Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 180 / Wednesday, September 17, 1997 / Notices 48859

assessment, the potential concentrations

of esfenvalerate in shallow ground water

are judged to be negligible.

4. Non-dietary exposure. Dietary

exposure is the only significant route of

chronic non-occupational exposure to

esfenvalerate. However, esfenvalerate is

registered for non-crop uses including

spray treatments in and around

commercial and residential areas,

treatments for control of ectoparasites

on pets, home care products including

foggers, pressurized sprays, crack and

crevice treatments, lawn and garden

sprays, and pet and pet bedding sprays.

For the non-agricultural products, the

very low amounts of active ingredient

they contain, combined with the low

vapor pressure (1.5 x 10–9 mm Mercury

at 25° C.) and low dermal penetration,

would result in minimal inhalation and

dermal exposure.

D. Cumulative Effects

The potential for cumulative effects of

esfenvalerate and other pyrethroid

insecticides that have a common

mechanism of toxicity must also be

considered. While risk assessment

methodology has not been developed to

estimate cumulative exposure to

multiple pyrethroids, their similar

insecticidal efficacy results in the

substitution of one pyrethroid for

another, rather than addition of

pyrethroids. Because of the breadth of

exposures included in the assumptions

for esfenvalerate risk assessment, it is

unlikely that there will be significant

additive exposure to other pyrethroids.

These issues are extremely complex

and require an extensive evaluation of a

wealth of proprietary and published

data across a broad range of pyrethroid

insecticides in order to provide a

scientifically sound interpretation upon

which to base any regulatory judgments.

The Pyrethroid Working Group is

currently awaiting guidance from the

Agency on cumulative effects. They

anticipate having some preliminary

evaluation data available for the Agency

by August, 1997. For any interim

decisions, the Agency should take into

consideration the relatively benign

toxicological profiles of pyrethroid

insecticides and their long history of

safe use.

E. Safety Determination

Both the chronic and acute

toxicological endpoints are derived from

maternal NOEL’s of 2.0 mg/kg/day in

developmental studies in rats and

rabbits. There were no fetal effects.

Therefore, the safety factor used for

protection of adults is fully appropriate

for the protection of infants and

children; no additional safety factor is

necessary.

1. U.S. population. A chronic dietary

exposure assessment using anticipated

residues and assuming that 100% of all

crops are treated, found the percentage

of the Reference Dose (RfD) utilized by

the General Population to be 16%.

There is generally no concern for

exposures below 100% of the RfD

because the RfD represents the level at

or below which daily aggregate dietary

exposure over a lifetime will not pose

appreciable risks to human health.

Therefore, there is a reasonable certainty

that no harm will result from aggregate

exposure to esfenvalerate residues.

A Tier 3 acute dietary exposure

assessment found the General

Population to have MOE’s of 1,803 at

the 95th percentile of exposure and 676

at the 99th percentile of exposure. These

values were generated using actual field

trial residues and market share data for

percentage of crop treated. These results

depict an accurate exposure pattern at

an exaggerated daily dietary exposure

rate. Thus, there is a reasonable

certainty that no harm will result from

aggregate exposure to esfenvalerate

residues.

2. Infants and children. The chronic

dietary assessment using the same

assumptions described above, found the

two most sensitive sub-populations to

be non-nursing infants (<1 yr.) and

children (1–6 yrs.) utilizing 44% and

48% of the RfD, respectively. In the Tier

3 acute dietary assessment that was

rerun using the assumptions described

above, non-nursing infants were found

to have an MOE of 914 at the 95th

percentile of exposure and an MOE of

254 at the 99th percentile. Children (1–

6 yrs.) were determined to have an MOE

of 698 at the 95th percentile and 321 at

the 99th percentile. Therefore, there is a

reasonable certainty that no harm will

result from aggregate exposure to

esfenvalerate residues.

F. International Tolerances

Codex maximum residue levels

(MRL’s) have been established for

residues of fenvalerate on a number of

crops that also have U.S. tolerances.

Several of these MRL’s are different than

the proposed U.S. tolerances for

esfenvalerate. Therefore, some

harmonization of these maximum

residue levels is still needed.

[FR Doc. 97–24691 Filed 9–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

(FRL–5893–1)

Draft Report of the National

Performance Measures Strategy

(‘‘Measures Strategy’’)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft

report of the National Performance

Measures Strategy and request for

comment.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), Office of Enforcement

and Compliance Assurance (OECA)

announces the availability of and

requests for comment on, the Draft

Report of the National Performance

Measures Strategy (‘‘Measures

Strategy’’). The Measures Strategy was

initiated by OECA in January of 1997

‘‘to develop and implement an

enhanced set of performance measures

for EPA’s enforcement and compliance

assurance program.’’ Since January,

public meetings and roundtable

sessions, consultations with experts,

and reviews of studies and articles have

occurred. Ideas were offered by

representatives of regulated industries

or companies, national and local

environmental organizations,

environmental justice advocates, state

environmental protection agencies and

associations, state Attorneys General

offices, federal oversight and

management agencies, federal regulatory

and law enforcement agencies,

environmental policy institutes,

Congressional staff, academic experts,

DOJ representatives, and EPA regional

and headquarters managers and staff.

EPA has reviewed the ideas and

suggestions that have been offered from

these sources, and from that review a

proposed set of performance measures

has been developed.

The report describes the need for

enhanced measures, key ideas from

interested parties, general findings

about performance measurement, a

proposed measurement framework, and

a set of performance measures and

possible implementation steps.

Stakeholders are invited and

encouraged to offer comment on the

draft report through written submission.

