Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0009-0071
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: The 2009 Critical Use Exemption From the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide
Posted Date: 2009-04-30T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 82 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19878-19900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9966]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 82

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0009; FRL-8899-5]
RIN 2060-AO78

Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: The 2009 Critical Use 
Exemption From the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule authorizes uses of methyl bromide that qualify 
for the 2009 critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide 
that may be produced, imported, or supplied from existing pre-phaseout 
inventory for those uses in 2009. EPA is taking action under the 
authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect a consensus decision taken at 
the Nineteenth Meeting of by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action identified 
under EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0009. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the http://www.regulations.gov site. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be 
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket 
materials are available only through http://www.regulations.gov or in 
hard copy. To obtain copies of materials in hard copy, please call the 
EPA Docket Center at (202) 564-1744 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 
p.m. E.S.T., Monday-Friday, excluding legal holidays, to schedule an 
appointment. The EPA

[[Page 19879]]

Docket Center's Public Reading Room address is EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Arling by telephone at (202) 
343-9055, or by e-mail at arling.jeremy@epa.gov or by mail at U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Stratospheric Protection Division, 
Stratospheric Program Implementation Branch (6205J), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. You may also visit the Ozone 
Depletion Web site of EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division at http://www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html for further information about EPA's 
Stratospheric Ozone Protection regulations, the science of ozone layer 
depletion, and related topics.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule concerns Clean Air Act (CAA) 
restrictions on the consumption, production, and use of methyl bromide 
(a Class I, Group VI controlled substance) for critical uses during 
calendar year 2009. Under the Clean Air Act, methyl bromide consumption 
(consumption is defined under the CAA as production plus imports minus 
exports) and production was phased out on January 1, 2005, apart from 
allowable exemptions, such as the critical use exemption and the 
quarantine and preshipment exemption. With this action, EPA is 
authorizing the uses that will qualify for the 2009 critical use 
exemption as well as specific amounts of methyl bromide that may be 
produced, imported, or sold from pre-phaseout inventory for proposed 
critical uses in 2009.
    Section 553(d) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 5, generally provides that rules may not take effect earlier 
than 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register. EPA is 
issuing this final rule under section 307(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act, 
which states: ``The provisions of section 553 through 557 * * * of 
Title 5 shall not, except as expressly provided in this section, apply 
to actions to which this subsection applies.'' Thus, section 553(d) of 
the APA does not apply to this rule. EPA is nevertheless acting 
consistently with the policies underlying APA section 553(d) in making 
this rule effective on April 30, 2009. APA section 553(d) provides an 
exception for any action that grants or recognizes an exemption or 
relieves a restriction. This final rule grants an exemption from the 
phaseout of methyl bromide.

Table of Contents

I. General Information
    Regulated Entities
II. What Is Methyl Bromide?
III. What Is the Background to the Phaseout Regulations for Ozone 
Depleting Substances?
IV. What Is the Legal Authority for Exempting the Production and 
Import of Methyl Bromide for Critical Uses Authorized by the Parties 
to the Montreal Protocol?
V. What Is the Critical Use Exemption Process?
    A. Background of the Process
    B. How Does This Final Rule Relate to Previous CUE Rules?
    C. Critical Uses
    D. Critical Use Amounts
    1. Background of Critical Use Amounts
    2. Calculation of Available Pre-Phaseout Inventory
    a. Estimated Drawdown
    b. Supply Chain Factor
    3. Approach for Determining Critical Use Amounts
    4. Treatment of Carryover Material
    5. Amounts for Research Purposes
    6. Methyl Bromide Alternatives
    7. Summary of Calculations
    E. The Criteria in Decisions IX/6 and Ex. I/4
    F. Emissions Minimization
    G. Critical Use Allowance Allocations
    H. Critical Stock Allowance Allocations
    I. Stocks of Methyl Bromide
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
    A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Paperwork Reduction Act
    C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
    H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
    I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
    J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations
    K. Congressional Review Act

I. General Information

Regulated Entities

    Entities potentially regulated by this action are those associated 
with the production, import, export, sale, application, and use of 
methyl bromide covered by an approved critical use exemption. 
Potentially regulated categories and entities include producers, 
importers, and exporters of methyl bromide; applicators and 
distributors of methyl bromide; users of methyl bromide, e.g., farmers 
of vegetable crops, fruits and nursery stock; owners of stored food 
commodities and structures such as grain mills and processors; and 
agricultural researchers.
    This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
action. To determine whether your facility, company, business, or 
organization could be regulated by this action, you should carefully 
examine the regulations promulgated at 40 CFR part 82, subpart A. If 
you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a 
particular entity, consult the person listed in the preceding section.

II. What Is Methyl Bromide?

    Methyl bromide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas which is used 
as a broad-spectrum pesticide and is controlled under the CAA as a 
Class I ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Methyl bromide is used in the 
U.S. and throughout the world as a fumigant to control a variety of 
pests such as insects, weeds, rodents, pathogens, and nematodes. 
Information on methyl bromide can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr and http://www.unep.org/ozone.
    Methyl bromide is also regulated by EPA under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and other statutes 
and regulatory authority, as well as by States under their own statutes 
and regulatory authority. Under FIFRA, methyl bromide is a restricted 
use pesticide. Restricted use pesticides are subject to Federal and 
State requirements governing their sale, distribution, and use. Nothing 
in this final rule implementing the Clean Air Act is intended to 
derogate from provisions in any other Federal, State, or local laws or 
regulations governing actions including, but not limited to, the sale, 
distribution, transfer, and use of methyl bromide. Entities affected by 
this action must continue to comply with FIFRA and other pertinent 
statutory and regulatory requirements for pesticides when importing, 
exporting, acquiring, selling, distributing, transferring, or using 
methyl bromide for critical uses. The regulations in this final rule 
only implement the CAA restrictions on the production, consumption, and 
use of methyl bromide for critical uses exempted from the phaseout of 
methyl bromide.

III. What Is the Background to the Phaseout Regulations for Ozone 
Depleting Substances?

    The regulatory requirements that limit production and consumption 
of ozone-depleting substances are in 40 CFR part 82, subpart A. The 
Montreal Protocol on

[[Page 19880]]

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) is the 
international agreement aimed at reducing and eliminating the 
production and consumption of stratospheric ozone-depleting substances. 
The U.S. was one of the original signatories to the 1987 Montreal 
Protocol and the U.S. ratified the Protocol on April 12, 1988. Congress 
then enacted, and President George H.W. Bush signed into law, the Clean 
Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA of 1990) which included Title VI on 
Stratospheric Ozone Protection, codified as 42 U.S.C. Chapter 85, 
Subchapter VI, to ensure that the United States could satisfy its 
obligations under the Protocol. EPA issued regulations to implement 
this legislation and has amended them as needed.
    Methyl bromide was added to the Protocol as an ODS in 1992 through 
the Copenhagen Amendment to the Protocol. The Parties to the Montreal 
Protocol agreed that each industrialized country's level of methyl 
bromide production and consumption in 1991 should be the baseline for 
establishing a freeze in the level of methyl bromide production and 
consumption for industrialized countries. EPA published a final rule in 
the Federal Register on December 10, 1993 (58 FR 65018), listing methyl 
bromide as a Class I, Group VI controlled substance, freezing U.S. 
production and consumption at this 1991 baseline level of 25,528,270 
kilograms, and setting the percentage of baseline allowances for methyl 
bromide granted to companies in each control period (each calendar 
year) until 2001, when the complete phaseout would occur. This phaseout 
date was established in response to a petition filed in 1991 under 
Sections 602(c)(3) and 606(b) of the CAAA of 1990, requesting that EPA 
list methyl bromide as a Class I substance and phase out its production 
and consumption. This date was consistent with Section 602(d) of the 
CAAA of 1990, which for newly listed Class I ozone depleting substances 
provides that ``no extension [of the phaseout schedule in section 604] 
under this subsection may extend the date for termination of production 
of any class I substance to a date more than 7 years after January 1 of 
the year after the year in which the substance is added to the list of 
class I substances.''
    At the Seventh Meeting of the Parties (MOP) in 1995, the Parties 
made adjustments to the methyl bromide control measures and agreed to 
reduction steps and a 2010 phaseout date for industrialized countries 
with exemptions permitted for critical uses. At that time, the U.S. 
continued to have a 2001 phaseout date in accordance with Section 
602(d) of the CAAA of 1990. At the Ninth MOP in 1997, the Parties 
agreed to further adjustments to the phaseout schedule for methyl 
bromide in industrialized countries, with reduction steps leading to a 
2005 phaseout.

