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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61865-61867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24525]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0748; FRL-9917-58]

Agricultural Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies 
Voluntary Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP) is announcing a 
voluntary program to document the effectiveness of agricultural 
pesticide spray application technologies on reducing pesticide spray 
drift. Under the Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) Program, agricultural 
equipment manufacturers would conduct (or make arrangements for a 
testing facility to conduct) studies to determine the percent drift 
reduction according to a verification protocol. Once completed, the 
manufacturer would submit the study to EPA for review and evaluation. 
As verified, these reductions could then be quantitatively credited in 
the environmental risk assessments used to develop the drift reduction 
measures appearing on the label of the pesticide product.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Ellenberger, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7099; email address: 
ellenberger.jay@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 a 
pesticide application equipment manufacturer, chemical manufacturer, 
pesticide registrant, university researcher, or have an interest in 
reducing spray drift. The following list of North American Industrial 
Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, 
but rather provides a guide to help readers determine whether this 
document applies to them. Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Producers of pesticide products (NAICS code 32532).
     Research and development in the physical, engineering, and 
life sciences (NAICS code 541710).
     Colleges, universities, and professional schools (NAICS 
code 611310).

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

    The docket for this action, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0748, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory 
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 
1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP 
Docket is (703) 305-5805. Please review the visitor instructions and 
additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Background

A. What is the Drift Reduction Technology Program?

    Since 2006, EPA has worked collaboratively with other government 
agencies, industry, and academia to develop a verification protocol for 
quantitating the percent drift reduction for a particular application 
technology. With this notice, EPA is announcing a voluntary program 
based on this verification protocol to promote the use of technologies 
that have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing the drift of 
agricultural pesticide spray application technologies. The benefits of 
this voluntary program include reduced loss of pesticide from site of 
application,

[[Page 61866]]

more deposition of the applied pesticide on the crop, improved 
pesticide product efficacy, reduced costs to applicators and growers, 
and reductions in overall risks.
    EPA believes there are application technologies that have the 
potential to significantly reduce the amount of spray drift. Studies 
conducted to measure spray drift reduction would verify the percent 
reduction achieved, and thus identify these technologies. As 
manufacturers become aware of the DRT Program and begin to complete 
verification studies of their technologies (in accordance with the 
verification protocol), the manufacturer would submit the test data to 
OPP for evaluation. OPP will evaluate each data submission and, as 
appropriate, assign a DRT rating to the specific technology (e.g., a 
nozzle) based on the technology's spray drift characteristics as 
compared to those of a standard set of nozzles. OPP will then post on 
its Web site (http://www2.epa.gov/reducing-pesticide-drift) the 
identification of the manufacturer, its validated technology, and the 
EPA-assigned DRT rating.
    Using the information on the OPP's Web site, pesticide registrants 
then have the option of submitting a draft label for review which would 
include draft application instructions using DRT-rated technology on 
their product labels. As part of the label approval process, EPA would 
consider the rating category, (along with the appropriate drift 
reduction factor), in its risk assessment and risk management 
decisions. As appropriate, the approved label would contain application 
instructions for use of non-DRT-rated equipment as well as one or more 
categories of DRT-rated equipment. The applicator would read the label 
and also refer to OPP's Web site to identify verified DRTs whose use 
could be compatible with their application and then follow the label 
directions for the DRT-rated technology selected for use.
    Use of DRT technologies offers the potential for fewer/reduced 
application restrictions needed to mitigate spray drift from the 
intended application site(s); application of more of the spray on the 
target site or crop which can improve efficacy; a potential reduction 
in the associated potential risks from spray drift; and a reduction in 
costs to the applicator and grower (reduced potential for insurance 
claims and enforcement penalties). Thus, applicators and growers will 
have incentives to use these drift reduction technologies. As 
applicators and growers use DRTs on a more routine basis, benefits will 
accrue. Less pesticide loss to non-target sites means more of the 
applied pesticides are deposited on the intended sites. This may result 
in improved pesticide application efficacy, reduced costs to 
applicators and growers, and reductions in overall risks.
    This is a voluntary program: No one is required to participate. 
Detailed information about the voluntary DRT Program, including 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget to collect this 
information, is available on OPP's Web site. EPA will accept DRT 
studies for review and evaluation immediately.

