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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24939-24941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11763]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[OPP-300650; FRL-5788-1]
RIN 2070-AB78

Safener HOE-107892; Extension of Tolerances for Emergency 
Exemptions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule extends time-limited tolerances for residues of the 
herbicide safener HOE-107892 and its metabolites in or on wheat grain 
at 0.01 part per million (ppm) and wheat straw at 0.05 ppm for an 
additional 18-month period, to February 1, 2000. This action is in 
response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under section 18 
of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act authorizing 
use of the pesticide fenoxaprop with the safener HOE-107892 (trade name 
Puma) on durham wheat. Section 408(l)(6) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish a time-limited 
tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for 
pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a 
pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA under section 18 
of FIFRA.

DATES: This regulation becomes effective May 6, 1998. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received by EPA, on or before July 6, 
1998.
ADDRESSES: Written objections and hearing requests, identified by the 
docket control number [OPP-300650], must be submitted to: Hearing Clerk 
(1900), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. M3708, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Fees accompanying objections and hearing requests 
shall be labeled ``Tolerance Petition Fees'' and forwarded to: EPA 
Headquarters Accounting Operations Branch, OPP (Tolerance Fees), P.O. 
Box 360277M, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. A copy of any objections and hearing 
requests filed with the Hearing Clerk identified by the docket control 
number, [OPP-300650], must also be submitted to: Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring a copy of 
objections and hearing requests to Rm. 119, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis 
Hwy., Arlington, VA.
    A copy of objections and hearing requests filed with the Hearing 
Clerk may be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail (e-
mail) to: [email protected]. Copies of electronic objections 
and hearing requests must be submitted as an ASCII

[[Page 24940]]

file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. 
Copies of electronic objections and hearing requests will also be 
accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. All 
copies of electronic objections and hearing requests must be identified 
by the docket control number [OPP-300650]. No Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Copies of 
electronic objections and hearing requests on this rule may be filed 
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Andrew Ertman, Registration 
Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. Office 
location , telephone number, and e-mail address: Rm. 278, CM #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 308-9367; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued a final rule, published in the 
Federal Register of August 8, 1997 (62 FR 42678) (FRL-5731-7) , which 
announced that on its own initiative and under section 408(e) of the 
FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(e) and (l)(6), it established time-limited 
tolerances for the residues of herbicide safener HOE-107892 and its 
metabolites in or on wheat grain at 0.01 ppm and wheat straw at 0.05 
ppm, with an expiration date of August 1, 1998. EPA established the 
tolerances because section 408(l)(6) of the FFDCA requires EPA to 
establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement 
for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will 
result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted 
by EPA under section 18 of FIFRA. Such tolerances can be established 
without providing notice or period for public comment.
    EPA received a request to extend the use of fenoxaprop with the 
safener HOE-107892 on durham wheat for this year's growing season 
because the registered alternatives for use on durham wheat are not 
providing reliable, season-long control of green and yellow foxtail. In 
addition, documented cases of trifluralin resistant green foxtail have 
been reported by North Dakota. After having reviewed the submission, 
EPA concurs that emergency conditions exist for these states. EPA has 
authorized under FIFRA section 18 the use of Puma (fenoxaprop with the 
safener HOE-107892) on durham wheat for control of green and yellow 
foxtail in North Dakota and Montana.
    EPA assessed the potential risks presented by residues of the 
herbicide safener HOE-107892 in or on wheat grain and wheat straw. In 
doing so, EPA considered the new safety standard in FFDCA section 
408(b)(2), and decided that the necessary tolerances under FFDCA 
section 408(l)(6) would be consistent with the new safety standard and 
with FIFRA section 18. The data and other relevant material have been 
evaluated and discussed in the final rule of August 8, 1997. Based on 
the data and information considered, the Agency reaffirms that 
extension of the time-limited tolerances will continue to meet the 
requirements of section 408(l)(6). Therefore, the time-limited 
tolerances are extended for an additional 18-month period. Although 
these tolerances will expire and are revoked on February 1, 2000, under 
FFDCA section 408(l)(5), residues of the pesticide not in excess of the 
amounts specified in the tolerances remaining in or on wheat grain and 
wheat straw after that date will not be unlawful, provided the 
pesticide is applied in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA and the 
application occurred prior to the revocation of the tolerances. EPA 
will take action to revoke these tolerances earlier if any experience 
with, scientific data on, or other relevant information on this 
pesticide indicate that the residues are not safe.