IV. What Is the Legal Authority for Exempting the Production and Import 
of Methyl Bromide for Critical Uses Authorized by the Parties to the 
Montreal Protocol?

    In October 1998, the U.S. Congress amended the CAA to prohibit the 
termination of production of methyl bromide prior to January 1, 2005, 
to require EPA to bring the U.S. phaseout of methyl bromide in line 
with the schedule specified under the Protocol, and to authorize EPA to 
provide certain exemptions. These amendments were codified in Section 
604 of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7671c. The amendment that specifically 
addresses the critical use exemption appears at Section 604(d)(6), 42 
U.S.C. 7671c(d)(6). EPA revised the phaseout schedule for methyl 
bromide production and consumption in a direct final rulemaking on 
November 28, 2000 (65 FR 70795), which allowed for the phased reduction 
in methyl bromide consumption specified under the Protocol and extended 
the phaseout to 2005. EPA again amended the regulations to allow for an 
exemption for quarantine and preshipment (QPS) purposes on July 19, 
2001 (66 FR 37751), with an interim final rule and with a final rule on 
January 2, 2003 (68 FR 238).
    On December 23, 2004 (69 FR 76982), EPA published a final rule that 
established the framework for the critical use exemption, listed 
approved critical uses for 2005, and specified the amount of methyl 
bromide that could be supplied in 2005 from stocks and new production 
or import to meet the needs of approved critical uses. Since then, EPA 
has published rules applying the critical use exemption (CUE) framework 
to subsequent control periods. Under authority of section 604(d)(6) of 
the CAA, this action lists the uses that will qualify as approved 
critical uses in 2009 and the amount of methyl bromide that may be 
produced, imported, or supplied from inventory to satisfy those uses.
    This action reflects Decision XIX/9, taken at the Nineteenth 
Meeting of the Parties in September 2007. In accordance with Article 
2H(5), the Parties have issued several Decisions pertaining to the 
critical use exemption. These include Decisions IX/6 and Ex. I/4, which 
set forth criteria for review of proposed critical uses. The status of 
Decisions is addressed in NRDC v. EPA, (464 F.3d 1, DC Cir. 2006) and 
in EPA's ``Supplemental Brief for the Respondent,'' filed in NRDC v. 
EPA and available in the docket for this action. In this final rule, 
EPA is honoring commitments made by the United States in the Montreal 
Protocol context.

V. What Is the Critical Use Exemption Process?

A. Background of the Process

    The critical use exemption permits the production and import of 
methyl bromide for uses that do not have technically and economically 
feasible alternatives. On May 8, 2003, the Agency published its first 
notice in the Federal Register (68 FR 24737) announcing the 
availability of the application for a critical use exemption and the 
deadline for submission of the requisite data. EPA informed applicants 
that they may apply as individuals or as part of a group of users (a 
``consortium'') who face the same limiting critical conditions (i.e., 
specific conditions that establish a critical need for methyl bromide). 
EPA has repeated this process annually since then.
    The criteria for the exemption initially appeared in Decision IX/6. 
In that Decision, the Parties agreed that ``a use of methyl bromide 
should qualify as `critical' only if the nominating Party determines 
that: (i) The specific use is critical because the lack of availability 
of methyl bromide for that use would result in a significant market 
disruption; and (ii) there are no technically and economically feasible 
alternatives or substitutes available to the user that are acceptable 
from the standpoint of environment and public health and are suitable 
to the crops and circumstances of the nomination.'' These criteria are 
reflected in EPA's definition of ``critical use'' at 40 CFR 82.3.
    In response to the annual requests for critical use exemption 
applications published in the Federal Register, applicants provide data 
on the technical and economic feasibility of using alternatives to 
methyl bromide. Applicants also submit data on their use of methyl 
bromide, on research programs into the use of alternatives to methyl 
bromide, and on efforts to minimize use and emissions of methyl 
bromide.
    EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs reviews the data submitted by 
applicants, as well as data from governmental and academic sources, to 
establish whether there are technically and economically feasible 
alternatives available for a particular use of methyl bromide and 
whether there would be a

[[Page 19881]]

significant market disruption if no exemption were available. In 
addition, EPA reviews other parameters of the exemption applications 
such as dosage and emissions minimization techniques and applicants' 
research or transition plans. This assessment process culminates in the 
development of the critical use nomination (CUN). The U.S. Department 
of State submits the CUN annually to the United Nations Environment 
Programme (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat. The Methyl Bromide Technical 
Options Committee (MBTOC) and the Technology and Economic Assessment 
Panel (TEAP), which are independent advisory bodies to Parties to the 
Montreal Protocol, subsequently review the CUNs of the various 
countries and make recommendations to the Parties on the nominations. 
The Parties then take a Decision to authorize a critical use exemption 
for a particular country. The Decision also identifies how much methyl 
bromide may be supplied for the exempted critical uses. As required in 
Section 604(d)(6) of the Clean Air Act, for each exemption period, EPA 
consults with the United States Department of Agriculture and other 
departments and institutions of the Federal government that have 
regulatory authority related to methyl bromide, and provides an 
opportunity for public comment on the amounts of methyl bromide that 
the Agency has determined to be necessary for critical uses and the 
uses that the Agency has determined meet the criteria of the critical 
use exemption.
    More on the domestic review process and methodology employed by the 
Office of Pesticide Programs is available in a detailed memorandum 
titled ``Development of 2003 Nomination for a Critical Use Exemption 
for Methyl Bromide for the United States of America,'' contained in the 
docket for this rulemaking. While the particulars of the data continue 
to evolve and administrative matters are further streamlined, the 
technical review itself remains rigorous with careful consideration of 
new technical and economic conditions.
    On December 22, 2006, the U.S. Government (USG) submitted the fifth 
CUN to the Ozone Secretariat. This fifth nomination contained the 
request for 2009 critical uses. In February 2007, MBTOC sent questions 
to the USG concerning technical and economic issues in the 2009 
nomination. The USG transmitted preliminary responses to MBTOC on March 
13, 2007. The USG received a second round of questions from MBTOC and 
submitted responses to those questions in May, 2007. These documents, 
together with reports by the advisory bodies noted above, are in the 
public docket for this rulemaking. The determination in this final rule 
reflects the analysis contained in those documents.

