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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26555-26558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11214]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0301; FRL-9927-18]

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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 26556]]

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, 2014 to March 31, 2015 to control unforeseen pest 
outbreaks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lewis, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone 
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: RDFRNotices@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 an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
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:
    [emsp14]Crop production (NAICS code 111).
    [emsp14]Animal production (NAICS code 112).
    [emsp14]Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
    [emsp14]Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

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-2015-0301, 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

    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 (7 U.S.C. 136p), 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

Alabama
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; February 26, 2015 to November 30, 
2015.
Arkansas
State Plant Board
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; February 26, 2015 to October 31, 
2015.
California
Department of Environmental Protection
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Colorado
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of clothianidin on 
immature (3 to 5 years old) citrus trees to manage transmission of 
Huanglongbing (HLB) disease vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid; March 
31, 2015 to October 31, 2015.
Georgia
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; February 26, 2015 to November 30, 
2015.
Idaho
Department of Agriculture
    Crisis exemption: On March 6, 2015 the Idaho Department of 
Agriculture declared a crisis for the use of thiabendazole on succulent 
pea seed to control Fusarium and Aschochyta blight.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.

[[Page 26557]]

Illinois
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Iowa
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Kansas
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; March 31, 2015 to November 30, 
2015.
Louisiana
Department of Agriculture and Forestry
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of anthraquinone on rice 
seed to repel blackbirds; March 20, 2015 to June 1, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; March 12, 2015 to October 31, 2015.
Maryland
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 30, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Michigan
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 12, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Minnesota
Department of Agriculture
    Quarantine exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium chloride 
to control zebra and quagga mussels in Christmas Lake and Lake 
Independence; November 26, 2014 to November 26, 2017.
Mississippi
Department of Agriculture and Commerce
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 5, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; February 26, 2015 to October 31, 
2015.
Missouri
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; March 27, 2015 to October 31, 2015.
Nebraska
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Nevada
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 20, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
North Dakota
Department of Agriculture
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Ohio
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 12, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; March 27, 2015 to October 31, 2015.
Oregon
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of thiabendazole on 
mushroom to control Trichoderma green mold; March 26, 2015 to March 26, 
2016.
South Carolina
Department of Pesticide Regulation
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
    Specific Exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; March 27, 2015 to November 30, 
2015.
Tennessee
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of fluridone in cotton 
to control Palmer amaranth; January 20, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 20, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Texas
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of flutriafol on cotton 
to control root rot; January 23, 2015 to June 30, 2015.
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of sulfoxaflor on 
sorghum to control sugarcane aphid; February 26, 2015 to October 31, 
2015.
Utah
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 12, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.

[[Page 26558]]

Vermont
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Washington
State Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
West Virginia
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; March 12, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.
Wyoming
Department of Agriculture
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of potassium salt of hop 
beta acids in beehives to control varroa mite; February 4, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.

B. Federal Departments and Agencies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Specific exemption: EPA authorized the use of ortho-phthalaldehyde 
(OPA) to control aerobic/microaerophilic water bacteria in the internal 
active thermal control system coolant of the International Space 
Station; November 26, 2014 to November 26, 2015.

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

    Dated: May 4, 2015.
Susan Lewis,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-11214 Filed 5-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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