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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: December 15, 2000EPA Notice: Organophosphate Pesticides: Availability Of Interim Risk Management Decision DocumentsFederal Register: December 15, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 242) Notices [Page 78488-78490] ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ACTION: Notice SUMMARY: This notice
announces the availability of the interim risk management decision documents
for seven organophosphate and carbamate pesticides: Coumaphos, fenitrothion,
mevinphos, oxamyl, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos. These decision
documents have been developed as part of the public participation process
that EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are now using for involving
the public in the reassessment of pesticide tolerances under the Food
Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and the reregistration of individual
organophosphate pesticides under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: For technical questions on
an IRED or TRED listed, contact the appropriate Chemical Review Manager: 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 interim risk
management decision documents for coumaphos, fenitrothion, mevinphos,
oxamyl, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos, 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 "Laws and Regulations," "Regulations
and Proposed Rules," 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 pesticide interim risk management decision
documents released to the public may also be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/REDs. 2. In person. The Agency has established an official record
for this action under docket control numbers OPP-34236 and OPP-34196B
for coumaphos, OPP-34197B for fenitrothion, OPP-34215B for mevinphos,
OPP-34227A for oxamyl, OPP-34186B for phostebupirim, OPP-34174C for
propetamphos, and OPP-34148B for tribufos. 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. II. What Action is the Agency Taking? EPA has assessed the risks of coumaphos, fenitrothion, mevinphos, oxamyl,
phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos and reached an Interim Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (IRED) or a Report on FQPA Tolerance Reassessment
Progress and Interim Risk Management Decision for these organophosphate
and carbamate pesticides. Provided that risk mitigation measures are adopted,
or in some cases without additional risk mitigation, coumaphos, fenitrothion,
mevinphos, oxamyl, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos fit into
their own risk cups—their individual, aggregate risks are within
acceptable levels. The interim risk management decision documents for coumaphos, fenitrothion,
mevinphos, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos were made through
the organophosphate pesticide pilot public participation process, which
increases transparency and maximizes stakeholder involvement in EPA's
development of risk assessments and risk management decisions. The pilot
public participation process was developed as part of the EPA-USDA Tolerance
Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC), which was established in April
1998, as a subcommittee under the auspices of EPA's National Advisory
Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. A goal of the pilot public
participation process is to find a more effective way for the public to
participate at critical junctures in the Agency's development of organophosphate
pesticide risk assessments and risk management decisions. EPA and USDA
began implementing this pilot process in August 1998, to increase transparency
and opportunities for stakeholder consultation. The interim risk management
decision for oxamyl, a carbamate pesticide, was made through a similar
public participation process. EPA worked extensively with affected parties to reach the decisions presented
in the interim risk management decision documents, which conclude the
pilot public participation process for coumaphos, fenitrothion, mevinphos,
oxamyl, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos. As part of the pilot
public participation process, numerous opportunities for public comment
were offered as these interim risk management decision documents were
being developed. The coumaphos, fenitrothion, mevinphos, oxamyl, phostebupirim,
propetamphos, and tribufos interim risk management decision documents
therefore are issued in final form, without a formal public comment period.
The docket remains open, however, and any comments submitted in the future
will be placed in the public docket. The risk assessments for coumaphos, fenitrothion, mstebupirim, propetamphos,
and tribufos were released to the public through the following notices
published in the Federal Register: EPA's next step under
FQPA is to complete a cumulative risk assessment and risk management decision
encompassing all the organophosphate pesticides, which share a common
mechanism of toxicity. The interim risk management decision documents
on coumaphos, fenitrothion, mevinphos, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and
tribufos cannot be considered final until this cumulative assessment is
complete. The interim risk management decision document for oxamyl cannot
be considered final until EPA completes a cumulative risk assessment and
risk management decision for the carbamate pesticides. When the cumulative
risk assessment for all organophosphate pesticides has been completed,
EPA will issue its final tolerance reassessment decision for coumaphos,
fenitrothion, mevinphos, phostebupirim, propetamphos, and tribufos, and
further risk mitigation measures may be needed. Similarly, when the cumulative
risk assessment for all carbamate pesticides is completed, the Agency
will issue its final tolerance reassessment decision and further risk
mitigation may be needed for oxamyl. List of Subjects Environmental protection,
Chemicals, Pesticides and pests. Dated: December 8,
2000. Federal Register:
December 15, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 242) |
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 Western Integrated Pest Management Center Pest Management Centers are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service |
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