UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON D

.C. , 20460 OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

MEMORANDUM DATE: November 15, 2013 SUBJECT: Abamectin (PC Code 122804): PRD Response to Comments on Registration Review Preliminary Work Plan FROM: Khue Nguyen, Chemical Review Manager Mark Suarez, Acting Team Leader Risk Management and Implementation Branch 1 Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) THROUGH: Neil Anderson, Branch Chief Risk Management and Implementation Branch 1 Pesticide Re -evaluation Division (7508P) TO: Abamectin Registration Review Docket Docket Number: EPA-HQ -OPP-20 13-0360 www.regulations.gov On June 26, 2013 EPA opened a 60-day public comment period on the preliminary work plan (PWP) for the registration review of abamectin

. The comment period ended on August 26, 2013. During the public comment period the Agency received 8 submissions. Comments were submitted by the technical reg i strant, Syngenta Crop Protection, the University of Hawai i at Manoa, the Western Integrated Pest Management Center, the Northwest Horticultural Council, the Washington State Potato Commission, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, the Idaho Potato Commission, and the FIFRA Endangered Species Task Force (FESTF). Below are PRD's responses to those comments pertaining to the use and usage of abamectin or pertaining to the general abamectin registration re view program. Comments regarding the environmental fate or effect s of abamectin have been addressed by the Environmental Fate and Effects Division's (EFED) document, EFED Response to Public Comments Submitted in Response to the Abamectin Registration Review Problem Formulation PWP (dated November 5, 2013). There were no comments pert inent to the health effects scoping document on the planned human health risk assessments.

I of3University of Hawaii at Manoa Comment: The University of Hawaii at Manoa submitted typical application rates , methods of application, application timing and frequency, and other application information for the following abamectin use sites: bulb onions , tomato and eggplant, turf, and ornamental landscape and nurseries. EPA Response: The Agency thanks the University of Hawaii at Manoa for information on the application of abamectin and will incorporate this information into the registration review risk assessment. Washington State Pest Management Resource Service Comment: The Washington State Pest Management Resource Service submitted information on almond use in Cali forn ia from the Almond Board of California. Abamectin's importance for controlling web

- spinning spider mites in almond crops was highlighted

. Spider mites are problematic in almond orchards during drought, high temperature , and/or dusty conditions. The industry's reliance on pyrethroids to control navel orangeworms has the side effect of causing mite population flare ups and necessitates the use of abamectin as a preventive control. Information was al so submitted for abamect in usage on cotton, blueberries and raspberries, grapes, hops, ornamental s, potatoes, and tree fruits (particularly pears and apples). Abamectin is used to control European red mite , McDaniel spider mite, tentiform leaf miner, two-spotted spider mite, white apple leafhopper, pear psyll a, pear rust mite, and yell ow mite. EPA Response: The Agency thanks the Washington State Pest Management Resource Service and the Almond Board of Ca lifornia for this information and will consider it during abamectin's registration review. Northwest Horticultural Council Comment: The Northwest Horticultural Council provided application rate information and treated acreage in Washington and Oregon for abamectin use on apples, pears, and stone fruit. The council also provided maximum residue lim its for abamectin in Indonesia, Russia, China, Canada, Brazil, and the EU. The council commented that Saudi Arabia did not have established MRLs for apple and pear for abamectin. EPA Response: The Agency thanks the Northwest Horticultural Council for the u sage infonnation, which will be considered during the registration review of abamectin. During registration review, the Agency will work to minimize trade irritants and harmonize US tolerances with MRLs with its trading partners, to the extent feasible (and consistent with domestic law). To facilitate this, the Agency works with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the United States Trade Representative to identify potential trade irritants. EPA is currently working with some ofthe countries identified by Northwest Horticultural Council to assist with the development of science-based MRLs. Washington State Potato Commission Comment: The Washington State Potato Commission provided information regarding abamectin usage on potatoes in Washington and commented in favor of the continued registration of abamectin, highlighting its importance for treating potato psyllids , which carry the "zebra chip" disease. Zebra chip disease was only recently detected in the state and usage of abamectin has increased in Washington because abamectin is able to control potato psyllids in the egg, nymph, and adult stage. Washington State is the second largest producer of potato in the country and its potato industry is worth $4.7 billion dollars.

2 of3EPA Response: The Agency thanks the Washington State Potato Commission for this information and will consider it during the registration review of abamectin. Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Comment: The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association commented in favor of the continued registration of abamectin , hi g hlighting abamectin 's importance in its integrated pest management pro gram. The Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry is valued at $9 billion. EPA Response: The Agency thanks the Wi scon s in Potato & Vegetable Growers Association for its comment and will consider it during the registration review of abamectin

. Idaho Potato Commission Comment: The Id aho Potato Commission c ommented in favor of the continued registration of abamectin , highlighting abamectin's importance ·to the potato industry for control of potato psyll id s, which cause the deva stating "zebra chip" di sease. Idaho is the largest producer of potato in the United States and its potato industry is worth billion s and provides over 13 thou sand potato-related job s. EPA Response: The Agency thanks the Idaho Potato Co mmission for its com me nts and will consider them during registrati ' o n review. FESTF Comment: The FIFRA Endangered Spec ies Task Force (FESTF) noted that Syngenta Crop Protection, Cheminova Inc., and Nufarm Limited were members of FESTF and have access to its data for the abamectin endangered species assessment during registration review. EPA Response: The A ge ncy thanks FESTF for its comment and will consider it as it conducts the registration review of abamectin.

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