B. How Does This Final Rule Relate to Previous CUE Rules?

    The December 23, 2004, Framework Rule (69 FR 76982) established the 
operational framework for the CUE program in the U.S., including 
definitions, prohibitions, trading provisions, and recordkeeping and 
reporting obligations. The preamble to the Framework Rule included 
EPA's determinations on key issues for the CUE program.
    Since then, EPA has annually promulgated regulations to exempt from 
the phaseout of methyl bromide specific quantities of production and 
import for each control period and to indicate which uses meet the 
criteria for the exemption program for that year. See 71 FR 5985 (2006 
control period), 71 FR 75386 (2007 control period), and 72 FR 74118 
(2008 control period).
    Today's action authorizes specific critical uses for 2009 and the 
amounts of critical use allowances (CUAs) and critical stock allowances 
(CSAs) allocated for those uses. These are the uses included in the 
USG's fifth CUN and authorized by the Parties in Decision XIX/9. EPA is 
not modifying the Framework Rule or the approach to determining the 
level of available stocks finalized in the 2008 CUE rule published on 
December 28, 2007.

C. Critical Uses

    In Decision XIX/9, taken in September 2007, the Parties to the 
Protocol agreed ``to permit, for the agreed critical use categories for 
2009, set forth in table C of the annex to the present decision for 
each Party, subject to the conditions set forth in the present decision 
and decision Ex.I/4 to the extent that those conditions are applicable, 
the levels of production and consumption for 2009 set forth in table D 
of the annex to the present decision which are necessary to satisfy 
critical uses. * * *''
    Table C of the annex to Decision XIX/9 lists the following uses: 
Commodities, NPMA food processing structures (cocoa beans removed),\1\ 
Mills and processors, Dried cured pork, Cucurbits, Eggplant--field, 
Forest nursery seedlings, Nursery stock--fruit, nut, flower, Orchard 
replant, Ornamentals, Peppers--field, Strawberry--field, Strawberry 
runners, Tomatoes--field, Sweet potato slips. The agreed critical use 
levels for 2009 total 4,261,974 kilograms (kg), which is equivalent to 
16.7% of the U.S. 1991 methyl bromide consumption baseline of 
25,528,270 kg. However, the maximum amount of allowable new production 
and import as set forth in Table D of Decision XIX/9 is 3,961,974 kg 
(15.5% of baseline), minus available stocks. For the reasons described 
in Section V.D of this preamble, EPA is allowing limited amounts of new 
production or import of methyl bromide for critical uses for 2009 up to 
the amount of 2,275,715 kg (8.9% of baseline), with 1,919,193 kg (7.5% 
of baseline) coming from pre-phaseout inventory (i.e., stocks).
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    \1\ NPMA, National Pest Management Association, includes both 
food processing structures and processed foods. This year's 
exemption does not include cocoa beans.
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    This final rule modifies 40 CFR part 82, subpart A, Appendix L to 
reflect the agreed critical use categories identified in Decision XIX/9 
for the 2009 control period. The Agency is amending the table of 
critical uses based, in part, on the technical analysis contained in 
the 2009 U.S. nomination that assesses data submitted by applicants to 
the CUE program as well as public and proprietary data on the use of 
methyl bromide and its alternatives. EPA sought comment on the 
technical analysis (which is provided in the docket) and as well as 
information regarding changes to the registration or use of 
alternatives that may have transpired after the 2009 U.S. nomination 
was written. The Agency stated that such information has the potential 
to alter the technical or economic feasibility of an alternative and 
could thus cause EPA to modify the analysis that underpins EPA's 
determination as to which uses and what amounts of methyl bromide 
qualify for the critical use exemption. Based on the information 
described above, EPA is determining that the uses in Table I: Approved 
Critical Uses, with the limiting critical conditions specified, qualify 
to obtain and use critical use methyl bromide in 2009.

[[Page 19882]]

                                         Table I--Approved Critical Uses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Limiting critical conditions that exist,
                                          Approved critical user and       or that the approved critical user
        Approved critical uses                  location of use          reasonably expects could arise without
                                                                               methyl bromide fumigation:
Column A                                Column B......................  Column C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 PRE-PLANT USES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cucurbits.............................  (a) Growers in Delaware,        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Maryland, and Michigan.         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Growers in Georgia and      Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Southeastern U.S. limited to    nutsedge infestation.
                                         growing locations in Alabama,  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Arkansas, Kentucky,             infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Mississippi, North  Moderate to severe root knot nematode
                                         Carolina, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, and Virginia.       A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Eggplant..............................  (a) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Georgia growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe
                                                                         nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe pythium collar, crown
                                                                         and root rot.
                                                                        Moderate to severe southern blight
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Forest Nursery Seedlings..............  (a) Growers in Alabama,         Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana,   nutsedge infestation.
                                         Mississippi, North Carolina,   Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Oklahoma, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, Texas, and          Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Virginia.
                                        (b) International Paper and     Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe
                                         growing locations in Alabama,   soilborne disease infestation.
                                         Arkansas, Georgia, South
                                         Carolina, and Texas.
                                        (c) Government-owned seedling   Moderate to severe weed infestation
                                         nurseries in Illinois,          including purple and yellow nutsedge
                                         Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,    infestation.
                                         Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio,    Moderate to severe Canada thistle
                                         Pennsylvania, West Virginia,    infestation.
                                         and Wisconsin.                 Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                        (d) Weyerhaeuser Company and    Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     nutsedge infestation.
                                         growing locations in Alabama,  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Arkansas, North Carolina, and   infestation.
                                         South Carolina.                Moderate to severe nematode or worm
                                                                         infestation.
                                        (e) Weyerhaeuser Company and    Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     infestation.
                                         growing locations in Oregon    Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         and Washington.                 infestation.
                                        (f) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe Canada thistle
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
Orchard Nursery Seedlings.............  (a) Members of the Western      Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Raspberry Nursery Consortium   Medium to heavy clay soils.
                                         limited to growing locations   Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                         in Washington, and members of   dichloropropene.
                                         the California Association of  A need for methyl bromide for research
                                         Nursery and Garden Centers      purposes.
                                         representing Deciduous Tree
                                         Fruit Growers.
                                        (b) California rose nurseries.  Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Orchard Replant.......................  (a) California stone fruit,     Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         table and raisin grape, wine   Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         grape, walnut, and almond       infestation.
                                         growers.                       Replanted orchard soils to prevent
                                                                         orchard replant disease.
                                                                        Medium to heavy soils.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
Ornamentals...........................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe weed infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.

[[Page 19883]]

 
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Michigan herbaceous         Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         perennial growers.             Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge and
                                                                         other weed infestation.
Peppers...............................  (a) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Kentucky, Louisiana,            nutsedge infestation.
                                         Mississippi, North Carolina,   Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         South Carolina, Tennessee,     Moderate to severe pythium root, collar,
                                         and Virginia growers.           crown and root rots.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Georgia growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation,
                                                                         or moderate to severe pythium root and
                                                                         collar rots.
                                                                        Moderate to severe southern blight
                                                                         infestation, crown or root rot.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes
                                        (d) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Strawberry Fruit......................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe black root rot or
                                                                         crown rot.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Carolina geranium or cut-leaf evening
                                                                         primrose infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky,    nutsedge infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Maryland,           Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Mississippi, Missouri, New     Moderate to severe black root and crown
                                         Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio,   rot.
                                         South Carolina, Tennessee,     A need for methyl bromide for research
                                         and Virginia growers.           purposes
Strawberry Nurseries..................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) North Carolina and          Moderate to severe black root rot.
                                         Tennessee growers.             Moderate to severe root-knot nematode
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow and purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Sweet Potato Slips....................  (a) California growers........  Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
Tomatoes..............................  (a) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe fungal pathogen
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,     nutsedge infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Mississippi, North  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Carolina, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, and Virginia        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         growers.                       Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and, in
                                                                         Florida, soils not supporting seepage
                                                                         irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Maryland growers..........  Moderate to severe fungal pathogen
                                                                         infestation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                POST-HARVEST USES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food Processing.......................  (a) Rice millers in the U.S.    Moderate to severe beetle, weevil, or
                                         who are members of the USA      moth infestation.
                                         Rice Millers Association.      Presence of sensitive electronic
                                                                         equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (b) Pet food manufacturing      Moderate to severe beetle, moth, or
                                         facilities in the U.S. who      cockroach infestation.
                                         are members of the Pet Food    Presence of sensitive electronic
                                         Institute.                      equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (c) Bakeries in the U.S.......  Presence of sensitive electronic
                                                                         equipment subject to corrosion.