EPA will review these comments, revise

the report and the proposed measures (if

necessary), and distribute a final report

by the end of October with the

performance measures OECA intends to

implement. In some cases, EPA may

initiate further steps to study alternative

measures that require more analysis or
48860 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 180 / Wednesday, September 17, 1997 / Notices

have more complex implementation

strategies.

DATES: The Measures Strategy

announced today will be available on or

about September 17, 1997. Written

comments must be received by EPA (see

address below for contact person) the

close of business on October 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The draft report is available

at the following Internet address: http:/

/es.inel.gov/oeca/perfmeas. It is also

available by contacting Mary Woods at

Science Applications International

Corporation; telephone 703–645–6958.

Hard copies of the draft report are

available at EPA’s Information Resource

Center, which is located at 401 M St.

SW (Room #M2904); Washington, DC

20460; telephone (202) 260–5921. The

Information Resource Center is open for

business Monday-Friday between 8:00

am—5:00 pm, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Additional documents relating to the

Measures Strategy may also be obtained

by contacting James McDonald, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Office of Enforcement and Compliance

Assurance (2201–A); 401 M St. SW;

Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202)

564–4043; fax (202) 501–0701; e-mail:

mcdonald.james@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft

report released today will be the subject

of a conference in Alexandria, VA on

October 7, 1997. It will take place at the

Holiday Inn Historic District

Alexandria, 625 First Street, Alexandria,

Virginia 22314; telephone 703–548-

6300. The purpose of the conference is

to review and discuss with stakeholders

and regulatory partners the alternative

performance measures contained in the

draft report and which EPA is

considering adopting for its enforcement

and compliance assurance program. At

that conference, panels of stakeholders

and interested parties will be asked to

provide comments and suggestions

about the measures or other aspects of

the report. Anyone interested in

attending the conference and/or

interested in being considered for

participation on a panel should contact:

James McDonald at the address listed

above, or Mary Woods, Science

Applications International Corporation,

2222 Gallows Road, Suite 300, Dunn

Lorying, VA 22027; telephone 703–645-

6958; fax 703–903–1373.

Dated: September 10, 1997.

Sylvia Lowrance,

Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

[FR Doc. 97–24548 Filed 9–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL

QUALITY

American Heritage Rivers Initiative

AGENCY: Council on Environmental

Quality.

ACTION: Description of American

Heritage Rivers Initiative and

information on how communities

nominate their rivers.

CONTENTS: The major sections of this

document include:

Summary

Deadline

Availability of Nomination Packets and

Supplementary Information

Background

Summary of Comments Received from the

Federal Register Notices of May 19 and

June 20

Overall Program Design

Benefits of Designation

Benefits to Applicants who Submit Complete

Nomination Packages

Improved Services Available to All

Communities

Clarifications

Appendices

Summary

In the State of the Union Address on

February 4, 1997, President Clinton

announced an initiative supporting

community-led efforts relating to rivers

that spur economic revitalization,

protect natural resources and the

environment, and preserve historic and

cultural heritage. President Clinton has

since issued Executive Order 13061

directing agencies to establish and

implement the initiative. This notice

summarizes the initiative developed to

implement the President’s directive.

The federal government plays two

critical roles in supporting river-related

projects. First, it offers federal agency

services to organizations and

governments conducting communitybased work. Second, it creates a national

information and communications

network to encourage communities to

provide useful information to

communities, including sharing success

stories.

The American Heritage Rivers

initiative is voluntary and locally

driven; communities choose to

participate and can terminate their

participation at any time. In

implementing the American Heritage

Rivers initiative, federal departments

and agencies shall act with due regard

for the protections of private property

provided by the Fifth Amendment to the

United States Constitution.

The American Heritage Rivers

initiative will create no new regulatory

requirements or rules for property

owners or state, tribal, or local

governments. The American Heritage

Rivers initiative will use existing federal

resources more effectively to assist

communities.

To enhance federal assistance to

community-based projects, the federal

government will solicit nominations

from communities wishing to designate

their rivers as American Heritage Rivers.

The nomination process is described in

this notice. The President will designate

10 American Heritage Rivers in early

1998. The communities surrounding

designated rivers will receive a number

of benefits, including special

recognition; focused support from

existing federal programs; a person (the

‘‘River Navigator’’) to serve as a liaison

between the community and the federal

government; improved delivery of

assistance from agencies throughout the

federal government; and a ‘‘good

neighbor’’ policy. The federal

government will work to integrate and

streamline its approach to providing

existing federal services in designated

American Heritage River communities

in partnership with local leadership.

These partnerships will give the federal

government an opportunity to study and

improve how it provides assistance to

communities across the nation.

Additionally, the federal government

will provide a new information center

on the World Wide Web for communitybased projects in economic

revitalization, natural resources and the

environment, and historic and cultural

preservation. These Web pages will

include information about services that

can assist community projects and

provide opportunities for dialogue

between communities. The federal

government will also provide this

information to people without access to

the Internet.

The American Heritage Rivers

initiative was developed by an

interagency task force convened by the

White House.

The President’s Executive Order

creates a new committee, called the

American Heritage Rivers Interagency

Committee (Committee) that will be

responsible for the implementation of

the American Heritage Rivers initiative.

The Committee will be composed of the

following members or their designees at

the Assistant Secretary level or

equivalent:

• The Secretary of Defense;

• The Attorney General;

• The Secretary of the Interior;

• The Secretary of Agriculture;

• The Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development;

• The Secretary of Transportation;

• The Secretary of Energy;