```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96650-96651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28459]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266; FRL-9941-02-OCSPP]

Atrazine; Updated Proposed Mitigation for the Interim 
Registration Review Decision; Notice of Availability and Request for 
Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
announcing the availability of and requesting comment on EPA's proposed 
updates to the mitigation in the interim registration review decision 
for atrazine (Case Number 0062). The updated mitigation proposal for 
atrazine reflected in the memorandum being released for comment 
incorporates the revised level of concern of 9.7 micrograms per liter 
([micro]g/L) as well as corrections to exposure modeling and feedback 
received during the 2022 public comment period. EPA is releasing its 
updated mitigation proposal to reduce run-off/erosion, which will 
expand the number of options of mitigation measures growers can choose 
to implement to reduce potential exposure and risk to aquatic plant 
communities from atrazine runoff in vulnerable watersheds. The proposal 
includes placing mitigations on the product labeling, directing users 
to EPA's mitigation menu website and to the Bulletins Live! Two system. 
The Agency is not soliciting comment on any other aspects of the 
atrazine interim registration review decision.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 3, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266, through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information 
you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional 
instructions on commenting and visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For pesticide specific information, contact: Alexander Hazlehurst, 
Chemical Review Manager, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508M), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-2249; email address: [email protected].
    For general information on the registration review program, 
contact: Melanie Biscoe, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508M), 
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This action is directed to the public in general and may be of 
interest to a 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 may be interested, the 
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities. If you 
have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a 
particular entity, consult the Chemical Review Manager listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What is the Agency's authority?

    EPA is conducting its registration review of atrazine pursuant to 
section 3(g) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136a(g) and the regulations at 40 CFR part 155, 
subpart C. FIFRA section 3(g) provides, among other things, that the 
registrations of pesticides are to be reviewed every 15 years. Under 
FIFRA, a pesticide product may be registered or remain registered only 
if it meets the statutory standard for registration given in FIFRA 
section 3(c)(5) (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(5)). When used in accordance with 
widespread and commonly recognized practice, the pesticide product must 
perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on 
the environment; that is, without any unreasonable risk to man or the 
environment, or a human dietary risk from residues that result from the 
use of a pesticide in or on food.

C. What is registration review?

    Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide 
registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the 
statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform 
its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human 
health or the environment. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that 
each pesticide's registration is based on

[[Page 96651]]

current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human 
health and the environment. EPA may pursue mitigation at any time 
during the registration review process if it finds that a pesticide has 
the potential to pose unreasonable adverse effects to human health or 
the environment.

D. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit CBI to EPA through email or 
https://www.regulations.gov. If you wish to include CBI in your 
comment, please follow the applicable instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets#rules and clearly mark the 
information that you claim to be CBI. Information so marked will not be 
disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 
2.
    2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting 
your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental 
justice--the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, 
regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, 
or disability, in Agency decision-making and other Federal activities 
that affect human health and the environment so that people are fully 
protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and 
environmental effects (including risks). To help address potential 
environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks information on any 
groups or segments of the population who, as a result of their 
location, cultural practices, or other factors, may have atypical or 
disproportionate and adverse human health impacts or environmental 
effects from exposure to the pesticides discussed in this document, 
compared to the general population.
    4. Scope of comments sought. This comment opportunity is limited to 
the updated proposed mitigation. The Agency is not soliciting comment 
on any other aspects of the atrazine interim registration review 
decision other than those specifically identified in the proposed 
memorandum. The Agency will carefully consider all comments related to 
the updated mitigation proposal received by the closing date.

II. Background

    Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide 
registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the 
statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform 
its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human 
health or the environment. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that 
each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other 
knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment. 
EPA may pursue mitigation at any time during the registration review 
process if it finds that a pesticide has the potential to pose 
unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
    The registration review docket for a pesticide includes all of the 
documents related to the registration review of the case. For example, 
the review opened with a Summary Document, containing a Preliminary 
Work Plan, for public comment. A Final Work Plan was placed in the 
docket following public comment on the initial docket. The documents in 
the dockets describe EPA's rationales for conducting additional risk 
assessments for the registration review of the pesticide, as well as 
EPA's subsequent findings and consideration of mitigation measures, 
public comments, and EPA responses.

III. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is issuing this updated proposed mitigation memorandum for the 
atrazine interim registration review decision to: (1) Incorporate the 
atrazine concentration of 9.7 micrograms per liter ([micro]g/L) that 
triggers mitigations; and (2) Propose supplemental mitigation measures 
that are feasible and flexible to protect aquatic communities.
    In June 2022, EPA announced proposed revisions to the atrazine 
interim registration review decision for public comment. In response to 
comments received on the June 2022 proposal, EPA convened a meeting of 
the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) in August 2023 to reconsider 
a subset of microcosm and mesocosm studies used in the calculation of 
the water concentration of atrazine that triggers monitoring and/or 
mitigation to protect the aquatic ecosystem. In July 2024, EPA 
announced an update to the concentration level to be 9.7 [micro]g/L 
following the August 2023 SAP meeting.
    The updated proposed mitigation for atrazine reflected in the 
memorandum being released for public comment incorporates the revised 
level of concern of 9.7 [micro]g/L as well as corrections to exposure 
modeling and feedback received during the 2022 public comment period. 
EPA is releasing its updated mitigation proposal to reduce run-off/
erosion, which will expand the number of options of mitigation measures 
growers can choose to implement to reduce potential exposure and risk 
to aquatic plant communities from atrazine runoff in vulnerable 
watersheds. The proposed mitigation includes placing mitigations on 
product labeling where users will be directed to EPA's mitigation menu 
website at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mitigation-menu and to the 
Bulletins Live! Two system at https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins; or an equivalent website to be 
determined.
    Background on the registration review program is provided at: 
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-reevaluation. Earlier documents related 
to the registration review of this pesticide are also available in the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: November 22, 2024.
Jean Overstreet,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2024-28459 Filed 12-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
```