[[Page 19884]]

 
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (d) Members of the North        Moderate to severe beetle infestation.
                                         American Millers' Association  Presence of sensitive electronic
                                         in the U.S.                     equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (e) Members of the National     Moderate to severe beetle or moth
                                         Pest Management Association     infestation.
                                         treating processed food,       Presence of sensitive electronic
                                         cheese, herbs and spices, and   equipment subject to corrosion.
                                         spaces and equipment in        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                         associated processing and
                                         storage facilities.
Commodities...........................  (a) California entities         Rapid fumigation required to meet a
                                         storing walnuts, beans, dried   critical market window, such as during
                                         plums, figs, raisins, and       the holiday season.
                                         dates (in Riverside county     Export to countries which do not allow
                                         only) in California.            the use of sulfuryl fluoride.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Dry Cured Pork Products...............  (a) Members of the National     Red legged ham beetle infestation.
                                         Country Ham Association and    Cheese/ham skipper infestation.
                                         the Association of Meat        Dermested beetle infestation.
                                         Processors, Nahunta Pork       Ham mite infestation.
                                         Center (North Carolina), and
                                         Gwaltney and Smithfield Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA proposed revising the description of the National Pest 
Management Association (NPMA) to remove the term cocoa beans in storage 
and associated spaces. NPMA has transitioned to sulfuryl fluoride for 
cocoa bean fumigation and such fumigations were not included in the CUN 
or approved by the Parties. NPMA requested that instead of the proposed 
description, EPA describe their members as ``Members of the National 
Pest Management Association treating processed food, cheese, dried 
milk, herbs and spices, and spaces and equipment in associated 
processing and storage facilities.'' The use of methyl bromide for 
dried milk was not included in the CUN or approved by the Parties. 
Therefore, EPA agrees with NPMA's revised description except for the 
inclusion of dried milk.
    EPA proposed adding ``restrictions on alternatives due to karst 
topographical features and soils not supporting seepage irrigation'' as 
a limiting critical condition for Georgia grown peppers and eggplants. 
Dow AgroSciences commented that there are no soil restrictions on the 
uses of 1,3-D in Georgia and asked that that limiting critical 
condition be revised. Dow AgroSciences is correct that ``soils not 
supporting seepage irrigation'' is not a limiting critical condition 
for Georgia and the final rule reflects this change. EPA intended this 
limiting critical condition to only reflect restrictions due to karst 
topographical features. This change does not affect the amount of 
critical use methyl bromide EPA is allocating because EPA's analysis 
only assumed limitations due to karst topographical features.
    EPA proposal inadvertently included ``Local township limits 
prohibiting 1,3-dichloropropene'' as a limiting critical condition for 
tomato growers in the Southeast. There are no such township limits in 
the Southeast. Instead, this critical condition should have been 
``Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features and, 
in Florida, soils not supporting seepage irrigation,'' as was the 
language in the 2008 CUE Rule. The final rule has added back the 
appropriate limiting critical condition for those growers in the 
Southeast.
    EPA proposed adding tomatoes grown in Maryland as a critical use 
when limited by ``high water tables and proximity to environmentally 
sensitive estuaries which limit use of 1,3-D.'' Dow AgroSciences 
commented that there are no restrictions on the uses of 1,3-D products 
in Maryland associated with high water tables or environmentally 
sensitive estuaries and asked that that Maryland tomatoes thus not be 
approved as a critical use. EPA has ascertained that there is no 
labeling restriction concerning high water tables or environmentally 
sensitive estuaries for 1,3-D and thus the final rule does not include 
this as a limiting critical condition. Moderate to severe fungal 
pathogen infestation still remains a limiting critical condition for 
Maryland tomatoes, as authorized by the Parties to the Protocol. 
Therefore, EPA is approving Maryland tomatoes as an authorized critical 
use. Removing the language concerning high water tables and proximity 
to environmentally sensitive estuaries does not affect the amount of 
critical use methyl bromide EPA is allocating because EPA's analysis 
did not include use or acreage estimates where this limiting critical 
condition would apply. Therefore, EPA is not reducing the estimated 
amount of demand or the amount of new production based on this change.
    EPA also proposed adding ``export to countries which do not allow 
the use of sulfuryl fluoride'' as a limiting critical condition for 
commodities. Dow AgroSciences commented that import Maximum Residue 
Levels (MRLs) exist in countries that import commodities treated with 
sulfuryl fluoride and asked that this limiting critical condition be 
removed. EPA disagrees with that this limiting critical condition be 
removed. EPA has accounted for the Codex MRLs in the 2007 nomination 
for use in 2009. However, many countries that the U.S. exports to set 
their own MRLs and many have not yet done so for sulfuryl fluoride. 
Therefore EPA is retaining the limiting critical condition for the use 
of methyl bromide in the commodities sector.
    Dow AgroSciences also had other comments on limiting critical 
conditions that have existed in prior CUE Rules. EPA has addressed 
those comments in the Response to Comments document contained in the 
docket for this rule.
    EPA is finalizing most of the proposed changes to the table in 
Appendix L, with the exception of the three issues discussed above. The 
remaining changes reflect the recommendations made by MBTOC and the 
critical uses authorized by the Parties to the Protocol. Specifically, 
the changes between this year's critical uses and those in 2008 are: 
adding cucurbits grown in Maryland and Delaware as a critical use

[[Page 19885]]

under the limiting critical conditions listed in the table; moving 
herbaceous perennials grown in Michigan from forest nursery seedlings 
to ornamentals; adding ``restrictions on alternatives due to karst 
topographical features'' as a limiting critical condition for Georgia 
grown peppers; adding tomatoes grown in Maryland as a critical use 
under the limiting critical conditions of ``moderate to severe fungal 
pathogen infestation''; adding ``export to countries which do not allow 
the use of sulfuryl fluoride'' as a limiting critical condition for 
commodities; and revising the description of NPMA to remove cocoa beans 
as was done in the CUN, but in a manner consistent with the CUN.
    In addition, EPA is making the following editorial changes to Table 
I to remove redundancy and ensure that the limiting critical conditions 
are described uniformly throughout. First, EPA has consolidated, into 
the same row, all critical users with the same limiting critical 
condition within a critical use. Second, EPA moved clarifying 
information from the table to the preamble to improve readability. 
Thus, EPA clarifies here that the ``local township limits prohibiting 
1,3-dichloropropene'' are prohibitions on the use of 1,3-
dichloropropene products because local township limits on use of this 
alternative have been reached. In addition, ``pet food'' under 
subsection B of Food Processing refers to food for domesticated dogs 
and cats. Finally, ``rapid fumigation'' for commodities is when a buyer 
provides short (two working days or fewer) notification for a purchase 
or there is a short period after harvest in which to fumigate and there 
is limited silo availability for using alternatives. EPA does not 
intend for these edits to change the effect of any of the limiting 
critical conditions, the approved critical user, location of use, or 
any other aspect of the table.
    Since the critical use exemption was first established, many 
critical users have transitioned to alternatives and a variety of 
sectors that were once critical uses no longer are. These uses include 
ginger, golf courses and turf production, tobacco, cocoa beans, and 
pistachios.
    The categories listed in Table I were designated as critical uses 
for 2009 in Decision XIX/9 of the Parties. The amount of methyl bromide 
approved for research purposes is included in the amount of methyl 
bromide approved by the Parties for the commodities for which 
``research purposes'' is indicated as a limiting critical condition in 
Table I. As explained in Section V.D.5., EPA is issuing CSAs to allow 
the sale of 22,171 kg of methyl bromide from existing stocks for 
research purposes, and adjusting new production accordingly.
    In accordance with the recommendations in Tables 4 and 8 of the 
TEAP's August 2007 Final Report titled ``Evaluations of 2007 Critical 
Use Nominations for Methyl Bromide and Related Matters,'' available on 
the docket for this rulemaking, EPA is allowing the following to use 
critical use methyl bromide for research purposes: commodities, 
cucurbits, eggplant (field), nursery stock (fruit, nut, flower), 
orchard replant, ornamentals, peppers (field), strawberry (field), 
strawberry runners, sweet potato slips, and tomatoes (field). As 
discussed below, EPA allows the use of newly-produced methyl bromide 
for research purposes but encourages researchers to use pre-phaseout 
inventory by reducing the amount of new production by the amount the 
Parties authorize for research. In their applications to EPA, these 
sectors identified research programs that require the use of methyl 
bromide.

D. Critical Use Amounts

    Section V.C. of this preamble explains that Table C of the annex to 
Decision XIX/9 lists critical uses and amounts agreed to by the Parties 
to the Montreal Protocol. When added together, the authorized critical 
use amounts for 2009 total 4,261,974 kilograms (kg), which is 
equivalent to 16.7% of the U.S. 1991 methyl bromide consumption 
baseline of 25,528,270 kg as defined at 40 CFR 82.3. However, the 
maximum amount of authorized new production or import as set forth in 
Table D of the annex to Decision XIX/9 is 3,961,974 kg (15.5% of 
baseline), ``minus available stocks.''
    EPA's allocation of critical use allowances and critical stock 
allowances for 2009 applies the existing regulatory framework to the 
amounts authorized by the Parties to reflect the following factors:
    (a) The amount of available stocks;
    (b) The amount of unused critical use methyl bromide at the end of 
2007 (the carryover amount); and
    (c) The amount of methyl bromide authorized for research purposes.
    Using the existing framework, EPA also proposed a reduction to 
accommodate a certain amount of transition to the recently registered 
fumigant iodomethane for some pre-plant uses. Given recent information 
concerning the reduced production of another alternative, Telone, EPA 
is not making a reduction for the uptake of alternatives in this final 
rule. Commenters' concerns about each of these reductions are described 
in the sections below.
    EPA proposed to issue 1,617,921 kg (6.3% of baseline) of critical 
use allowances (CUAs) and 2,576,987 kg (10.1% of baseline) of critical 
stock allowances (CSAs). Generally, commenters were opposed to the 
proposed level of new production, stating it would be insufficient to 
meet the needs of critical users and would result in shortages in some 
areas. Based on comments received on the proposed rule, as well as 
additional data, EPA is issuing 2,275,715 kg (8.9% of baseline) of 
critical use allowances, which allow limited amounts of new production 
and import of methyl bromide for 2009 critical uses up to the amount of 
2,275,715 kg as shown in Table III. EPA is also issuing 1,919,193 kg 
(7.5% of baseline) of critical stock allowances, which allow sales of 
1,919,193 kg from existing pre-phaseout inventories for critical uses 
in 2009. The sub-sections below explain EPA's reasons for issuing these 
critical use amounts for 2009.
1. Background of Critical Use Amounts
    The December 23, 2004, Framework Rule and subsequent CUE rules each 
took note of language regarding stocks of methyl bromide in relevant 
decisions of the Parties. In developing this action, the Agency noted 
that paragraph seven of Decision XIX/9 contains the following language: 
``that each Party which has an agreed critical use renews its 
commitment to ensure that the criteria in paragraph 1 of decision IX/6 
are applied when licensing, permitting or authorizing critical use of 
methyl bromide and, in particular, the criterion laid down in paragraph 
1(b)(ii) of decision IX/6.'' Language calling on Parties to address 
pre-phaseout inventory also appears in prior Decisions related to the 
critical use exemption.
    In the Framework Rule, which established the architecture of the 
CUE program and set out the exempted levels of critical use for 2005, 
EPA interpreted paragraph 5 of Decision Ex. I/3, which is similar to 
Decision XIX/9(7), ``as meaning that the U.S. should not authorize 
critical use exemptions without including provisions addressing 
drawdown from stocks for critical uses'' (69 FR 76987). Consistent with 
that interpretation, the Framework Rule established provisions 
governing the sale of pre-phaseout inventories for critical uses, 
including the concept of CSAs and a prohibition on the sale of pre-
phaseout inventories for critical uses in excess of the amount of CSAs 
held by the seller. In addition, EPA noted that pre-phaseout 
inventories were further taken into account through the trading 
provisions that allow CUAs

[[Page 19886]]

