30458 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

those documents. The public version of

the official record does not include any

information claimed as CBI. The public

version of the official record, which

includes printed, paper versions of any

electronic comments submitted during

an applicable comment period, is

available for inspection in the Public

Information and Records Integrity

Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall

#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,

Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, excluding legal

holidays. The PIRIB telephone number

is (703) 305–5805.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit

Comments?

You may submit comments through

the mail, in person, or electronically. To

ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is

imperative that you identify docket

control number OPP–00721 in the

subject line on the first page of your

response.

1. By mail. Submit your comments to:

Public Information and Records

Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information

Resources and Services Division

(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP), Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver

your comments to: Public Information

and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB),

Information Resources and Services

Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide

Programs (OPP), Environmental

Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal

Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,

Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305–

5805.

3. Electronically. You may submit

your comments electronically by e-mail

to: opp-docket@epa.gov, or you can

submit a computer disk as described

above. Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. Avoid the use of special characters

and any form of encryption. Electronic

submissions will be accepted in

WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file

format. All comments in electronic form

must be identified by docket control

number OPP–00721. Electronic

comments may also be filed online at

many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want

to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. You may claim information that

you submit to EPA in response to this

document as CBI 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.

In addition to one complete version of

the comment that includes any

information claimed as CBI, a copy of

the comment that does not contain the

information claimed as CBI must be

submitted for inclusion in the public

version of the official record.

Information not marked confidential

will be included in the public version

of the official record without prior

notice. If you have any questions about

CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,

please consult the person listed under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare

My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following

suggestions helpful for preparing your

comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as

possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you

used.

3. Provide copies of any technical

information and/or data you used that

support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or

costs, explain how you arrived at the

estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to

illustrate your concerns.

6. Offer alternative ways to improve

the notice or collection activity.

7. Make sure to submit your

comments by the deadline in this

notice.

To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be

sure to identify the docket control

number assigned to this action in the

subject line on the first page of your

response. You may also provide the

name, date, and Federal Register

citation.

II. Purpose of Meetings

The tentative agenda items idenified

by the SFIREG follows:

1. Overview pesticide product reregistration for the rest of 2001.

2. NPDES permits—implications of

recent court ruling on aquatic pesticide

applications.

3. Endangered species: Update on

Albuquerque, NM workshop and future

direction for state programs.

4. Meeting State’s FIFRA training

needs—applicability of Eduneering,

Inc.’s food safety on-line training model.

5. Regional reports.

6. Committee reports and introduction

of issue papers.

7. Update on current OPP activities.

8. SFIREG issue paper status report.

9. Update on current OECA activities.

10. Other topics, as appropriate.

11. Status of mosquito control label

review project.

12. FIFRA implications of biosecurity/

foot and month disease.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection.

Dated: May 22, 2001.

Jay S. Ellenberger,

Acting Division Director, Field and External

Affairs Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01–13838 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[OPP–00719; FRL–6783–2]

Receipt of a Notification to Conduct

Small-Scale Field Testing of a

Genetically-Engineered Microbial

Pesticide; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

from Dr. Brian A. Federick, of the

Department of Entomology of the

University of California, Riverside, of a

notification (57109–NMP-R) of intent to

conduct small-scale field testing

involving four modified strains of a

microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis

subsp. israelensis H–14, ONR 60A (Bti).

These modified strains of Bti have been

genetically-engineered to express

various combinations of mosquitocidal

delta endotoxin proteins from Bti and

the mosquitocidal binary protein toxin

from Bacillus sphaericus. The proposed

testing for control of various species of

mosquitos will be in tanks and small

enclosed artificial ponds. The Agency

has determined that this notification

may be of regional and national

significance. Therefore in accordance

with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is

soliciting public comments on this

notification.

DATE: Comments, identified by docket

control number OPP–00719, must be

received on or before July 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be

submitted by mail, electronically, or in

person. Please follow the detailed

instructions for each method as

provided in Unit I. of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure

proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative

that you identify docket control number

OPP–00719 in the subject line on the

first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William R. Schneider, Biopesticides and

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices 30459

Pollution Prevention Division (7511C),

Office of Pesticide Programs,

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,

DC 20460; telephone number: (703)

308–8683; fax number: (703) 308–7026;

e-mail address:

schneider.william@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public

in general. This action may, however, be

of interest to those persons interested in

small-scale field testing of geneticallyengineered microbial pesticides or those

persons who are or may be required to

conduct testing of chemical substances

under the Federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), or the Federal

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide

Act (FIFRA). Since other entities may

also be interested, the Agency has not

attempted to describe all the specific

entities that may be effected 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. What Kind of an Experiment is

Described in this Notification?

