall apply an additional tenfold (10X) margin of safety for infants
and children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal
and postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the database on toxicity
and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a
different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. This
additional margin of safety is commonly referred to as the FQPA safety
factor (SF). In applying this provision, EPA either retains the default
value of 10X, or uses a different additional safety factor when
reliable data available to EPA support the choice of a different factor.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. The prenatal and postnatal
toxicity database for sethoxydim includes rat and rabbit developmental
toxicity studies and a 2-generation reproduction toxicity study in
rats. There was no evidence of increased quantitative or qualitative
susceptibility of in utero rabbit fetuses following exposure to
sethoxydim in the rabbit developmental study; however, evidence of
increased susceptibility was noted in the rat developmental and
reproduction toxicity studies as described below:
    There was some evidence of qualitative susceptibility in the rat
developmental study with the occurrence of more severe effects in the
fetuses (delayed ossification and tail abnormalities) than in the
maternal animals (transient clinical signs including: Irregular gait
and decreased activity) at the same dose. The degree of concern for
increased susceptibility in this study is low and there are no residual
uncertainties for the following reasons: The effects in the pups were
of low incidence and only observed at a high dose that is considered to
be close to a limit dose. In addition, these effects were seen in the
presence of clear maternal toxicity and clear NOAELs and LOAELs were
established for both maternal and developmental toxicities.
    In the 2-generation reproduction study in rats, pups showed
decreases in body weight (11 to 13%) during lactation at the high dose.
At the same dose, adult female animals exhibited body weight losses (8
to 10%) that are considered too small to qualify as an adverse effect.
The determination that body weight effects occurred in pups at a dose
that did not result in maternal toxicity is technically an indication
of quantitative susceptibility. However, the degree of concern for the
body weight changes in pups is low, since the weight changes are
considered minimal and the differences observed in body weight losses
between the adult and young animals are marginal. Characterization of
the body weight changes as an adverse effect in the pups is considered
conservative (protective).
    3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show the
safety of infants and children would be adequately protected if the FQPA
SF were reduced to 1X. That decision is based on the following findings:
    i. The toxicity database for sethoxydim is complete.
    ii. Sethoxydim is not considered to be a neurotoxic chemical and
there is no need for a developmental neurotoxicity study or additional
UFs to account for neurotoxicity. Clinical signs suggestive of
neurotoxicity (including irregular gait, decreased activity, excessive
salivation, and anogenital staining) were observed in adult rats in the
developmental toxicity study. Because the clinical signs occurred
shortly after dosing, only occurred at very high treatment doses (over
one half the limit dose) and were transitory, it is unlikely that the
signs observed are the result of a primary systemic effect on the
nervous system but, rather, are reflective of the general toxicity at a
high dose. An increased incidence of fetal skeletal variations due to
delayed ossification was seen in young rats in the developmental and
reproductive toxicity studies. In the rat prenatal study, tail
abnormalities (filamentous tail or lack of a tail) were noted. These
abnormalities were observed at a very low incidence and at high
treatment doses. In the 2-generation reproduction study in rats, a tail
anomaly (short, thread-like tail, no anal opening, hindlimbs curved
toward central midline) was found in one pup in the F2b generation (1/
344 total pups; in 1/4 litters). Tail abnormalities are sometimes
thought to relate to central nervous system (CNS) malformations;
however, in this case, these tail abnormalities are not likely to be
the result of a primary neural tube effect. In the rat prenatal study,
there is no description of any effect on neural tube-derived
structures. No other effects suggestive of neurotoxicity were seen in
toxicology studies conducted with sethoxydim. Furthermore,
cyclohexones, the class of compounds that includes sethoxydim, are not
known to cause neurotoxicity or developmental malformations of the
nervous system. Based on the weight of the evidence, EPA concluded that
sethoxydim is not neurotoxic.
    iii. There is no evidence that sethoxydim results in increased
susceptibility in in utero rabbits in the prenatal developmental study.
Although there is qualitative evidence of increased susceptibility in
the prenatal developmental study in rats and equivocal evidence of
quantitative susceptibility in the 2-generation

[[Page 39260]]

reproduction study in rats, the degree of concern is low, and the
Agency did not identify any residual uncertainties after establishing
toxicity endpoints and traditional UFs to be used in the risk
assessment of sethoxydim.
    iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure
databases. The dietary food exposure assessments were performed
assuming 100 PCT and tolerance-level residues. EPA made conservative
(protective) assumptions in the ground and surface water modeling used
to assess exposure to sethoxydim in drinking water. EPA used similarly
conservative assumptions to assess postapplication exposure of children
as well as incidental oral exposure of toddlers. These assessments will
not underestimate the exposure and risks posed by sethoxydim.