to be converted into CSAs. In developing this final rule, EPA did not 
propose changes to these basic CSA provisions.
    Paragraph 5 of Decision XIX/9 further addresses pre-phaseout 
inventory of methyl bromide. The Decision states ``that a Party with a 
critical use exemption level in excess of permitted levels of 
production and consumption for critical uses is to make up any such 
differences between those levels by using quantities of methyl bromide 
from stocks that the Party has recognized to be available.'' In the 
August 25, 2004, proposed Framework Rule (69 FR 52366), EPA proposed to 
adjust the authorized level of new production and consumption for 
critical uses by the amount of ``available stocks.'' The methodology 
for determining the amount of available stocks considered exports, 
methyl bromide for feedstock uses, and the need for a buffer in case of 
catastrophic events. However, the final Framework Rule did not adopt 
the proposed methodology for determining available stocks. Instead, for 
the 2005 control period EPA issued CSAs in an amount equal to the 
difference between the total authorized CUE amount and the amount of 
new production or import authorized by the Parties (Total Authorized 
CUE Amount--Authorized New Production and Import).
    EPA issued CSAs for the 2006, 2007, and 2008 control periods that 
represented not only the difference between the total authorized CUE 
amount and the amount of authorized new production and import but also 
an additional amount. In the 2006 CUE Rule, EPA issued a total of 
1,136,008 CSAs, equivalent to 4.4% of baseline. For that control 
period, the difference in the Parties' decision between the total CUE 
amount and the amount of new production and import was 3.6% of 
baseline. In the 2007 rule, EPA added to the minimum amount (6.3% of 
baseline) an additional amount (1.2% of baseline) for a total of 
1,914,600 CSAs (7.5% of baseline). In the 2008 rule, EPA added to the 
minimum amount (3.0% of baseline) an additional amount (3.8% of 
baseline) for a total of 1,729,689 CSAs (6.8% of baseline). EPA reduced 
the portion of CUE methyl bromide to come from new production and 
import in each of the 2006-2008 control periods accordingly in order to 
ensure that the total critical use allocation did not exceed the total 
amount authorized by the Parties for that year.
    As established in these earlier rulemakings, EPA views the 
allocation of additional CSA amounts as an appropriate exercise of its 
discretion. The Agency is not required to allocate the full amount of 
authorized new production and consumption. The Parties agreed to 
``permit'' a particular level of production and consumption; they did 
not--and could not--mandate that the U.S. authorize this level of 
production and consumption domestically. Nor does the CAA require EPA 
to exempt the full amount permitted by the Parties. Section 604(d)(6) 
of the Clean Air Act (CAA) does not require EPA to exempt any amount of 
production and consumption for critical uses, but instead specifies 
that the Agency ``may'' exempt amounts for production, import, and 
consumption, thus providing EPA with substantial discretion in creating 
critical use exemptions.
    The Methyl Bromide Industry Panel commented that EPA abused its 
discretion by proposing to allocate a much greater number of CSAs than 
required by the Parties to the Protocol. EPA believes that it has the 
discretion to allocate beyond the minimum stock drawdown set forth in 
the Parties' decision, as described above. EPA's basis for setting the 
specific CSA amount is detailed in the remainder of this notice.
    Prior to determining the CSA amount for a particular year, EPA 
considers what portion of ``existing'' stocks is ``available'' for 
critical uses. As discussed in the 2008 rulemaking, the Parties to the 
Protocol recognized in their Decisions that the level of existing 
stocks may differ from the level of available stocks. For example, 
Decision IX/6 states that ``production and consumption, if any, of 
methyl bromide for critical uses should be permitted only if * * * 
methyl bromide is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from 
existing stocks.'' In addition, Decision XIX/9, as well as earlier 
decisions, refers to use of ``quantities of methyl bromide from stocks 
that the Party has recognized to be available.'' Thus, it is clear that 
individual Parties have the ability to determine their level of 
available stocks. Decision XIX/9 further reinforces this concept by 
including the phrase ``minus available stocks'' as a footnote to the 
United States' authorized level of production and consumption in Table 
D. Section 604(d)(6) of the Clean Air Act does not require that EPA 
adjust the amount of new production and import to reflect the 
availability of stocks; however, as explained in previous rulemakings, 
making such an adjustment is a reasonable exercise of EPA's discretion 
under this provision. In this action, EPA did not propose to change its 
practice of adjusting the level of new production and import authorized 
by the Parties to reflect the availability of stocks.
    EPA introduced in the 2008 CUE rule a refined approach for 
determining the amount of existing methyl bromide stocks that is 
available for critical uses (72 FR 74118). That approach involves the 
concept of a ``Supply Chain Factor'' (SCF). The SCF represents EPA's 
technical estimate of the amount of methyl bromide inventory that would 
be adequate to meet a need for critical use methyl bromide after an 
unforeseen domestic production failure. The SCF is used in the formula 
finalized in the 2008 CUE rule for calculating the available stocks. 
That formula is expressed as AS = ES-D-SCF, where AS = available 
stocks; ES = existing pre-phaseout stocks of methyl bromide held in the 
United States by producers, importers, and distributors; and D = 
estimated drawdown of existing stocks. In the 2008 CUE rule, EPA stated 
that it would use this refined approach in 2008 and each year 
thereafter as appropriate and feasible (72 FR 14134). EPA is not 
changing the SCF concept or the formula finalized in the 2008 CUE rule 
for calculating the available stocks, with the exception that for 2009 
EPA will not estimate the drawdown of existing stocks during 2008 but 
rather, as was encouraged by commenters, use the actual drawdown based 
on end-of-year reported data. The SCF approach continues to be 
appropriate and feasible, as it is the most reasonable, efficient, and 
transparent way for the Agency to continue to facilitate responsible 
management of the pre-phaseout inventory.
2. Calculation of Available Pre-Phaseout Inventory
    In this action, EPA is adjusting the authorized level of new 
production and consumption for critical uses to account for the amount 
of existing pre-phaseout inventory that is ``available'' for critical 
uses. EPA is calculating the amount of existing stocks that is 
available for critical uses in 2009 based on the SCF and formula 
introduced in the 2008 CUE final rule (72 FR 74118). EPA is allowing 
sales of the amount of existing pre-phaseout inventory that the Agency 
has determined to be available for critical uses by issuing an 
equivalent number of CSAs on a one-CSA-per-one-kilogram-of-methyl-
bromide basis.
    As described in the 2008 CUE Rule, EPA calculates the amount of 
available stocks as follows: AS2009 = ES2008-
D2008-SCF2009, where AS2009 is the 
available stocks on January 1, 2009; ES2008 is the existing 
pre-phaseout stocks of methyl bromide held in the United States by 
producers, importers,

[[Page 19887]]

