Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices 24955

3. Electronically. Submit electronic

comments by e-mail to: ‘‘oppdocket@epa.gov,’’ or you can submit a

computer disk as described in this unit.

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. Electronic comments must be

submitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the

use of special characters and any form

of encryption. Comments and data will

also be accepted on standard computer

disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII

file format. All comments in electronic

form must be identified by the docket

control numbers OPP–34202B for

chlorpyrifos-methyl and OPP–34207A

for trichlorfon. Electronic comments

may also be filed online at many Federal

Depository Libraries.

B. How Should I Handle CBI

Information that I Want to Submit to the

Agency?

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. You may claim information that

you submit to EPA in response to this

document as CBI by marking any part or

all of that information as CBI.

Information so marked will not be

disclosed except in accordance with

procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

In addition to one complete version of

the comment that includes any

information claimed as CBI, a copy of

the comment that does not contain the

information claimed as CBI must be

submitted for inclusion in the public

version of the official record.

Information not marked confidential

will be included in the public version

of the official record without prior

notice. If you have any questions about

CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,

please consult the person listed under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

IV. What Action is EPA Taking in this

Notice?

EPA is making available for public

viewing the revised risk assessments

and related documents for two

organophosphate pesticides,

chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon.

These documents have been developed

as part of the pilot public participation

process that EPA and 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). 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 documents being

released to the public through this

notice provide information on the

revisions that were made to the

chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon

preliminary risk assessments, which

where released to the public October 6,

1999 (64 FR 193) (FRL–6387–9) for

chlorpyrifos-methyl and November 10,

1999 (64 FR 217) (FRL–6393–9) for

trichlorfon through notices in the

Federal Register.

In addition, this notice starts a 60-day

public participation period during

which the public is encouraged to

submit risk management proposals or

otherwise comment on risk

managements for chlorpyrifos-methyl

and trichlorfon. The Agency is

providing an opportunity, through this

notice, for interested parties to provide

written risk management proposals or

ideas to the Agency on the chemical

specified in this notice. Such comments

and proposals could address ideas about

how chlorpyrifos-methyl and trichlorfon

use sites or crops across the United

States or in a particular geographic

region of the country. To address dietary

risk, for example, commenters may

choose to discuss the feasibility of lower

application rates, increasing the time

interval between application and

harvest (‘‘pre-harvest intervals’’),

modifications in use, or suggest

alternative measures to reduce residues

contributing to dietary exposure. For

occupational risks, commenters may

suggest personal protective equipment

or technologies to reduce exposure to

workers and pesticide handlers. For

ecological risks, commenters may

suggest ways to reduce environmental

exposure, e.g., exposure to birds, fish,

mammals, and other non-target

organisms. EPA will provide other

opportunities for public participation

and comment on issues associated with

the organophosphate pesticide tolerance

reassessment program. Failure to

participate or comment as part of this

opportunity will in no way prejudice or

limit a commenter’s opportunity to

participate fully in later notice and

comment processes. All comments and

proposals must be received by EPA on

or before June 27, 2000 at the addresses

given under the ‘‘ADDRESSES’’ section.

Comments and proposals will become

part of the Agency record for the

organophosphate pesticides specified in

this notice.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Chemicals,

Pesticides and pests.

Dated: April 21, 2000.

Jack E. Housenger,

Acting Director, Special Review and

Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide

Programs.

[FR Doc. 00–10589 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[OPP–00645A; FRL–6557–7]

Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment

and Reregistration; Proposed Public

Participation Process; Reopening of

Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment

period.

SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA’s

extension of the comment period for the

proposal for a public participation

process for pesticide tolerance

reassessment and reregistration. This

proposal is in response to a joint

initiative between EPA and the

Department of Agriculture (USDA) to

increase transparency and stakeholder

involvement in the development of

pesticide risk assessments and risk

management documents and decisions.

EPA and USDA have been actively

employing a pilot public participation

process for tolerance reassessment and

reregistration of organophosphate

pesticides for over 1 year (since August

1998), which was developed in

consultation with the Tolerance

Reassessment Advisory Committee

(TRAC). Consideration must now be

given as to whether this public

participation process or some

modification of it should be adopted as

the final process, and whether it should

be used for tolerance reassessment and

reregistration of all pesticides.

