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[Federal Register: January 20, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 12)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3233-3234]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ja10-69]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129; FRL-8806-7]

 
Sulfometuron Methyl Amendment to Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify certain risk 
mitigation measures that were specified in the 2008 Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the herbicide sulfometuron methyl. EPA 
conducted this reassessment of the Sulfometuron Methyl RED in response 
to public comments and risk reduction proposals received during the 
comment period following the Sulfometuron Methyl RED. Based on the new 
information received, and in a continuing effort to mitigate risk, the 
Agency has made certain modifications to the Sulfometuron Methyl RED.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rusty Wasem, Pesticide Re-evaluation 
Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6979; fax number: (703) 308-7070; e-
mail address: wasem.russell@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of 
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human 
health, farm worker and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; 
pesticide users, and members of the public interested in the sale, 
distribution, or use of pesticides. Since other parties may also be 
interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific 
entities that may be 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 Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    EPA has established a docket for this action under docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129. Publicly available 
docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov (EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0129), or in hard copy, at 
the Office of Pesticide Programs (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

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    Section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA) directs EPA to reevaluate existing pesticides to ensure 
that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. In 2008, 
EPA issued a RED for sulfometuron methyl under section 4(g)(2)(A) of 
FIFRA. In response to a notice of availability published in the Federal 
Register of November 12, 2008 (73 FR 219) (FRL-8388-5), the Agency 
received comments and mitigation proposals submitted by the technical 
registrant, user groups, and individuals. The Agency's response to 
comments is available for viewing in the docket. The amended 
Sulfometuron Methyl RED reflects changes resulting from Agency 
consideration of these comments and mitigation proposals. The RED 
amendment for sulfometuron methyl concludes EPA's reregistration 
eligibility decision making process for this herbicide.
    Stakeholder comments, mitigation proposals, and other information 
received by the Agency following the publication of the Sulfometuron 
Methyl RED allowed EPA to further refine the ecological risk assessment 
for non-target plant species and to revise the buffer zone requirements 
for sulfometuron methyl. Based on the comments and proposals, EPA also 
refined the occupational handler exposure risk estimates and revised 
the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for sulfometuron 
methyl. The label table incorporated into the Sulfometuron Methyl RED 
amendment includes modifications which specify label language for 
required application parameters, buffer zones, and PPE requirements.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA, as amended, directs that, after 
submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the 
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing the active 
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product 
specific data on individual end-use products and

[[Page 3234]]

either reregistering products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory 
action.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Sulfometuron 
methyl.


    Dated: January 12, 2010.
Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.,
Director, Pesticide Re-evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.

[FR Doc. 2010-834 Filed 1-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
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