and distributors on January 1, 2008; D2008 is the estimated 
drawdown of existing stocks during calendar year 2008; and 
SCF2009 is the supply chain factor for 2009.
    EPA received comment from MBIP that the Agency has not adequately 
explained why using a formulaic approach is preferable to utilizing an 
amount of stocks that is more consistent with past control periods. In 
response, EPA notes that the formula for calculating available stocks 
is not a new approach: It was finalized in the 2008 CUE Rule. 
Information on the development of that formula can be found in the 
proposed and final 2008 CUE Rules, as well as in the Technical Support 
Document for the 2008 control period, which is included in the docket 
for today's action. In addition, the CSA amount allocated in today's 
final rule is within the same range as past allocations. In previous 
control periods, EPA has authorized CSAs ranging from 4.4% to 7.5% of 
baseline. As discussed below, EPA is finalizing a CSA amount of 7.5% of 
baseline.
    As established in the 2008 CUE Rule, ``ES2008'' refers 
to pre-phaseout inventory--i.e., existing stocks of methyl bromide that 
was produced before January 1, 2005, and that is still held by domestic 
producers, distributors, and third-party applicators. January 1, 2005, 
was the phaseout date for production and import of methyl bromide in 
the United States. ES2008 does not include critical use 
methyl bromide that was produced after January 1, 2005, and carried 
over into subsequent years. EPA addresses the carryover amount in 
section V.D.4 of this preamble. ``ES2008'' also does not 
include methyl bromide produced (1) under the quarantine and 
preshipment (QPS) exemption, (2) with Article 5 allowances to meet the 
basic domestic needs of Article 5 countries, or (3) for feedstock or 
transformation purposes. Methyl bromide produced for QPS uses or for 
export to Article 5 countries may not be sold to domestic entities for 
critical uses and, therefore, is separate from the CUE program. Thus, 
such amounts have been removed from the calculation of the amount of 
``available stocks'' for critical uses.
    In the proposed rule, EPA stated that unless the Agency received 
evidence to the contrary, it would assume that all pre-phaseout 
inventory is suitable for both pre-plant and post-harvest uses. EPA is 
making this assumption because the Agency has received no data that 
show that pre-phaseout inventory is mixed with chloropicrin and is 
unsuitable for post-harvest uses. One commenter requested that EPA 
require inventory holders to report information regarding the purity of 
their stocks. EPA does not believe that such a step is necessary. EPA 
has not received any data through comments or other means indicating 
that some pre-phaseout inventory is unsuitable for particular critical 
uses due to its formulation. Therefore, this final rule assumes that 
all pre-phaseout inventory is suitable for all uses.
    The Agency also sought comment on its presumption that geographic 
location is not a factor in the availability of pre-phaseout inventory. 
EPA based this conclusion on the geographic distribution of the 
companies that are granted CSAs (See Table IV) as well as end of year 
reporting data submitted by CSA holders regarding the size of their 
inventory. EPA continues to believe that geography is not a factor in 
inventory methyl bromide. However, commenters did cite regional 
shortages of inventoried methyl bromide and questioned the actual 
availability of pre-phaseout inventory. First, commenters said that 
pre-phaseout inventory is held by only a small number of distributors. 
EPA's end-of-year reporting data support this comment and this has been 
the case since methyl bromide was phased out in 2005. These 
distributors, however, serve the major markets for methyl bromide. 
Thus, even though there may be a small number of distributors, this 
does not necessarily limit the ability to supply customers in different 
regions.
    Second, EPA has received comment that these distributors will 
likely continue to supply their existing client base, which consist 
mainly of non-CUE users. These commenters also state that EPA has no 
authority to require distributors to sell their material to critical 
users. As a result, the commenters state that critical users who are 
unable to purchase newly produced material will not have access to any 
methyl bromide and that the Agency should assume all inventoried 
material to be unavailable and increase the amount of new production to 
the level authorized by the Parties.
    EPA disagrees that it should allocate increased production of new 
methyl bromide in response to distributors' decisions not to sell their 
pre-phaseout inventory to critical users. Issues concerning supply of 
pre-phaseout inventory are addressed in the Response to Comment 
Document for the 2008 CUE Rule. Briefly, EPA regards this material as 
``available'' because it is owned by someone other than the end user. 
While a distributor might prefer to sell methyl bromide to non-critical 
users to satisfy prior contracts or internal business decisions, this 
is not the result of any EPA regulatory constraint. EPA does not 
currently require the sale of inventory to critical users. However, 
beginning in 2010, distributors will be unable to sell to non-critical 
users due to labeling changes to methyl bromide. Under the 
Reregistration Eligibility Determination (RED) for methyl bromide soil 
fumigation uses issued in July 2008, uses already considered critical 
by the Parties have been considered eligible for reregistration, along 
with QPS uses. More information is available in the methyl bromide RED, 
available on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/methylbromide-red.pdf.
a. Estimated Drawdown
    In the 2008 CUE rule, EPA estimated the drawdown of existing stocks 
(D2008) by using a simple linear fit estimation of inventory 
data from all available years. For the 2009 CUE rule, EPA proposed to 
estimate drawdown using an exponential projection. Using that method, 
EPA projected that the pre-phaseout methyl bromide inventory, which was 
6,457,806 kg on January 1, 2008, would be drawn down by 1,528,806 kg 
during 2008 resulting in a pre-phaseout inventory of 4,929,000 kg on 
January 1, 2009. Under the exponential model, 2,576,987 kg (10.1% of 
baseline) of existing pre-phaseout stocks of methyl bromide would have 
been deemed ``available'' for critical uses on January 1, 2009. EPA 
also provided the results of the linear model for comment. Under the 
linear model, EPA estimated a much greater drawdown leading to a lower 
amount of available stocks, 777 MT (3% of baseline), in 2009. EPA 
invited comment on those two different analyses or any alternative 
method of estimating drawdown. Comments were unanimous that EPA should 
use actual end-of-year data on inventory levels instead of a 
statistical estimate of drawdown. EPA agrees that it would be less 
accurate to use an estimate when the Agency has actual reported data at 
the time it is preparing the final rule. Therefore, for 2009, EPA is 
using actual end-of-year data submitted to the Agency under the 
reporting requirements of 40 CFR 82.13. EPA responds to additional 
comments about various statistical methods in the response to comments 
document. EPA is not deciding in this action how to calculate the 
drawdown for future years. Such calculations may use an estimate or 
actual reported data depending on the timing of those future rules.
    The Methyl Bromide Industry Panel, in its comment to the Agency, 
provided

[[Page 19888]]

EPA with preliminary data regarding the size of the pre-phaseout 
inventory. MBIP collected this data through an outside accounting firm 
who contacted most of the CSA holders in mid-December. The data showed 
that in mid-December, the inventory was 4,252,931 kilograms. EPA 
welcomed this initial estimate because it provided crucial early 
information in formulating a final rule before the end of year data was 
reported February 15. The Agency may find such information to be useful 
in drafting future CUE allocation rules as well. In this final rule, 
EPA is using the actual end-of-year data as it is more complete than 
the information MBIP submitted.
    The reported inventory on December 31, 2008, was 4,271,226 kg. This 
is less than the 4,929,000 kilograms that EPA estimated under the 
exponential model (although more than the 3,129,000 kg estimated by the 
linear model). This means that the drawdown for 2008 was 2,186,600 kg. 
The effect of this value on the levels for new production and CSAs is 
discussed in more detail below.
    EPA also asked for comment on its discussion of the market 
conditions that could be affecting the decline in inventory use, 
including whether inventory during 2008 is being depleted at rates 
similar to 2007 or whether it is being depleted faster than that. For 
2008, the drawdown did not appear to have adhered precisely to either 
an exponential or linear curve. EPA still believes that the market 
conditions in 2008 are substantively different from those in 2004, as 
described in the proposed rule. First, the Critical Use Exemption 
process did not exist in 2004, as that was the last year of the methyl 
bromide phaseout. EPA believes that the economics and use patterns 
since the 2005 phaseout differ from those pre-phaseout. Second, at the 
beginning of 2004, the inventory was 16,422,000 kg MT, a substantially 
higher amount than an inventory of 4,271,226 kg at the end of 2008. 
Third, the price of methyl bromide has increased roughly 30-50% since 
2004. Therefore, today growers face stronger economic incentive to use 
alternatives and reduce application rates than they did in 2004. 
Fourth, more alternatives are available, including sulfuryl fluoride 
and iodomethane, reducing the total demand for methyl bromide. However, 
the comments suggest that the rate of drawdown at this point is based 
mostly on the business decisions of the companies that hold pre-
phaseout inventory. In the proposed rule, EPA stated that less of the 
inventory was used for non-critical uses in 2007 than 2006. In 2006, 
1,519 MT of pre-phaseout inventory was for non-critical uses, whereas 
in 2007, this dropped to 291 MT. This pattern does not appear to 
continue through 2008. Preliminary review of the data submitted for 
2008 show an increase in sales of inventory for non-critical uses. The 
exact amounts will be contained in the 2008 Accounting Framework 
submitted to UNEP in late spring 2009.
    The goal of EPA's methodology for the CSA allocation is to allocate 
CSAs equal to ``available stocks'' such that the private sector has the 
flexibility to retain in inventory the amount needed in case of a 
catastrophic supply chain failure (the Supply Chain Factor). As the 
Agency stated in the 2008 CUE Rule and in Section V.D.3 below, once the 
inventory declines below the SCF level, the Agency will not require any 
additional drawdown of stocks beyond what is required in the 
authorization by the Parties to the Protocol for that control period.
b. Supply Chain Factor
    The supply chain factor (SCF) represents EPA's technical estimate 
of the amount of pre-phaseout inventory that would be adequate to meet 
a need for critical use methyl bromide after an unforeseen domestic 
production failure. As described in the 2008 CUE rule, EPA estimated 
that in the event of a major supply disruption, it would take 15 weeks 
for significant imports of methyl bromide to reach the U.S. Using 
updated numbers on average production during each quarter of the year, 
EPA estimated in the proposed 2009 CUE rule that critical use 
production in the first 15 weeks of each year (the peak supply period) 
accounts for 55% of annual critical use methyl bromide production. In 
the proposed rule, EPA estimated that the peak 15-week shortfall in 
2009 could be 2,352,013 kg (55.186% x 4,261,974 kg). EPA received two 
comments regarding the SCF. The MBIP generally supported the inclusion 
of the SCF but commented that it should be equivalent to one year's 
supply of material rather than 55%, which they asserted would not be 
sufficient to meet the needs of critical users were a catastrophic 
disruption to occur. EPA disagrees with this comment, as it relates to 
decisions made in the 2008 CUE Rule rather than any new decisions made 
for 2009. MBIP made the same comment in the 2008 proposed rule and EPA 
responded to their comments in the 2008 Response to Comments document 
contained in the docket to this rule. As EPA states in that document, 
the SCF is based on conservative assumptions about the effect of a 
disruption.
    MBIP also commented that the rate of inventory drawdown that would 
result from the new production levels in the proposed rule would lead 
to too little stockpiled methyl bromide for a Supply Chain Factor in 
2010 and beyond. EPA disagrees that this will occur. First, as 
discussed elsewhere, this final rule allocates more for new production 
and authorizes less to be taken from stocks than the proposed rule. 
Second, EPA has calculated a preliminary estimate of the SCF for 2010 
based on the amounts authorized by the Parties, and believes that there 
will be sufficient inventory to meet the SCF.
    Ultimately, MBIP's comment appears to be based on the assumption 
that the Agency seeks through this rule to deplete the inventory to 
zero. EPA reiterates that the Agency's purpose in utilizing the SCF is 
to give the private sector the flexibility to retain in inventory the 
amount needed in case of a catastrophic supply chain failure. EPA does 
believe that the amount of drawdown should exceed the minimum amount 
required by the Parties to the Protocol as long as the inventory 
remains above the SCF level. While MBIP's comment suggested that EPA 
simply maintain the same level of CSAs as was finalized last year, the 
Agency believes that using the available stocks formula adopted in the 
2008 CUE Rule provides a more rigorous approach. While MBIP states that 
under the proposed rule, the level of existing stocks would be 
``dangerously close to EPA's 55% SCF target,'' EPA believes that this 
is appropriate, as it is the Agency's goal to draw down inventory 
levels to the SCF target.
    EPA also received comments from Dow AgroSciences, which argued that 
the SCF is unnecessarily conservative, given the remoteness of an event 
such as an unforeseen domestic production failure occurring. As EPA 
stated in the 2008 CUE Rule, the Agency did not conduct a statistical 
or probability analysis of the likelihood of this scenario. EPA 
recognizes that a catastrophic loss is unlikely, but this does not 
obviate the need to plan for such a scenario. Methyl bromide, unlike 
most commercial chemicals, is produced at only one facility. Therefore, 
a scenario in which this facility completely ceases production is of 
special concern. While EPA expects private entities to take prudent 
steps to protect themselves, EPA does not wish to render them incapable 
of maintaining a reasonable supply buffer.
    EPA explained in the 2008 CUE rule that the SCF is affected by the 
uptake of alternatives, because the SCF is based on the peak demand and 
the uptake of