I. Objections and Hearing Requests

     The new FFDCA section 408(g) provides essentially the same process 
for persons to ``object'' to a tolerance regulation issued by EPA under 
new section 408(e) and (l)(6) as was provided in the old section 408 
and in section 409. However, the period for filing objections is 60 
days, rather than 30 days. EPA currently has procedural regulations 
which govern the submission of objections and hearing requests. These 
regulations will require some modification to reflect the new law. 
However, until those modifications can be made, EPA will continue to 
use those procedural regulations with appropriate adjustments to 
reflect the new law.
    Any person may, by July 6, 1998, file written objections to any 
aspect of this regulation and may also request a hearing on those 
objections. Objections and hearing requests must be filed with the 
Hearing Clerk, at the address given above (40 CFR 178.20). A copy of 
the objections and/or hearing requests filed with the Hearing Clerk 
should be submitted to the OPP docket for this rulemaking. The 
objections submitted must specify the provisions of the regulation 
deemed objectionable and the grounds for the objections (40 CFR 
178.25). Each objection must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by 40 
CFR 180.33(i). If a hearing is requested, the objections must include a 
statement of the factual issues on which a hearing is requested, the 
requestor's contentions on such issues, and a summary of any evidence 
relied upon by the requestor (40 CFR 178.27). A request for a hearing 
will be granted if the Administrator determines that the material 
submitted shows the following: There is genuine and substantial issue 
of fact; there is a reasonable possibility that available evidence 
identified by the requestor would, if established, resolve one or more 
of such issues in favor of the requestor, taking into account 
uncontested claims or facts to the contrary; and resolution of the 
factual issues in the manner sought by the requestor would be adequate 
to justify the action requested (40 CFR 178.32). Information submitted 
in connection with an objection or hearing request may be claimed 
confidential 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. A copy of the information that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice.

II. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

    The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, 
EPA will transfer any copies of objections and hearing requests 
received electronically into printed, paper form as they are received 
and will place the paper copies in the official rulemaking record which 
will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The 
official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the 
Virginia address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document
    Electronic comments may be sent directly to EPA at:
[email protected].

    Electronic objections and hearing requests must be submitted as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.
    The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will transfer any 
copies of objections and hearing requests received electronically into 
printed, paper form as they are received

[[Page 24941]]

and will place the paper copies in the official rulemaking record which 
will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The 
official rulemaking record is the paper record maintained at the 
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.

III. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

    This final rule extends time-limited tolerances that were 
previously extended by EPA under FFDCA section 408(d) in response to a 
petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) has exempted these types of actions from review under Executive 
Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and Review (58 FR 51735, 
October 4, 1993). In addition, this final rule does not contain any 
information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose any enforceable 
duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4). Nor does 
it require any prior consultation as specified by Executive Order 
12875, entitled Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership (58 FR 
58093, October 28, 1993), or special considerations as required by 
Executive Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994), or require OMB review in 
accordance with Executive Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children 
from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 
23, 1997).
    Since this extension of existing time-limited tolerances does not 
require the issuance of a proposed rule, the requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. 
Nevertheless, the Agency has previously assessed whether establishing 
tolerances, exemptions from tolerances, raising tolerance levels or 
expanding exemptions might adversely impact small entities and 
concluded, as a generic matter, that there is no adverse economic 
impact. The factual basis for the Agency's generic certification for 
tolerance actions published on May 4, 1981 (46 FR 24950), and was 
provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration.

IV. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office

    Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), as added by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report 
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, 
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the 
General Accounting Office prior to publication of this rule in today's 
Federal Register. This is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 22, 1998.

James Jones,

Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180-- [AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as 
follows:
    Authority:  21 U.S.C. 346a and 371.

Sec. 180.509  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 180.509, the table in paragraph (b) is amended by 
changing the date ``August 1, 1998'' to read ``2/1/00'', wherever it 
appears.

[FR Doc. 98-11763 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
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