Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 199 / Wednesday, October 15, 2014 / Notices 61865 

www.regulations.gov. You may use 

www.regulations.gov to submit or view 

public comments, access the index 

listing of the contents of the official 

public docket, and access those 

documents in the public docket that are 

available electronically. Once in the 

system, key in the appropriate docket 

identification number then select 

‘‘search’’. 

It is important to note that EPA’s 

policy is that public comments, whether 

submitted electronically or in paper, 

will be made available for public 

viewing online at www.regulations.gov 

without change, unless the comment 

contains copyrighted material, 

confidential business information (CBI), 

or other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Information 

claimed as CBI and other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute 

is not included in the official public 

docket or in the electronic public 

docket. EPA’s policy is that copyrighted 

material, including copyrighted material 

contained in a public comment, will not 

be placed in EPA’s electronic public 

docket but will be available only in 

printed, paper form in the official public 

docket. Although not all docket 

materials may be available 

electronically, you may still access any 

of the publicly available docket 

materials through the EPA Docket 

Center. 

B. How and to whom do I submit 

comments? 

You may submit comments as 

provided in the ADDRESSES section. 

Please ensure that your comments are 

submitted within the specified comment 

period. Comments received after the 

close of the comment period will be 

marked ‘‘late.’’ EPA is not required to 

consider these late comments. 

If you submit an electronic comment, 

EPA recommends that you include your 

name, mailing address, and an email 

address or other contact information in 

the body of your comment and with any 

disk or CD ROM you submit. This 

ensures that you can be identified as the 

submitter of the comment and allows 

EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot 

read your comment due to technical 

difficulties or needs further information 

on the substance of your comment. Any 

identifying or contact information 

provided in the body of a comment will 

be included as part of the comment that 

is placed in the official public docket, 

and made available in EPA’s electronic 

public docket. If EPA cannot read your 

comment due to technical difficulties 

and cannot contact you for clarification, 

EPA may not be able to consider your 

comment. 

Use of the www.regulations.gov Web 

site to submit comments to EPA 

electronically is EPA’s preferred method 

for receiving comments. The electronic 

public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous 

access’’ system, which means EPA will 

not know your identity, email address, 

or other contact information unless you 

provide it in the body of your comment. 

In contrast to EPA’s electronic public 

docket, EPA’s electronic mail (email) 

system is not an ‘‘anonymous access’’ 

system. If you send an email comment 

directly to the Docket without going 

through www.regulations.gov, your 

email address is automatically captured 

and included as part of the comment 

that is placed in the official public 

docket, and made available in EPA’s 

electronic public docket. 

Dated: October 2, 2014. 

Lorie J. Schmidt, 

Associate General Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24472 Filed 10–14–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

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. 

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, 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
61866 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 199 / Wednesday, October 15, 2014 / Notices 

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/reducingpesticide-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 DRTrated 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 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 199 / Wednesday, October 15, 2014 / Notices 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 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

COMMISSION 

SES Performance Review Board— 

Appointment of Members 

AGENCY: Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the 

appointment of members to the 

Performance Review Board of the Equal 

Employment Opportunity Commission. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa 

M. Williams, Chief Human Capital 

Officer, U.S. Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street 

NE., Washington, DC 20507, (202) 663– 

4306. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Publication of the Performance Review 

Board (PRB) membership is required by 

5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4). The PRB reviews 

and evaluates the initial appraisal of a 

senior executive’s performance by the 

supervisor, and makes 

recommendations to the Chair, EEOC, 

with respect to performance ratings, pay 

level adjustments and performance 

awards. 

The following are the names and titles 

of executives appointed to serve as 

members of the SES PRB. Members will 

serve a 12-month term, which begins on 

November 19, 2014. 

PRB Chair: 

Mr. Dexter R. Brooks, Director, 

Federal Sector Programs, Office of 

Federal Operations, Equal 

Employment Opportunity 

Commission. 

Members: 

Mr. Kevin J. Berry, Director, New 

York District Office, Equal 

Employment Opportunity 

Commission; 

Ms. Katherine E. Bissell, Deputy 

Solicitor for Regional Enforcement, 

Department of Labor; 

Ms. Kathryn A. Ellis, Assistant 

General Counsel, Division of 

Educational Equity and Research, 

and Agency Dispute Resolution 

Specialist, Department of 

Education; 

Ms. Gwendolyn Y. Reams, Associate 

General Counsel, Equal 

Employment Opportunity 

Commission; 

Alternate: 

Ms. Delner Franklin-Thomas, 

Director, Birmingham District 

Office, Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission. 

By the direction of the Commission. 

Dated: October 3, 2014. 

Jenny R. Yang, 

Chair. 

[FR Doc. 2014–24448 Filed 10–14–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6570–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[3060–1200] 

Information Collection Approved by 

the Office of the Management and 

Budget (OMB) 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications 

Commission has received Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

emergency approval, for a period of six 

months, of the information collection 

requirements under control number 

3060–1200, as required by the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 

(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). An agency may 

not conduct or sponsor a collection of 

information unless it displays a 

currently valid OMB control number, 

and no person is required to respond to 

a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. Comments concerning the 

accuracy of the burden estimates and 

any suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to the person listed 

in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information contact, Mikelle 

Bonan, Telecommunications Access 

Policy Division, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, Federal Communications 

Commission, at (202) 418–7151 or via 

Internet at Mikelle.Bonan@fcc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

OMB Control Number: 3060–1200. 

OMB Approval Date: September 18, 

2014. 

OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 

2015. 

Title: Application to Participate in 

Rural Broadband Experiments and PostSelection Review of Rural Broadband 

Experiment Winning Bidders. 

Form Numbers: FCC Forms 5610 and 

5620. 

Respondents: Business or other forprofit, and not-for-profit institutions. 

Number of Respondents and 

Responses: 500 respondents; 520 

responses. 

Estimated Time per Response: 5–10 

hours. 

Frequency of Response: One time and 

on occasion reporting requirements. 

Total Annual Burden: 2,700 hours. 

Total Annual Cost: No cost(s). 

Obligation to Respond: Required to 

obtain or retain benefits. Statutory 

authority for this information collection 

is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151–154 and 

254. 

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No 

impact(s). 

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: 

Information collected in FCC Form 5610 

will be confidential until winning 

applicants are announced. At that time, 

the proposals submitted by winning 

applicants will be made publicly 

available. All other proposals submitted 

will remain confidential. Information 

collected in FCC Form 5620 will be 

confidential. 

Needs and Uses: Under this 

information collection, the Commission 

proposes to collect information to 

determine applicants that will be 

selected to participate in the rural 

broadband experiments and whether 

winning bidders are technically and 

financially capable of receiving funding 

for rural broadband experiment projects. 

To aid in collecting this information 

regarding the rural broadband 

experiments, the Commission has 

created FCC Form 5610 and FCC Form 

5620, which applicants use to submit 

the most-cost effective proposals in each 

funding category and winning bidders 

use to demonstrate that they have the 

technical and financial qualifications to 

successfully complete the proposed 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES