32212 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 113 / Friday, June 12, 1998 / Notices

practice as an active ingredient in

pesticide formulations applied to

growing crops. EPA has determined that

the petition contains data or information

regarding the elements set forth in

section 408(d)(2) of the FFDCA;

however, EPA has not fully evaluated

the sufficiency of the submitted data at

this time or whether the data supports

granting of the petition. Additional data

may be needed before EPA rules on the

petition.

A. Residue Chemistry

1. Plant metabolism. No plant

metabolism studies have been submitted

in support of this tolerance exemption

petition since copper ammonium

complex forms, upon aqueous dilution,

copper hydroxide. Accordingly, the

actual plant residue is copper, which is

an essential trace element critical for the

propagation of plants.

2. Analytical method. Since the

petitioner has requested a tolerance

exemption, a residue analytical method

is not required.

3. Magnitude of residues. No crop

residue studies were conducted since

copper is naturally found at significant

levels ( > 1 ppm) in many different types

of food. In addition, residue trials are

not practical since it is very difficult to

distinguish copper residues from

naturally occurring copper versus

copper residues from copper

ammonium complex.

B. Toxicological Profile

Acute toxicity. The acute oral LD50 for

a 31.4% solution of copper ammonium

complex is approximately than 2,200

milligrams/kilogram (mg/kg).

Accordingly, copper ammonium

complex is relatively non-toxic by the

oral route.

The petitioner has requested that the

Agency waive all sub-chronic, chronic/

oncogenicity, mutagenicity,

developmental and reproductive

toxicity study requirements for copper

ammonium complex. The basis for this

request is that the dietary residue is

copper and the Agency has previously

concluded (refer to the Toxicology

Chapter for Group II Copper

Compounds) that:

1. Copper is essential for well-being in

humans.

2. Humans possess a natural efficient

homeostatic mechanism for regulating

copper body levels over a wide range of

dietary intake.

3. There is an overwhelming lack of

evidence for any chronic effects induced

by dietary ingestion of copper unless the

intake is of such enormous magnitude

that there is a disruption of the natural

homeostatic mechanism for controlling

body levels.

C. Aggregate Exposure

1. Dietary exposure. Twelve FDA total

diet studies, conducted from mid 1982–

1984, examined dietary intake of copper

for age groups 14–16, 25–30 and 60–65

years. The copper intake ranged from

0.77 (14–16 year old females) to 1.24

mg/day (25–30 year old males). .

2. Food. Copper is naturally found in

several types of foods, such as fruits and

vegetables, at levels ranging from 0.3–

3.9 ppm.

3. Drinking water. A 1987 EPA report

noted that the average copper

concentration in drinking water is

approximately 130 ppb and a little over

1% of drinking water exceeds the

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of

1 ppm.

4. Non-dietary exposure. Air

concentrations of copper, based on

several thousand samples assembled by

EPA’s Environmental Monitoring

Systems Laboratory, ranges from 0.003–

7.32 μg/m3.

Using the above exposure values, the

petitioner estimates that the aggregate

exposure to copper from food, drinking

water and air ranges from < 1 to 3 mg/

day. Consequently, the petitioner

anticipates that the use of copper

ammonium complex as a pre-harvest

fungicide on established crops will, at

most, make a negligible contribution to

existing aggregate copper exposure.

D. Cumulative Effects

No cumulative adverse effects are

expected from long-term exposure to

copper ammonium copper.

E. Safety Determination

1. U.S. population. Several copper

compounds, such as copper sulfate, are

currently approved for use on food

crops (40 CFR 180.1001(b)(1). Since

copper ammonium complex is a

substitute for these copper compounds,

and, under use-conditions, releases

equivalent amounts of copper, approval

of this petition will not increase dietary

exposure to copper. Moreover, copper is

an essential trace element for which the

National Academy of Sciences has

issued a recommended daily allowance

of up to 3 mg/day for adults.

Accordingly, there is reasonable

certainty that no harm will result from

aggregate exposure of the U.S.

population to copper.

2. Infants and children. Since copper

is also an essential trace element for

infants and children and the

contribution to daily copper exposure

from the use of copper ammonium

complex is anticipated to be trivial, no

adverse effects on infants or children are

expected.

F. International Tolerances

There are no approved CODEX

maximum residue levels (MRLs)

established for residues of copper

ammonium complex.

[FR Doc. 98–15596 Filed 6–11–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6110–6]

Research Strategy for Oxygenates in

Water

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of external

review draft.

SUMMARY: This document announces the

availability of an external review draft

of a document, Research Strategy for

Oxygenates in Water, EPA/600/R–98/

048, prepared by the Office of Research

and Development of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency. The

purpose of this document is to identify

key issues related to assessing and

managing the potential health and

environmental risks of water

contamination by oxygenates. The term

oxygenates refers to chemicals added to

fuels (which then may be known as

‘‘oxyfuels’’) to increase the oxygen

content and thereby reduce certain

emissions from use of the fuel. This

research strategy builds on and extends

an earlier document, Oxyfuels

Information Needs (U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 1996, EPA/600/R–

96/069), which included water issues

but tended to focus more on inhalation

health risk issues. As a research

strategy, the present document focuses

on those gaps and limitations in current

information that constitute the most

critical and immediate needs to be

addressed. The document is primarily

intended to serve as a starting point and

general guide to planning needed

research. It is not a comprehensive

review of issues related to oxygenates in

water, and it does not attempt to specify

in detail the specific studies and

projects that may be needed. An earlier

draft of this document was peer

reviewed in a workshop held on

October 7, 1997, in Washington, DC.