B. What is Pesticide Drift and why is DRT important?

    For the purpose of this notice pesticide spray drift is defined as 
the physical movement of a pesticide through the air at the time of 
application or soon thereafter from the target site to any non- or off-
target site. This does not include pesticide movements by erosion, 
migration, volatility, or windblown soil particles after application. 
Spray drift is dependent on the design of application equipment, size 
of spray droplets, weather conditions, and other factors.
    Today, there is increased sensitivity to spray drift due to 
increased suburban development in agricultural areas, and protection of 
endangered species. Spray drift management is of interest to pesticide 
and other chemical manufacturers, application equipment manufacturers, 
pesticide applicators, government agencies, advocacy groups, and the 
public. Generally, applications of most if not all sprays result in 
some amount of drift. It is not possible to completely eliminate drift.

C. Description of the DRT Program

    The following is an outline of the DRT Program:
     Agricultural equipment manufacturers contract with a 
testing facility (or use their own facility) to test their technology 
using the verification protocol.
     Manufacturers then submit studies to OPP for review and 
evaluation.
     OPP verifies the adequacy of the study and determines the 
potential for the technology to reduce drift compared to a reference.
     OPP assigns a `star' rating to the technology.
     Rating is posted on OPP's Web site.
     Pesticide registrant submits a proposed label that offers 
an alternative application process that specifies the use of a DRT with 
`star' rating.
     OPP evaluates the proposed label and conducts the 
environmental risk assessment using assumptions appropriate for the 
`star' rating/application technology.
     If appropriate, OPP may also approve the label with two 
sets of application restrictions: One set of restrictions if the 
product is applied without DRT and another set of restrictions if the 
product is applied with a DRT.

D. What is a `Star' rating?

    As appropriate, each verified technology is assigned to one of four 
drift reduction categories represented by stars:
     Less than 25% reduction = No DRT rating.
     25 to 49% reduction = DRT* rating.
     50 to 74% reduction = DRT** rating.
     75 to 89% reduction = DRT*** rating.
     Equal to or greater than 90% reduction = DRT**** rating.

E. Benefits of the Voluntary DRT Program

    Use of verified DRTs in the application of pesticides has the 
potential for significant benefits.
    1. Benefits to growers and applicators would include:
     Substantiated, accepted performance claims of the verified 
technologies.
     Greater deposition of applied pesticides on the target 
sites/crops which may result in improved efficacy of pest or weed 
control.
     With greater on-target deposition, potential reductions in 
application rates with a commensurate reduction in application costs.
     Reduction of the currently estimated application 
restrictions for preventing adverse effects (e.g., smaller or no buffer 
zones).
     Applications can be made with increased flexibility in 
application timing and options potentially saving applicators time and 
costs: This means applications under a wider range of environmental and 
application method conditions.
     Reduced spray drift resulting in fewer incidents of 
adverse effects: This means fewer claims of violations of pesticide 
labeling requirements that need to be investigated by enforcement 
authorities, reduction in enforcement violation penalties, and less 
litigation and associated costs, including insurance claim costs.
    2. Benefits to manufacturers and pesticide registrants would 
include:
     Increased demand for DRT-rated equipment and pesticide 
products offering the option of DRT application methods on the label as 
applicators and

[[Page 61867]]

growers use DRTs on a more routine basis.
    3. Benefits to the public and the environment would include:
     Fewer incidents of adverse effects from spray drift to 
humans, and terrestrial and aquatic organisms and ecosystems, including 
threatened or endangered species.

F. Next Steps

    Once the submitted DRT studies have been reviewed and evaluated by 
OPP, and the results are posted on the Agency's Web site, then 
pesticide registrants have the option of amending their label to 
include DRT-rated application methods. This requires the submission of 
a complete application including a Pesticide Registration Improvement 
Act (PRIA) fee, or request for waiver or reduction. OPP will complete 
its review of the amendment according to the PRIA timeframe.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: October 8, 2014.
Jack E. Housenger,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-24525 Filed 10-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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