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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 26 (Monday, February 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 9242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02422]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0634; FRL-12546-01-OCSPP]

Potassium Chloride (KCl); Receipt of Application for Emergency 
Exemption

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a quarantine exemption request from the 
Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) to use the pesticide 
potassium chloride (CAS No. 7440-09-7) to treat up to 1.26 acres to 
control Quagga mussels. The applicant proposes the use of a new 
chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Due to the urgent nature 
of the emergency and the very narrow and limited use being requested 
EPA has eliminated the public comment period. Nonetheless, interested 
parties may still contact the Agency with information about this notice 
and treatment program.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0634, is available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov. Additional information about dockets 
generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Smith, Director, Registration 
Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; main telephone number: (202) 566-2875; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
    If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this 
proposed action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What is EPA's authority for taking this action?

    Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the EPA 
Administrator, a Federal or State agency may be exempted from any 
provision of FIFRA if the EPA Administrator determines that emergency 
conditions exist which require the exemption. EPA implementing 
regulations are set forth in 40 CFR part 166.

C. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is announcing receipt of a request submitted to EPA under FIFRA 
section 18. This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the 
application itself. The regulations governing FIFRA section 18 require 
publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a quarantine 
exemption proposing use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient) 
which has not been registered by EPA.

II. Summary of the Request Received

    The ISDA has requested that EPA issue a quarantine exemption for 
the use of potassium chloride in ponds and pools to control Quagga 
mussels. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted 
as part of this request.
    As part of this request, the applicant asserts that the current 
alternatives are considered to be less desirable because of 
environmental concerns, technical infeasibility, logistics, and 
expense. Quagga mussels are a non-native, invasive species found in 
sections of the Middle Snake River that can bioaccumulate pollutants 
and toxins 300,000 times greater than concentrations in the 
environment. These pollutants are found in their pseudofeces, which can 
be passed up the food chain, therefore increasing wildlife exposure to 
organic pollutants. Even though quaggas are prodigious water filterers, 
they remove substantial amounts of phytoplankton and suspended 
particulate from the water. By removing the phytoplankton, quaggas in 
turn decrease the food source for zooplankton, therefore altering the 
food web. Quaggas can also clog water intake structures, such as pipes 
and screens, therefore reducing pumping capabilities for power and 
water treatment plants, costing industries, companies, and communities.
    The Applicant proposes to use no more than 18,590 lbs. of the 
unregistered product, MOP, potassium chloride, the soluble muriated KCl 
mixture formula, on 1.26 acres of ponds, pools and potholes distributed 
between 51 different ephemeral ponds, pools and potholes within the 
Middle Snake River and adjoining areas in Twin Falls, Jerome and 
surrounding counties in Idaho where it is to be used.
    As noted above, the Agency is eliminating the comment period due to 
the urgent nature of the emergency situation and the very narrow and 
limited use being requested. Nonetheless, interested parties may still 
contact the Agency with information about this notice and treatment 
program through the email address under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: February 5, 2025.
Charles Smith,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2025-02422 Filed 2-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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