Comments received on the workshop

draft were considered in preparing the

current external review draft.

DATES: Anyone who wishes to comment

on this document may do so in writing
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 113 / Friday, June 12, 1998 / Notices 32213

by August 28, 1998. Send the written

comments to the Project Manager for

Fuel Oxygenates, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

27711.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the

Research Strategy for Oxygenates in

Water (External Review Draft) 1998,

EPA/600/R–98/048, contact Diane H.

Ray, National Center for Environmental

Assessment-RTP Office (MD–52), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;

telephone: 919–541–3637; facsimile:

919–541–1818; E-mail:

ray.diane@epa.gov. Internet users may

obtain a copy from the EPA’s National

Center for Environmental Assessment

(NCEA) home page. The URL is http://

www.epa.gov/ncea/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

J. Michael Davis, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency,Research Triangle Park, NC

27711; telephone: 919–541–4162;

facsimile: 919–541–0245; E-mail:

davis.jmichael@epa.gov.

Dated: June 4, 1998.

William H. Farland,

Director, National Center for Environmental

Assessment.

[FR Doc. 98–15740 Filed 6–11–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6110–5]

Notice of Proposed Prospective

Purchaser Agreement Pursuant to the

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability

Act of 1980, as Amended by the

Superfund Amendments and

Reauthorization Act, Triggs TrailerKanawha Superfund Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public

comment.

SUMMARY: Notification is hereby given

that a proposed prospective purchaser

agreement associated with the Triggs

Trailer-Kanawha Superfund Site located

in Kanawha, Iowa was executed by the

Agency on April 23, 1998 and executed

by the United States Department of

Justice on May 25, 1998. This agreement

is subject to final approval after the

comment period. The Prospective

Purchaser Agreement would resolve

certain potential EPA claims under

sections 106 and 107 of the

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability

Act of 1980, as amended by the

Superfund Amendments and

Reauthorization Act of 1986

(‘‘CERCLA’’), against Timothy Johnson

d/b/a Johnson Trucking and Brownfield,

Inc., the prospective purchasers (‘‘the

purchasers’’).

The settlement would require the

purchasers to pay the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency

$25,400. The purchasers intend to use

the purchased property for truck/

tractor/trailer storage and maintenance.

The purchasers agreed to not use the

property for vehicle painting except

spot-painting of frames and fenders for

maintenance purposes. They also agreed

to not use the property for engine

rebuilding. The purchasers must comply

with the institutional controls notice by

deed, contract for sale or any other

instrument conveying an interest in the

property that no on-site wells are to be

dug and the property is subject to the

Prospective Purchaser Agreement. The

purchasers must also provide EPA and

the state of Iowa access to the site.

For thirty (30) days following the date

of publication of this document, the

Agency will receive written comments

relating to the proposed settlement. The

Agency’s response to any comments

received will be available for public

inspection at the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region VII 726

Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas

66101.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before July 13, 1998.

AVAILABILITY: The proposed settlement is

available for public inspection at the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue,

Kansas City, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.

A copy of the proposed agreement may

be obtained from Jeffrey Weatherford,

On-Scene Coordinator, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue,

Kansas City, Kansas 66101. Comments

should reference the ‘‘Triggs TrailerKanawha Superfund Site Prospective

Purchaser Agreement’’ and should be

forwarded to Jeffrey Weatherford, OnScene Coordinator, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise L. Roberts, Assistant Regional

Counsel, United States Environmental

Protection Agency, Region VII, 726

Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas

66101, (913) 551–7559.

Dated: June 2, 1998.

William Rice,

Acting Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–15739 Filed 6–11–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–M

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE

CORPORATION

Sunshine Act Meeting

Pursuant to the provisions of the

‘‘Government in the Sunshine Act’’ (5

U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given that

at 10:01 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 1998,

the Board of Directors of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Corporation met in

closed session to consider (1) matters

relating to the Corporation’s supervisory

activities, (2) reports of the Office of

Inspector General, and (3) personnel

matters.

In calling the meeting, the Board

determined, on motion of Vice

Chairman Andrew C. Hove, Jr.,

seconded by Director Joseph H. Neely

(Appointive), concurred in by Mr.

Richard M. Riccobono, acting in the

place and stead of Director Ellen S.

Seidman (Director, Office of Thrift

Supervision), Director Julie L. Williams

(Acting Comptroller of the Currency),

and Chairman Donna A. Tanoue, that

Corporation business required its

consideration of the matters on less than

seven days’ notice to the public; that no

earlier notice of the meeting was

practicable; that the public interest did

not require consideration of the matters

in a meeting open to public observation;

and that the matters could be

considered in a closed meeting by

authority of subsections (c)(2), (c)(40),

(c)(6), (c)(8), (c)(9)(A)(ii), and (c)(9)(B) of

the ‘‘Government in the Sunshine Act’’

(5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(2), (c)(4)), (c)(6), (c)(8),

(c)(9)(A)(ii), and (c)(9)(B)).

The meeting was held in the Board

Room of the FDIC Building located at

550–17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Dated: June 9, 1998.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

James D. LaPierre,

Deputy Executive Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–15797 Filed 6–9–98; 4:45 pm]

BILLING CODE 6714–01–M

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Ocean Freight Forwarder License

Applicants

Notice is hereby given that the

following applicants have filed with the

Federal Maritime Commission

applications for licenses as ocean freight