67524 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 250 / Monday, December 31, 2001 / Notices

mammalian toxicity. Therefore, any

dietary exposure would not be harmful

to humans. Also Bacillus pumilus GB34

is a naturally occurring, ubiquitous

microorganism indigenous to the United

States.

ii. Drinking water. Bacillus pumilus is

found in the soil and the use rate of

GB34 concentrate is 0.1 ounces per 100

pounds of seed, equivalent to 1.7 grams

per acre. Bacillus pumilus GB34 is

unlikely to leach from the treated seed

and would not be distinguishable from

other naturally occurring Bacillus

pumilus.

2. Non-dietary exposure. As a

commercial seed treatment for soybeans,

the general population, including

infants and children, will have a very

low possibility of exposure.

Occupational exposure will be limited

to employees in commercial facilities

handling the seed treatment product.

Commercial seed treating equipment

minimizes occupational exposure.

Wearing protective equipment will also

minimize occupational exposure. Nondietary exposure would not be expected

to pose a quantifiable risk.

E. Cumulative Exposure

The product strain belongs to the

bacterial genus of Bacillus. Bacillus

pumilus GB34 may have a similar mode

of action in mammals as Bacillus

subtilis that has been shown to be nontoxic and non-pathogenic in mammalian

species. A similar mode of action of

Bacillus pumilus GB34 and Bacillus

subtilis would not be expected to result

in an increased adverse effect since both

were shown to be non-toxic and nonpathogenic in intravenous toxicity and

pathogenicity studies.

F. Safety Determination

1. U.S. population. Based on the low

treating rate of seed treatment use, little

evidence of toxicity or pathogenicity

and limited exposure potential,

Gustafson LLC believes there is a

reasonable certainty of no harm to the

U.S. population in general from

aggregate exposure to Bacillus pumilus

GB34 residue from all anticipated

dietary and non-dietary exposures.

2. Infants and children. Based on the

lack of toxicity and low exposure there

is a reasonable certainty that no harm to

infants, children or adults will result

from aggregate exposure to Bacillus

pumilus GB34.

G. Effects on the Immune and Endocrine

Systems

Gustafson LLC has no information to

suggest that Bacillus pumilus GB34 will

have any effect on the immune and

endocrine systems.

H. Existing Tolerances

There are no existing tolerances for

Bacillus pumilus GB34.

I. International Tolerances

Gustafson LLC is not aware of any

international tolerances, exemptions

from tolerance or maximum residue

levels for Bacillus pumilus GB34.

[FR Doc. 01–32109 Filed 12–28–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–7123–4]

Project Work Plan for Revised Air

Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related

Photochemical Oxidants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of external

review draft.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

availability of the External Review Draft

of a document, Project Work Plan for

Revised Air Quality Criteria for Ozone

and Related Photochemical Oxidants,

NCEA–R–1068, prepared by the Office

of Research and Development of the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA). The purpose of this document is

to describe the managerial procedures

for revising EPA’s Air Quality Criteria

for Ozone and Related Photochemical

Oxidants, EPA/600/P–93/004aF,bF,cF,

July 1996. This External Review Draft of

the Project Work Plan will be reviewed

by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory

Committee (CASAC) of EPA’s Science

Advisory Board and will be revised in

light of CASAC’s review and comments

received from the general public.

Information on the date and location of

the CASAC public review meeting

(likely in March 2002) will be published

in a future Federal Register notice. The

plan may be modified and amended

from time to time, as necessary, to

reflect actual project requirements and

progress. As a result, any proposed

schedules and outlines, or any lists of

technical coordinator assignments,

authors, or reviewers are subject to

change.

DATES: Anyone who wishes to comment

on this document may do so in writing

by February 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the

Project Work Plan for Revised Air

Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related

Photochemical Oxidants (External

Review Draft), NCEA–R–1068, contact

Diane H. Ray, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

27711; telephone: 919–541–3637;

facsimile: 919–541–1818; E-mail:

ray.diane@epa.gov. Internet users may

obtain a copy from the EPA’s National

Center for Environmental Assessment

(NCEA) home page. The URL is http://

www.epa.gov/ncea/.

Send the written comments to the

Project Manager for Ozone Project Work

Plan, National Center for Environmental

Assessment-RTP Office (MD–52), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

James Raub, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

27711; telephone: 919–541–4157;

facsimile: 919–541–1818; E-mail:

raub.james@epa.gov.

Dated: December 20, 2001.

George W. Alapas,

Acting Director, National Center for

Environmental Assessment.

[FR Doc. 01–32089 Filed 12–28–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–7123–5]

Research Needed To Improve Health

and Ecological Risk Assessment for

Ozone

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of external

review draft.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

availability of the Second External

Review Draft of a document, Research

Needed to Improve Health and

Ecological Risk Assessment for Ozone,

EPA/600/R–98/031B, prepared by the

Office of Research and Development of

the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA). The purpose of this

document is to identify the scientific

areas in which research is most needed

to improve health and ecological risk

assessment in the process of setting

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

for ozone. Many of the research needs

identified and discussed in this

document became apparent during

preparation of the Air Quality Criteria

for Ozone and Related Photochemical

Oxidants, EPA/600/P–93/004aF,bF,cF,

July 1996. The First External Review

Draft of this research needs document

was reviewed by the Clean Air

Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)