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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8860-8861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3156]

[[Page 8860]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0019; FRL-9337-4]

Pesticide Emergency Exemptions; Agency Decisions and State and 
Federal Agency Crisis Declarations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has granted emergency exemptions under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for use of 
pesticides as listed in this notice. The exemptions were granted during 
the period October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 to control unforeseen 
pest outbreaks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: See each emergency exemption for the 
name of a contact person. The following information applies to all 
contact persons: Team Leader, Emergency Response Team, Registration 
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6027.

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:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     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 provides 
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 at the end of the emergency exemption 
of interest.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    EPA has established a docket for this action under docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0019. Publicly available 
docket materials are available either electronically 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 hours of operation of this 
Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 
305-5805.

 II. Background

    EPA has granted emergency exemptions to the following State and 
Federal agencies. The emergency exemptions may take the following form: 
Crisis, public health, quarantine, or specific.
    Under FIFRA section 18, EPA can authorize the use of a pesticide 
when emergency conditions exist. Authorizations (commonly called 
emergency exemptions) are granted to State and Federal agencies and are 
of four types:
    1. A ``specific exemption'' authorizes use of a pesticide against 
specific pests on a limited acreage in a particular State. Most 
emergency exemptions are specific exemptions.
    2. ``Quarantine'' and ``public health'' exemptions are emergency 
exemptions issued for quarantine or public health purposes. These are 
rarely requested.
    3. A ``crisis exemption'' is initiated by a State or Federal agency 
(and is confirmed by EPA) when there is insufficient time to request 
and obtain EPA permission for use of a pesticide in an emergency.
    EPA may deny an emergency exemption: If the State or Federal agency 
cannot demonstrate that an emergency exists, if the use poses 
unacceptable risks to the environment, or if EPA cannot reach a 
conclusion that the proposed pesticide use is likely to result in ``a 
reasonable certainty of no harm'' to human health, including exposure 
of residues of the pesticide to infants and children.
    If the emergency use of the pesticide on a food or feed commodity 
would result in pesticide chemical residues, EPA establishes a time-
limited tolerance meeting the ``reasonable certainty of no harm 
standard'' of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
    In this document: EPA identifies the State or Federal agency 
granted the exemption, the type of exemption, the pesticide authorized 
and the pests, the crop or use for which authorized, and the duration 
of the exemption.

III. Emergency Exemptions

A. U.S. States and Territories

California
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Pesticide Regulation
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of boscalid on Belgian 
endive to control sclerotinia (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum); December 1, 
2011 to February 15, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
    EPA authorized the use of pyraclostrobin on Belgian endive to 
control sclerotinia (sclerotinia sclerotiorum); December 1, 2011 to 
February 15, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
    EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in beehives to control 
varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; January 1, 2012 to 
December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
Colorado
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in 
beehives to control varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; 
January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
    EPA authorized the use of spirotetramat on onions, dry bulb, to 
control thrips; December 14, 2011 to September 30, 2012. Contact: Keri 
Grinstead.
Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in 
beehives to control varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; 
January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
Idaho
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in 
beehives to control varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; 
January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.
Oregon
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in 
beehives to control varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; 
January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.

[[Page 8861]]

Texas
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemptions: EPA authorized the use of spirotetramat on 
onions, dry bulb, to control thrips; December 22, 2011 to September 30, 
2012. Contact: Keri Grinstead.
Washington
Department of Agriculture
    EPA authorized the use of hop beta acids in beehives to control 
varroa mite; December 22, 2011. Effective date; January 1, 2012 to 
December 31, 2012. Contact: Stacey Groce.

B. Federal Departments and Agencies

Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Emergency Management
    Quarantine exemption: EPA authorized the use of chlorine dioxide 
(gas), chlorine dioxide (liquid), ethylene oxide (gas), formaldehyde 
(gas), hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid (liquid), hydrogen peroxide 
(vapor), and sodium hypochlorite (5.25%-6%) (liquid) on interior and 
exterior inanimate, non-food contact surfaces including buildings, 
structures, vehicles, articles/items, personal protective equipment, 
roads, sidewalks, and subway systems to inactivate Bacillus anthracis 
(anthrax) spores; October 24, 2011 to October 24, 2014. Contact: 
Princess Campbell.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: February 1, 2012.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-3156 Filed 2-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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