Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 19, 2001 / Notices 65485

pose any quantifiable risk due to a lack

of residues of toxicological concern.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

mitigates the possibility of exposure for

applicators and handlers of the

proposed products, when used in

agricultural settings.

E. Cumulative Exposure

It is not expected that, when used as

proposed, products containing Bacillus

subtilis GB03 would result in residues

that would remain in human food items.

The organism is not pathogenic or

infective to mammals. There have been

no reports of toxins or secondary

metabolites associated with this

organism, and acute toxicity studies

have shown that Bacillus subtilis GB03

is non-toxic and non-pathogenic.

F. Safety Determination

1. U.S. population. Acute toxicity

studies have shown that Bacillus

subtilis GB03 is not toxic. Residues of

this organism are not expected to be on

agricultural commodities; however,

should residues occur they would not

be of toxicological concern. There is a

reasonable certainty of no harm to the

general U.S. population from exposure

to this active ingredient.

2. Infants and children. As mentioned

above, residues of Bacillus subtilis GB03

are not expected to be on agricultural

commodities. There is a reasonable

certainty of no harm for infants and

children from exposure to Bacillus

subtilis GB03 from the proposed uses.

G. Effects on the Immune and Endocrine

Systems

To date there is no evidence to

suggest that Bacillus subtilis GB03

functions in a manner similar to any

known hormone, or that it acts as an

endocrine disrupter.

H. Existing Tolerances

There is an existing EPA tolerance in

40 CFR 180.1111: Bacillus subtilis

GB03; exemption from the requirement

of a tolerance. The biofungicide Bacillus

subtilis GB03 is exempted from the

requirement of a tolerance in or on all

raw agricultural commodities when

applied as a seed treatment for growing

agricultural crops in accordance with

good agricultural practices (established

June 30, 1992).

I. International Tolerances

A codex Alimentarium Commission

Maximum Residue Level (MRL) is not

required for Bacillus subtilis GB03.

[FR Doc. 01–31249 Filed 12–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[OPP–50891; FRL–6815–3]

Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of

Application

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

of an application 56228–EUP–O from

the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA/APHIS) requesting an

experimental use permit (EUP) for the

use of sodium cyanide in M–44 Cyanide

Capsules in M–44 spring-loaded ejectors

to control coyotes (Canis latrans), red

fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon

cinereoargenteus) and wild dogs in

Idaho and Utah in nesting areas of sage

grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus and

C. minimus). The Agency has

determined that the application may be

of regional and national significance.

Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR

172.11(a), the Agency is soliciting

comments on this application.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket

control number OPP–50891, must be

received on or before January 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments and data may be

submitted by mail, electronically, or in

person. Please follow the detailed

instructions for each method as

provided in Unit I.C. of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure

proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative

that you identify docket control number

OPP–50891 in the subject line on the

first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By

mail: William W. Jacobs, Registration

Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide

Programs, Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, DC 20460; telephone

number: (703) 305–6406; and e-mail

address: jacobs.bill@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 interested in

programs for protecting native wildlife

species of declining numbers before

they are imperiled to such an extent that

they are listed as threatened or

endangered species. All predacidal uses

of sodium cyanide were canceled in

1972. Since that time, use of the

compound in M–44 capsules has been

reinstated for controlling canids that

prey on livestock, that prey on

threatened or endangered species, or

that are vectors of comminicable

diseases. Use of M–44s to protect

wildlife that are not yet listed as

threatened or endangered has not been

directly authorized. The proposed

research program is intended to explore

the feasibility of use of M–44s to protect

sage grouse and Gunnison sage grouse

and to obtain new evidence regarding

the units’ utility and safety when used

in that capacity. 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 and 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/.

2. In person. The Agency has

established an official record for this

action under docket control number

OPP–50891. The official record consists

of the documents specifically referenced

in this action, 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 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.

65486 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 19, 2001 / Notices

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–50891 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 Highway,

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–50891. 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 identified

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.

7. Make sure to submit your

comments by the deadline in this

document.

8. 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. Background

In cooperation with State wildlife

agencies in Idaho, Utah, and Colorado,

USDA/APHIS ‘‘intends to determine

whether integrated predation

management including the use of M–44s

is more effective for sage grouse

(Centrocercus urophasianus,

Centrocercus minimus) protection than

predation management that does not

include the use of M–44s.’’

