Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0156-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Pesticide Petitions: Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities
Posted Date: 2014-04-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22602-22604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09257]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0008; FRL-9907-39]

Receipt of Several Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of 
Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of filing of petitions and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the Agency's receipt of several 
initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or 
modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or 
on various commodities.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2014.

[[Page 22603]]

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number and the pesticide petition number (PP) of interest as shown 
in the body of this document, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://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.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Rossi, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

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:
    [emsp14]Crop production (NAICS code 111).
    [emsp14]Animal production (NAICS code 112).
    [emsp14]Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
    [emsp14]Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
    If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this 
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed at the end of 
the pesticide petition summary of interest.

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

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the 
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or 
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as 
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes 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 docket. 
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 submitting comments, 
remember to:
    i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying 
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
    ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
    iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and 
substitute language for your requested changes.
    iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information 
and/or data that you used.
    v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
    vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and 
suggest alternatives.
    vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of 
profanity or personal threats.
    viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.
    3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental 
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, 
including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. 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 disproportionately high and adverse human 
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticides 
discussed in this document, compared to the general population.

II. What action is the agency taking?

    EPA is announcing its receipt of several pesticide petitions filed 
under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 
21 U.S.C. 346a, requesting the establishment or modification of 
regulations in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of pesticide chemicals in 
or on various food commodities. The Agency is taking public comment on 
the requests before responding to the petitioners. EPA is not proposing 
any particular action at this time. EPA has determined that the 
pesticide petitions described in this document contain the data or 
information prescribed in FFDCA section 408(d)(2); however, EPA has not 
fully evaluated the sufficiency of the submitted data at this time or 
whether the data support granting of the pesticide petitions. After 
considering the public comments, EPA intends to evaluate whether and 
what action may be warranted. Additional data may be needed before EPA 
can make a final determination on these pesticide petitions.
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 180.7(f), a summary of each of the petitions 
that are the subject of this document, prepared by the petitioner, is 
included in a docket EPA has created for each rulemaking. The docket 
for each of the petitions is available at http://www.regulations.gov.
    As specified in FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), EPA 
is publishing notice of the petition so that the public has an 
opportunity to comment on this request for the establishment or 
modification of regulations for residues of pesticides in or on food 
commodities. Further information on the petition may be obtained 
through the petition summary referenced in this unit.
New Tolerance
    1. PP 3F8205. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0758). Syngenta Crop Protection, 
LLC, P.O. Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419, requests to establish a 
tolerance in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of the insecticide, 
thiamethoxam (3-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]tetrahydro-5-methyl-N-
nitro-4H-1,3,5-oxadiazin-4-imine) and its metabolite (N-(2-chloro-
thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-N'-methyl-N'-nitro-guanidine), in or on alfalfa, 
seed at 1 parts per million (ppm); buckwheat, grain at 0.9 ppm; corn, 
field, grain at 0.03 ppm; oat, grain at 0.9 ppm; rice, grain at 6 ppm; 
rice, straw at 2 ppm; rye, grain at 0.9 ppm; soybean at 0.02 ppm; 
sunflower, seed at 0.4 ppm; triticale, grain at 0.9 ppm; vegetable, 
legume, subgroup 6A at 0.9 ppm; vegetable,

[[Page 22604]]