E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety

    EPA determines whether acute and chronic pesticide exposures are
safe by comparing aggregate exposure estimates to the aPAD and cPAD.
The aPAD and cPAD represent the highest safe exposures, taking into
account all appropriate SFs. EPA calculates the aPAD and cPAD by
dividing the POD by all applicable UFs. For linear cancer risks, EPA
calculates the probability of additional cancer cases given the
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-term, intermediate-term, and
chronic-term risks are evaluated by comparing the estimated aggregate
food, water, and residential exposure to the POD to ensure that the MOE
called for by the product of all applicable UFs is not exceeded.
    1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk assessment takes into
account exposure estimates from acute dietary consumption of food and
drinking water. Using the exposure assumptions discussed in this unit
for acute exposure, the acute dietary exposure from food and water to
sethoxydim will occupy 17% of the aPAD for children, 1 to 2 years old,
the population group receiving the greatest exposure.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to
sethoxydim from food and water will utilize 94% of the cPAD for
children, 1 to 2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest
exposure. Based on the explanation in Unit III.C.3., regarding
residential use patterns, chronic residential exposure to residues of
sethoxydim is not expected.
    3. Short-term risk. Short-term aggregate exposure takes into
account short-term residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food
and water (considered to be a background exposure level). Sethoxydim is
currently registered for uses that could result in short-term
residential exposure and the Agency has determined that it is
appropriate to aggregate chronic exposure through food and water with
short-term residential exposures to sethoxydim, except residential
inhalation exposures. It is not appropriate to aggregate dietary (i.e.,
oral) exposures and inhalation exposures because the toxic effects
identified for the oral and inhalation exposure pathways differ.
    Using the exposure assumptions described in this unit for short-
term exposures, EPA has concluded the combined short-term food, water,
and residential exposures aggregated result in an aggregate MOE of
1,300 for children 1 to 2 years old (toddlers). The aggregate MOE for
children includes food, drinking water and post-application incidental
oral exposures from entering turf areas previously treated with
sethoxydim. Adult residential handler MOEs, based on inhalation
exposure of adults who mix, load and apply liquid sethoxydim products
using low-pressure hand wands, backpack sprayers or garden hose-end
sprayers, range from 1.4 x 10\6\ to 1.6 x 10\6\, with hose-end sprayers
resulting in the lowest MOE. As noted in the previous paragraph, it is
not appropriate to aggregate chronic exposure from food and water with
inhalation exposures. Post-application inhalation exposure of adults
and children is expected to be negligible.
    4. Intermediate-term risk. Intermediate-term aggregate exposure
takes into account intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic
exposure to food and water (considered to be a background exposure
level). Sethoxydim is not registered for any use patterns that would
result in intermediate-term residential exposure. Therefore, the
intermediate-term aggregate risk is the sum of the risk from exposure
to sethoxydim through food and water, which has already been addressed,
and will not be greater than the chronic aggregate risk.
    5. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. EPA has classified
sethoxydim into the category ``Not Likely to be Carcinogenic to
Humans.'' Sethoxydim is not expected to pose a cancer risk.
    6. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result
to the general population, or to infants and children from aggregate
exposure to sethoxydim residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methodology (gas chromatography with flame
photometric detection in the sulfur mode; BASF Wyandotte Corporation's
Method No. 30; 3/15/82; MRID 44864501; Method I, Pesticide Analytical
Methods Vol. II) is available to enforce these oilseed tolerances.

B. International Residue Limits

    There are no CODEX, Canadian or Mexican maximum residue limits
(MRLs) established on the commodities associated with this petition.

V. Conclusion

    Therefore, tolerances are established for combined residues of
sethoxydim, 2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-
2-cyclohexen-1-one, and its metabolites containing the 2-cyclohexen-1-
one moiety, in or on crambe, meal at 40.0 ppm; crambe, seed at 35.0
ppm; cuphea, seed at 35.0 ppm; echium, seed at 35.0 ppm; gold of
pleasure, meal at 40.0 ppm; gold of pleasure, seed at 35.0 ppm; hare's
ear mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; lesquerella, seed at 35.0 ppm; lunaria,
seed at 35.0 ppm; meadowfoam, seed at 35.0 ppm; milkweed, seed at 35.0
ppm; mustard, seed at 35.0 ppm; oil radish, seed at 35.0 ppm; poppy, seed
at 35.0 ppm; sesame, seed at 35.0 ppm; and sweet rocket, seed at 35.0 ppm.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This final rule establishes tolerances under section 408(d) of
FFDCA in response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and
Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this final rule has been
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this final rule is
not subject to Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations
That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of
Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997). This final rule does not contain any information
collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any special
considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to

[[Page 39261]]

Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis
of a petition under section 408(d) of FFDCA, such as the tolerance in
this final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.) do not apply.
    This final rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food
handlers, and food retailers, not States or tribes, nor does this
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions
of section 408(n)(4) of FFDCA. As such, the Agency has determined that
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or
tribal governments, on the relationship between the national government
and the States or tribal governments, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between
the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has
determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR
43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR
67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply to this final rule. In addition,
this final rule does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any
unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law 104-4).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

VII. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report to each House of the Congress and to
the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the
United States prior to publication of this final rule in the Federal
Register. This final rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 30, 2008.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

• Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

• 1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.

• 2. Section 180.412 is amended by alphabetically adding the following
commodities to the table in paragraph (a) to read as follows:

Sec.  180.412  Sethoxydim; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Commodity                        Parts per million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                * * * * *
Crambe, meal.........................................               40.0
Crambe, seed.........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Cuphea, seed.........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Echium, seed.........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Gold of pleasure, meal...............................               40.0
Gold of pleasure, seed...............................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Hare's ear mustard, seed.............................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Lesquerella, seed....................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Lunaria, seed........................................               35.0
Meadowfoam, seed.....................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Milkweed, seed.......................................               35.0
Mustard, seed........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Oil radish, seed.....................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Poppy, seed..........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Sesame, seed.........................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
Sweet rocket, seed...................................               35.0
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. E8-15519 Filed 7-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S

 
 


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