1. Purpose. These field tests are

designed to evaluate the use of these

new strains of currently registered

products in controlling mosquitoes.

Laboratory evaluations of these new

strains suggest that they will work much

better against the mosquitoes that carry

the West Nile Virus than the currently

used microbial larvaecides. They

produce a greater amount of the toxin

from B. sphaericus (Bsp) and combine

its effect with the existing B.

thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti)

delta-endotoxins.

2. Microorganisms. The recombinant

strains were constructed using a wellcharacterized standard strain, IPS-82 of

Bti (available from the Pasture Institute

in Paris, France as a reference strain)

and a currently EPA-registered strain of

Bsp, VectoLex produced by Valent

BioSciences. The recombinant strains

were prepared from two versions of the

IPS-82 strain, one with all the plasmidborne genes removed except those that

produce the mosquitocidal proteins that

are found in the registered Bti products

(Cry4A, Cry4B, Cry11A, and CytA deltaendotoxin proteins), and another

version, with all the plasmid-borne

toxin genes removed, that does not

produce any mosquitocidal proteins.

The Bsp strain produces a

mosquitocidal protein that forms

characteristic crystals during spore

formation much like Bti. The genes that

produce the Bsp toxin were transferred

into the Bti isolates to produce the

following four combinations of toxins in

Bti: Bsp toxin and the four Bti deltaendotoxins listed above, Bsp toxin only,

Bsp toxin and Cyt1A, Bsp toxin and

Cry11A plus Cyt1A

3. Test protocols. The three

established mosquito testing facilities

being used for this test are in California

and Florida. The Riverside, California,

test site uses 3 x 3 feet fiberglass tubs

and several 12 x 24 feet artificial ponds.

The test site at the Coachella Valley

experiment mosquito testing station in

California has 18 x 18 feet artificial

ponds. The test site at a University of

Florida research center in Apopka,

Florida, has 3 feet diameter tubs on a

cement slab. All test containers use 1

foot or less water depth. The treatments

will be by hand or using hand-held

equipment. Treatment (0.007 lbs per) of

the modified Bti strains will be applied

three times for each of the four test

strains at each of the two test sites to the

water containers, for a maximum total of

less than 0.03 lbs for the Riverside and

Florida tubs and less than 4.2 lbs for the

Riverside and Coachella Valley artificial

ponds. Mosquito lavae and pupae will

be monitored up to 30 days following

the treatments. The area will be

monitored for the presence of the test

strains. Tests may be conducted up

through November 2001.

4. Containment procedures. The test

facilities are in gated restricted areas.

The water is in contained ponds or

containers and will be treated with

bleach for 24 hours following the

experiments. Extensive experience with

the Bti host cells and the mosquitocidal

toxins has shown that they degrade

rapidly in the environment.

C. How Can I Get Additional

Information, Including Copies of this

Document and Other Related

Documents?

The Agency has established an official

record for this action under docket

control number OPP–00719. The official

record consists of the documents

specifically referenced in this action,

any public comments received during

an applicable comment period, and

other information related to this action.

No information was claimed as

confidential business information (CBI).

This official record includes the

documents that are physically located in

the docket, as well as the documents

that are referenced in those documents.

The public version of the official record,

which includes printed, paper versions

of any electronic comments submitted

during an applicable comment period, is

available for inspection in the Public

Information and Records Integrity

Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall

#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,

Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, excluding legal

holidays. The PIRIB telephone number

is (703) 305–5805.

D. How and to Whom Do I Submit

Comments?

You may submit comments through

the mail, in person, or electronically. To

ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is

imperative that you identify docket

control number OPP–00719 in the

subject line on the first page of your

response.

1. By mail. Submit your comments to:

Public Information and Records

Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information

Resources and Services Division

(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP), Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver

your comments to: Public Information

and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB),

Information Resources and Services

Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide

Programs (OPP), Environmental

Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal

Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy.,

Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305–

5805.

3. Electronically. You may submit

your comments electronically by e-mail

to: opp-docket@epa.gov, or you can

submit a computer disk as described in

this unit. Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. Avoid the use of special characters

and any form of encryption. Electronic

submissions will be accepted in

WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file

format. All comments in electronic form

must be identified by docket control

number OPP–00719. Electronic

comments may also be filed online at

many Federal Depository Libraries.

E. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want

to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information

electronically that you consider to be

CBI. You may claim information that

you submit to EPA in response to this

document as CBI 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.