DATES: Comments, identified by the

docket control number OPP–00645A,

must be received on or before May 15,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be

submitted by mail, electronically, or in

24956 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices

person. Please follow the detailed

instructions for each method as

provided in Unit I. of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure

proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative

that you identify docket control number

OPP–00645A in the subject line on the

first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Angulo, Special Review and

Reregistration Division (7508C), Office

of Pesticide Programs, Environmental

Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania

Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;

telephone number: (703) 308–8004; fax

number: (703) 308–8005; e-mail address:

angulo.karen@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public

in general; however, a wide range of

stakeholders will be interested in

submitting comments on the public

participation process that EPA is

proposing for tolerance reassessment

and reregistration, 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. As such, the Agency

has not attempted to specifically

describe all the entities potentially

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’’ 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/.

To access information about the pilot

public participation process that is now

being used for the organophosphate

pesticides, you can also go directly to

the Office of Pesticide Programs’ (OPP)

organophosphate pesticide web page at

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/.

2. In person. The Agency has

established an official record for this

action under docket control number

OPP–00645A. The official record

consists of the documents specifically

referenced in this action, any public

comments received during an applicable

comment period, 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit

Comments?

As described in Unit III. A. of the

notice published in the Federal Register

of March 15, 2000 (65 FR 14199) (FRL–

6496–2), you may submit your

comments through the mail, in person,

or electronically. Please follow the

instructions that are provided in the

proposed rule. Do not submit any

information electronically that you

consider to be CBI. To ensure proper

receipt by EPA, be sure to identify

docket control number OPP–00645A in

the subject line on the first page of your

response.

1. By mail. Submit comments to:

Public Information and Records

Integrity Branch, Information Resources

and Services Division (7502C), Office of

Pesticide Programs, Environmental

Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvannia

Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver

comments to: Public Information and

Records Integrity Branch, Information

Resources and Services Division, Office

of Pesticide Programs, Environmental

Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal

Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,

Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305–

5805.

3. Electronically. Submit electronic

comments by e-mail to: ‘‘oppdocket@epa.gov,’’ or you can submit a

computer disk as described in this unit.

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. Electronic comments must be

submitted as an ASCII file, avoiding the

use of special characters and any form

of encryption. Comments and data will

also be accepted on standard computer

disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII

file format. All comments in electronic

form must be identified by the docket

control number OPP–00645A.

Electronic comments may also be filed

online at many Federal Depository

Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want

to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. You may claim information that

you submit to EPA in response to this

document as CBI by marking any part or

all of that information as CBI.

Information so marked will not be

disclosed except in accordance with

procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

In addition to one complete version of

the comment that includes any

information claimed as CBI, a copy of

the comment that does not contain the

information claimed as CBI must be

submitted for inclusion in the public

version of the official record.

Information not marked confidential

will be included in the public version

of the official record without prior

notice. If you have any questions about

CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,

please consult the person listed under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare

My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following

suggestions helpful for preparing your

comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as

possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you

used.

3. Provide copies of any technical

information and/or data you used that

support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or

costs, explain how you arrived at the

estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to

illustrate your concerns.

6. Offer alternative ways to improve

the proposed rule or collection activity.

7. Make sure to submit your

comments by the deadline in this

reopening of the proposed rule

comment period.

8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,

be sure to identify the docket control

number assigned to this action in the

subject line on the first page of your

response. You may also provide the

name, date, and Federal Register

citation.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices 24957

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

EPA is extending the public comment

period on the proposal for a public

participation process for pesticide

tolerance reassessment and

reregistration. This proposed public

participation process was developed

with USDA.

Public comment received as a result

of this notice will be considered by EPA

and USDA and a final public

participation process will be developed

and released to the public in a notice

published in the Federal Register.

Implementation of the final public

participation process will begin

according to a schedule established and

published in the final notice.

III. Do Any Regulatory Assessment

Requirements Apply to this Action?

No. This action is not a rulemaking,

it merely extends the date by which

public comments must be submitted to

EPA on a proposed pesticide public

participation process that previously

published in the Federal Register of

March 15, 2000 (65 FR 14199) (FRL–

6496–2).

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Chemicals,

Pesticides and pests.

Dated: April 21, 2000.