The proposed research originally was

to take place in sage grouse habitat in

Wayne and Garfield Counties, Utah, and

in Owyhee County, Butte County, and

Oneida County, Idaho. The Gunnison

sage grouse reportedly occurs in the

proposed study site in San Juan County,

Utah. According to the application, the

Gunnison (C. minimus) sage grouse only

recently has been recognized as a

distinct species and has been proposed

for listing as threatened or endangered.

Timely listing is said to have been

precluded due to a shortage of relevant

funding within the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. In submissions of July

16, 2001 and July 24, 2001, USDA/

APHIS has stated that, for logistical and/

or legal reasons, the study locations

mentioned here may be replaced by

other sites.

Predator management using M–44s

and non-pesticidal methods is to be

effected in an area of Gunnison sage

grouse habitat in San Juan County, Utah.

Control operations are to be conducted

and monitored by USDA/APHIS

personnel. Recruitment of Gunnison

sage grouse is to be monitored in the

managed areas by the Utah Division of

Wildlife Resources. The Colorado

Division of Wildlife is to monitor

recruitment of Gunnison sage grouse in

a neighboring area of Colorado where

there is to be ‘‘no formal predator

control program.’’

Recruitment of sage grouse also is

proposed to be monitored in areas

subject to predator control in Wayne

and Garfield Counties, Utah, and in

Owyhee, Oneida, and Butte Counties,

Idaho. At the Wayne, Garfield, Owyhee,

and Oneida sites, two sage grouse

breeding areas are to be protected by

predator control methods other than M–

44s while two other areas are to be

protected by those same methods plus

M–44s. At the Butte site, only nonchemical methods are to be used. At all

sites, numbers of target and nontarget

species taken by each method are to be

recorded along with ‘‘the amount of

time spent in the application of each

management method.’’ Artificial nests

consisting of three brown chicken eggs

placed under a sage bush are to be

monitored at some sites. At two Idaho

sites, fates of some sage grouse are to be

monitored using radio telemetry.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

Following the review of the USDA/

APHIS application and any comments

and data received in response to this

notice, EPA will decide whether to issue

or deny the EUP request for this EUP

program, and if issued, the conditions

under which it is to be conducted. Any

issuance of an EUP will be announced

in the Federal Register.

IV. What is the Agency’s Authority for

Taking this Action?

Under 40 CFR 172.11(a), EPA is

required to publish in the Federal

Register a notice of receipt of an EUP

application if it determines that the

permit ‘‘may be of regional or national

significance.’’ The history, cancellation,

and partial reinstatement of predacidal

uses of sodium cyanide makes any

proposed expansion of current uses

potentially ‘‘of regional or national

significance’’ as does the possible

benefit of developing a pesticidal tool to

assist in halting declines in populations

of certain types of wildlife, thereby

precluding their future listing as

threatened or endangered species and

perhaps keeping habitats occupied by

them open for multiple use.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 19, 2001 / Notices 65487

List of Subjects

Environmental protection,

Experimental use permits.

Dated: December 6, 2001.

Peter Caulkins,

Acting Director, Registration Division, Office

of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 01–31246 Filed 12–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[OPP–50887; FRL–6793–7]

Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of

Application

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

of an application 71065–EUP–E from

Growth Products Limited requesting an

experimental use permit (EUP) for the

fungicide Bacillus subtilis GB03. The

Agency has determined that the

application may be of regional and

national significance. Therefore, in

accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the

Agency is soliciting comments on this

application.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket

control number OPP–50887, must be

received on or before January 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments and data 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–50887 in the subject line on the

first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By

mail: Anne Ball, Biopesticides and

Pollution Prevention Division (7511C),

Office of Pesticide Programs,

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,

DC 20460; telephone number: (703)

308–8717; e-mail address:

ball.anne@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 who are or

may be required to conduct testing of

microbial 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 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 and 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/.

2. In person. The Agency has

established an official record for this

action under docket control number

OPP–50887. The official record consists

of the documents specifically referenced

in this action, 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 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–50887 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–50887. 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.