In addition to one complete version of

the comment that includes any

30460 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

information claimed as CBI, a copy of

the comment that does not contain the

information claimed as CBI must be

submitted for inclusion in the public

version of the official record.

Information not marked confidential

will be included in the public version

of the official record without prior

notice. If you have any questions about

CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI,

please consult the person identified

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT.

F. What Should I Consider as I Prepare

My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following suggestions

helpful for preparing your comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as

possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you

used.

3. Provide copies of any technical

information and/or data you used that

support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or

costs, explain how you arrived at the

estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to

illustrate your concerns.

6. Make sure to submit your

comments by the deadline in this

notice.

7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA,

be sure to identify the docket control

number assigned to this action in the

subject line on the first page of your

response. You may also provide the

name, date, and Federal Register

citation.

II. What Action is the Agency Taking?

The Agency will be reviewing this

notification in accordance with 40 CFR

part 172, subpart C to determine

whether to approve or deny the field

test, or to required the test to be

conducted under an Experimental Use

Permit.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Genetic

engineering, Microbial pesticides, smallscale field testing, mosquito control,

Bacillus thuringiensis.

Dated: May 25,2001.

Janet L. Andersen,

Director, Biopesticides and Pollution

Prevention Division, Office of Pesticide

Programs

FR Doc. 01–13951 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 a.m.]

BILLING CODE 6560––50–S

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[OPP–00714; FRL-6780–1]

1, 4-Bis(bromoacetoxy)-2-butene

Preliminary Risk Assessment; Notice

of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

availability of documents that were

developed as part of EPA’s process for

making reregistration eligibility

decisions for the antimicrobial active

ingredient 1, 4-Bis(bromoacetoxy)-2-

butene (Bis-2) for use as an agent against

slime-forming bacteria in: Oil wells and

oil field enhanced recovery systems; in

pulp and paper mill systems; and as an

in-can preservative of water-based

coatings. This notice also starts the 60–

day public comment period for the

Preliminary Risk Assessment for Bis–2.

By allowing access and opportunity for

comment on the Preliminary Risk

Assessment, EPA is seeking to

strengthen stakeholder involvement and

help ensure our decisions under the

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) are

transparent and based on the best

available information.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket

control number OPP–00714, must be

received on or before August 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be

submitted by mail, electronically, or in

person. Please follow the detailed

instructions for each method as

provided in Unit I. of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure

proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative

that you identify docket control number

OPP–00714 in the subject line on the

first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Killian Swift, Antimicrobials Division

(7510C), Office of Pesticide Programs,

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,

DC 20460; telephone number: (703)

308–6346; e-mail address:

swift.killian@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

This action is directed to the public

in general. This action may, however, be

of interest to pulp and paper mill

workers using papermaking machinery,

oil field workers using secondary

(enhanced) recovery systems,

homeowners using water-based

coatings, and paints manufactured by

Buckman Laboratories International,

Inc. e.g., ‘‘those persons who are or may

be required to conduct testing of

chemical substances under the Toxic

Substances Control Act (TSCA).’’ Since

other entities may also 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 Additional

Information, Including Copies of this

Document or Other Related Documents?

1. Electronically. You may obtain

electronic copies of this document, and

certain other related documents that

might be available electronically, from

the EPA Internet Home Page at http://

www.epa.gov/. To access this

document, on the Home Page select

‘‘Laws and Regulations,’’ ‘‘Regulations

and Proposed Rules,’’ and then look up

the entry for this document under the

Federal Register--Environmental

Documents.’’ You can also go directly to

the Federal Register listings at http://

www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. ‘‘In addition,

copies of the preliminary risk

assessment for 1, 4-Bis(bromoacetoxy)-

2-butene also may be accessed at http:/

/www.epa.gov/pesticides/

reregistration.’’

2. In person. The Agency has

established an official record for this

action under docket control number

OPP–00714. The official record consists

of the documents specifically referenced

in this action, any public comments

received during an applicable comment

period, and other information related to

this action, including any information

claimed as confidential business

information (CBI). This official record

includes the documents that are

physically located in the docket, as well

as the documents that are referenced in

those documents. The public version of

the official record does not include any

information claimed as CBI. The public

version of the official record, which

includes printed, paper versions of any

electronic comments submitted during

an applicable comment period, is

available for inspection in the Office of

Pesticide Programs (OPP),

Environmental Protection Agency, 1921

Jefferson Davis Highway, Crystal Mall

#2, Room 119, Arlington, VA 22202.

The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, excluding legal

holidays. The telephone number for the

Center is (202) 260–7099.