legume, subgroup 6B at 0.5 ppm; vegetable, legume, subgroup 6C at 0.2 
ppm; vegetable, foliage of legume, subgroup 7A at 4 ppm; wheat, 
aspirated grain fraction at 2.5 ppm; wheat, bran at 0.5 ppm; wheat, 
germ at 0.5 ppm; wheat, grain at 0.5 ppm. Syngenta Crop Protection, 
LLC, has submitted practical analytical methodology for detecting and 
measuring levels of thiamethoxam in or on raw agricultural commodities. 
This method is based on crop specific cleanup procedures and 
determination by liquid chromatography with either ultraviolet (UV) or 
mass spectrometry (MS) detections. The limit of detection (LOC) for 
each analyte of this method is 1.25ng injected for samples analyzed by 
UV and 0.25 nanogram (ng) injected for samples analyzed by MS, and the 
limit quantification (LOQ) is 0.005 ppm for milk and juices, and 0.01 
ppm for all other substrates.
    2. PP 4F8237. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0156). Dow AgroSciences, LLC, 9330 
Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268, requests to establish a 
tolerance in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of the insecticide, 
sulfoxaflor (N-[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-
[gamma] \4\-sulfanylidene]cyanamide), in or on alfalfa, forage at 7 
parts per million (ppm); alfalfa, hay at 20 ppm; alfalfa, seed at 30 
ppm; alfalfa, silage at 9 ppm; animal feed, nongrass, group 18, forage 
at 15 ppm; animal feed, nongrass, group 18, hay at 20 ppm; animal feed, 
nongrass, group 18, silage at 9 ppm; buckwheat, forage at 1 ppm; 
buckwheat, grain at 0.08 ppm; buckwheat, hay at 1.5 ppm; buckwheat, 
straw at 2 ppm; cacao bean, dried bean at 0.15 ppm; clover forage at 15 
ppm; clover hay at 20 ppm; clover silage at 8 ppm; corn, field, forage 
at 0.5 ppm; corn, field, grain at 0.015 parts ppm; corn, field, stover 
at 0.8 ppm; corn, pop at 0.015 ppm; corn, pop, stover at 0.8 ppm; corn, 
sweet, at 0.01 ppm; corn, sweet, forage at 0.6 ppm; corn, sweet, stover 
at 0.7 ppm; millet, forage at 0.4 ppm; millet, grain at 0.3 ppm; oat, 
grain at 0.4 ppm; oat, hay at 1 ppm; oat, straw at 2 ppm; pineapple at 
0.09 ppm; rye, forage at 1 ppm; rye, grain at 0.08 ppm; rye, hay at 1.5 
ppm; rye, straw at 2 ppm; sorghum, forage at 0.4 ppm; sorghum, grain at 
0.3 ppm; sorghum, stover at 0.9 ppm; teff, forage at 1 ppm; teff, grain 
at 0.08 ppm; teff, hay at 1.5 ppm; teff, straw at 2 ppm; teosinte, 
grain at 0.015 ppm; triticale, forage at 1 ppm; triticale, grain at 
0.08 ppm; triticale, hay at 1.5 ppm; triticale, straw at 2 ppm. The 
residue profile of sulfoxaflor is adequately understood and an 
acceptable analytical method is available for enforcement purposes. 
Analytical method 091116, ``Enforcement Method for the Determination of 
Sulfoxaflor (XDE-208) and its Main Metabolites in Agricultural 
Commodities using Offline Solid-Phase Extraction and Liquid 
Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection'' was validated 
on a variety of plant matrices. The method was validated over the 
concentration range of 0.010-5.0 milligrams/kilograms (mg/kg) with a 
validated limit of detection (LOD) of 0.003 mg/kg and limit of 
quantitation (LOQ) of 0.010 mg/kg.
Amended Tolerance
    3. PP 3F8205. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0758). Syngenta Crop Protection, 
LLC, P.O. Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419, requests to amend the 
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.565 for residues of the insecticide, 
thiamethoxam (3-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]tetrahydro-5-methyl-N-
nitro-4H-1,3,5-oxadiazin-4-imine) and its metabolite (N-(2-chloro-
thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-N'-methyl-N'-nitro-guanidine), by increasing the 
existing tolerances in or on alfalfa, forage from 0.05 to 10 parts per 
million (ppm); alfalfa, hay from 0.12 to 8 ppm; barley, grain from 0.4 
to 0.9 ppm; barley, hay from 0.40 to 1.5 ppm; barley, straw from 0.40 
to 3 ppm; corn, field, forage from 0.10 to 4 ppm; corn, field, stover 
from 0.05 to 4 ppm; corn, sweet, forage from 0.10 to 5 ppm; corn, 
sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed from 0.02 to 0.03 ppm; corn, 
sweet, stover from 0.05 to 4 ppm; wheat, forage from 0.50 to 3 ppm; 
wheat, hay from 0.02 to 8 ppm; wheat, straw from 0.02 to 6 ppm. 
Concurrently, Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, requests to amend the 
tolerances in 40 CFR 180.565 by removing tolerances for residues of the 
insecticide, thiamethoxam (3-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]tetrahydro-
5-methyl-N-nitro-4H-1,3,5-oxadiazin-4-imine) in or on grain, cereal, 
group 15, except barley at 0.02 ppm; sunflower at 0.02 ppm; and 
vegetable, legume, group 6 at 0.02 ppm, upon approval of the tolerances 
listed under ``New Tolerances'' for PP 3F8205. Syngenta Crop 
Protection, LLC, has submitted practical analytical methodology for 
detecting and measuring levels of thiamethoxam in or on raw 
agricultural commodities. This method is based on crop specific cleanup 
procedures and determination by liquid chromatography with either 
ultraviolet (UV) or mass spectrometry (MS) detections. The limit of 
detection (LOC) for each analyte of this method is 1.25 ng injected for 
samples analyzed by UV and 0.25 nanogram (ng) injected for samples 
analyzed by MS, and the limit quantification (LOQ) is 0.005 ppm for 
milk and juices, and 0.01 ppm for all other substrates.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Agricultural commodities, Feed additives, 
Food additives, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Dated: April 17, 2014.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-09257 Filed 4-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P