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[Federal Register: June 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 115)]
[Notices]               
[Page 34115-34117]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn10-57]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0030; FRL-8809-5]

 
Pesticides; Availability of Updated Schedule for Registration 
Review

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 34116]]

SUMMARY:  EPA is announcing the availability of an updated schedule for 
the pesticide registration review program, the periodic review of all 
registered pesticides mandated by section 3(g) of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The updated 
schedule provides the timetable for opening dockets for the next 4 
years of the registration review program - FY 2010 to 2013-and includes 
information on the FY 2007 through FY 2009 registration review cases.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kevin Costello, Pesticide Re-
Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-5026; fax 
number: (703) 308-8090; e-mail address: costello.kevin@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 others also may 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-2010-0030. Publicly available 
docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available 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?

     EPA is issuing an updated schedule for the registration review 
program, the Agency's periodic review of all registered pesticides 
mandated by section 3(g) of FIFRA. This updated schedule provides the 
timetable for opening dockets for the next 4 years of the program, FY 
2010 to FY 2013.
     The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2003 as amended in 
2007 (PRIA II) requires EPA to complete registration review decisions 
by October 1, 2022 for all pesticides registered as of October 1, 2007. 
To ensure meeting this requirement, EPA will continue to open 
approximately 70 pesticide registration review dockets annually 
continuing through 2017, so that almost all pesticides registered at 
the start of the program will have dockets opened by 2017. Some 
biopesticide dockets will be opened in 2018 through 2020. The Agency 
anticipates that this scheduling will provide adequate lead times to 
complete registration review decisions by October 1, 2022 for all 
pesticides registered as of October 1, 2007. EPA expects a total of 
about 721 pesticide cases comprising 1,135 pesticide active ingredients 
to undergo registration review by 2022.
     Each pesticide's place on the schedule is generally determined by 
its baseline date -- the date of its last substantive review -- with 
the oldest cases going first. The baseline date for a pesticide that 
was subject to reregistration is the date of the Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED). The baseline date for pesticides that were 
not subject to reregistration is the registration date of the first 
product containing the active ingredient. Although, the schedule 
generally is constructed chronologically, some registration review 
cases are grouped in the schedule for greater efficiency. For example, 
pesticides that are chemically related or use-related (e.g., 
organophosphate and carbamate chemical classes, the coppers group, and 
the pyrethroids, pyrethrins, and syngergists group) generally will be 
reviewed during the same time frame.
     The updated registration review schedule reflects EPA's decision 
to review all pesticides in two groups -- the fumigants and the 
triazines -- within the same time frame. In recent years, the Agency 
moved these pesticides ahead in the schedule so that dockets for all 
pesticides in these groups will open in FY 2013. While EPA is 
implementing risk mitigation decisions for the soil fumigants, new 
research is underway to address current data gaps and to refine 
understanding of factors that affect how fumigants move in the 
environment. New methods and technologies for fumigation are emerging. 
By moving the soil fumigants forward in registration review from 2017 
to 2013, the Agency will be able to consider new data and new 
technologies sooner, determine whether mitigation included in its 
decisions is effectively addressing risks as EPA believes it will, and 
include other fumigants that were not part of the reregistration review 
of these pesticides.
     EPA initiated a reevaluation of the triazine pesticide atrazine in 
fall 2009. Given the availability of new scientific information as well 
as the documented presence of atrazine in both drinking water sources 
and other bodies of water, EPA has determined it appropriate to 
consider the new research and to ensure that the Agency's regulatory 
decisions about atrazine protect health and the environment. EPA's 
reevaluation process is based on transparency and sound science, 
including independent scientific peer review. The current atrazine 
reevaluation will help address aspects of the atrazine registration 
review scheduled to begin in 2013 that involve human health risk 
assessment. As a result, the current reevaluation should reduce the 
scope and resources needed to complete the atrazine registration 
review.
     The registration review schedule for FY 2010 to FY 2013 and an 
explanation of the schedule are available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/schedule.htm. Information about the 
status of individual pesticides in registration review is available at: 
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/reg_ review_
status.htm. Background information on the registration review program 
is provided at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

     EPA is announcing this updated schedule for the registration 
review program as provided in 40 CFR 155.42(d) and 155.44 of the 
Procedural Regulations for Registration Review: Final Rule, document 
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0404-0052 at: http://www.regulations.gov. The 
Agency may consider issues raised by the public or registrant when 
reviewing a posted schedule, to schedule a pesticide registration 
review, or to modify the schedule of a pesticide registration review as 
appropriate. This schedule will be updated at least once every year.

[[Page 34117]]

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and 
pests.

    Dated: June 7, 2010.
 Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-14517 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
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