Joseph J. Merenda Jr.,

Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 00–10590 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6586–6]

Draft General NPDES Permit for

Seafood Processors in Alaska in

Waters of the United States; General

NPDES Permit No. AK–G52–0000

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency, Region 10.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency, Region 10, published a

document in the Federal Register of

April 21, 2000, concerning a notice of a

draft general NPDES permit. The

document contained an incorrect

number for the total allowable residues

of offal to be discharged.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Florence Carroll, 206–553–1760.

Correction

In the Federal Register issue of April

21, 2000, in FR Doc. 00–10037, on page

21432, in the third column, correct the

last sentence in the third paragraph of

the SUMMARY section to read:

The total allowable residues of offal for

permittees covered under the proposed

permit must not exceed ten million pounds

per year (based on deposition modeling using

EPA’s Water Quality Analysis Simulation

Program).

Dated: April 21, 2000.

Randall F. Smith,

Director, Office of Water.

[FR Doc. 00–10646 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6213–01–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6586–9]

Notice of Availability of Letter From

EPA to the State of New York Pursuant

to Section 118 of the Clean Water Act

and the Water Quality Guidance for the

Great Lakes System

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a

letter written from Region 2 of the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

to the State of New York finding that for

the most part the State has adopted

water quality standards and National

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

(NPDES) permits program revisions

which are consistent with section 118(c)

of the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR part

132. However, there are certain

provisions adopted as part of the State’s

water quality standards and NPDES

permits programs that are inconsistent

with section 118(c) of the Clean Water

Act and 40 CFR part 132. EPA’s findings

are described in a letter dated April 11,

2000 to New York State. EPA invites

public comment on all aspects of this

letter, particularly on the findings in the

letter and on the course of action that

EPA proposes to take if the State fails to

adequately address EPA’s findings.

DATES: Comments must be received in

writing by June 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be

submitted to Wayne F. Jackson,

Community and Ecosystems Protection

Branch, Division of Environmental

Planning and Protection, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Region 2, 290 Broadway, New York,

New York, 10007. In the alternative,

EPA will accept comments

electronically. Comments should be sent

to the following Internet E-mail address:

jackson.wayne@epa.gov. Electronic

comments must be submitted in an

ASCII file avoiding the use of special

characters and any form of encryption.

EPA will print electronic comments in

hard-copy paper form for the official

administrative record. EPA will attempt

to clarify electronic comments if there is

an apparent error in transmission.

Comments provided electronically will

be considered timely if they are

submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m.

(Eastern time) June 12, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne F. Jackson, Community and

Ecosystems Protection Branch, Division

of Environmental Planning and

Protection, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region 2, 290

Broadway, New York, New York, 10007,

or telephone him at (212) 637–3807.

Copies of the April 11, 2000 letter

described above are available upon

request by contacting Mr. Jackson. The

April 11, 2000 letter and materials

submitted by New York in support of its

submission that EPA relied upon in

preparing the letter (i.e., the docket) are

available for review by appointment at:

EPA, Region 2, 290 Broadway, New

York, New York (telephone 212–637–

3807); and the New York State

Department of Environmental

Conservation, 50 Wolf Road, Room 310

C, Albany, New York. To access the

docket material in New York, call Mr.

Jackson at (212) 637–3807 between 8

a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

(Monday–Friday); in Albany, New York,

call Teresa Deihsner at 518–457–7937

between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern

time) (Monday–Friday).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March

23, 1995, EPA published the Final

Water Quality Guidance for the Great

Lakes System (Guidance) pursuant to

section 118(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act,

33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(2). (March 23, 1995,

60 FR 15366). The Guidance, which was

codified at 40 CFR part 132, requires the

Great Lakes States to adopt and submit

to EPA for approval water quality

criteria, methodologies, policies and

procedures that are consistent with the

Guidance. 40 CFR 132.4 & 132.5. EPA is

required to approve of the State’s

submission within 90 days or notify the

State that EPA has determined that all

or part of the submission is inconsistent

with the Clean Water Act or the

Guidance and identify any necessary

changes to obtain EPA approval. If the

State fails to make the necessary

changes within 90 days, EPA must

publish a notice in the Federal Register

identifying the approved and

disapproved elements of the submission

and a final rule identifying the

provisions of Part 132 that shall apply

for discharges within the State.