[[Page 19889]]

alternatives affects the peak demand for methyl bromide. The proposed 
rule did not adjust for the uptake of iodomethane because the analysis 
had not yet been completed. Since then, EPA has developed projections 
for uptake of iodomethane in 2009. Nevertheless, the allocation in the 
final rule does not explicitly reflect uptake of iodomethane because, 
due to the Telone shortage discussed below, the Agency is not making 
any reductions to account for the uptake of alternatives. Therefore, 
EPA will finalize the proposed value of 2,352,013 kg for the SCF. 
Consistent with the 2008 CUE rule, this is a conservative estimate of 
the amount of methyl bromide needed to cover a supply disruption during 
the estimated peak 15-week period of critical use supply.
    As stated in the 2008 CUE Rule, EPA reiterates that the SCF is not 
a ``reserve'' or ``strategic inventory'' of methyl bromide. Rather, it 
is merely an analytical tool used to provide greater transparency 
regarding how the Agency determines CSA amounts, in cases where CSA 
amounts are greater than the amounts stipulated by the Parties. For 
further general discussion of the SCF, see the final 2008 CUE rule (72 
FR 74118). Further detail about the analysis used to derive the value 
for the 2009 SCF is provided in the Technical Support Document 
available on the public docket for this rulemaking.
3. Approach for Determining Critical Use Amounts
    In the proposed rule, EPA applied the SCF to estimate that 
2,576,987 of pre-phaseout inventory would be ``available stocks''. 
Following its CSA allocation framework, EPA proposed to allow the sale 
of 2,576,987 kg from existing stocks for critical uses in 2008 by 
allocating an equivalent number of CSAs. As in past years, EPA proposed 
to adjust the critical use allowance (CUA) amounts accordingly, so that 
the total number of CUAs and CSAs is not greater than the total 
critical use amount authorized by the Parties. The proposed rule noted 
that under EPA's framework, the Agency may allocate a total number of 
CUAs and CSAs that is less than the total critical use amount 
authorized by the Parties for 2009 to account for carryover amounts of 
methyl bromide, amounts for research purposes or other appropriate 
reasons, including updated information on alternatives.
    EPA received one comment that the total number of CUAs and CSAs 
should not be less than the amount authorized by the Parties to the 
Protocol because the full amount is needed for critical uses. In making 
reductions for research purposes and to account for carryover material, 
EPA is following its existing framework. The reductions for these 
purposes are both necessary and appropriate, as discussed below. 
Furthermore, these reductions are minor. While the Parties approved 
4,261,974 kg (or 16.7% of baseline) for use in 2009, this final rule 
allocates 4,194,908 kg (or 16.4% of baseline). EPA believes that this 
total CUE amount in the final rule meets the needs of critical users 
while still responding to decisions taken by the Parties regarding 
carryover and research amounts.
    More commenters were concerned about the level of CSAs than the 
total amounts of CUAs and CSAs being allocated. Commenters stated that 
the ratio of CUAs to CSAs was inappropriate and would also not allow 
for production or import of enough new material to meet the needs of 
critical users. As discussed elsewhere in this preamble, EPA is 
finalizing CUAs and CSAs based on new inventory data which will allow 
for greater levels of new production. The CUAs and CSAs in this final 
rule were calculated using the approach adopted in the 2008 CUE Rule, 
but have changed from the proposal because of new data showing the 
actual inventory levels at the end of 2008. Some commenters may still 
contend that inventory is declining too rapidly and that new production 
should thus be increased. As stated elsewhere in this preamble, EPA 
believes that it has appropriately applied its discretion regarding the 
rate of drawdown of pre-phaseout inventory. Consistent with the 2008 
CUE Rule, the allocations for 2009 continue to allow private entities 
to maintain an amount equal to the ``supply chain factor''--i.e., an 
amount that would allow continued availability of pre-phaseout 
inventory in the event of a catastrophic disruption to supply. As 
discussed above, this approach is consistent with the relevant 
Decisions of the Parties, especially Table D of the Annex to Decision 
XIX/9, which for 2009 explicitly authorizes for the United States a 
certain amount of new production and import ``minus available stocks.'' 
After considering all of the comments received, EPA believes that this 
is the most reasonable, efficient, and transparent way for the Agency 
to continue to facilitate responsible management of pre-phaseout 
inventory. EPA calculates that, as of January 1, 2009, 1,919,193 kg of 
pre-phaseout inventory meets the definition of ``available stocks'' as 
calculated using the approach described in Section V.D.2. of this 
preamble. Therefore, with this action the Agency is allowing 1,919,193 
kg of methyl bromide to be supplied from pre-phaseout inventory for 
critical uses in 2009 by issuing an equivalent number of CSAs, and 
adjusting the amount of CUAs accordingly. EPA also calculates that 
there will be sufficient pre-phaseout inventory at the beginning of the 
2010 control period to satisfy the amount of 2010 inventory drawdown 
(470,000 kg) for critical uses identified by the Parties in Decision 
XX/5.
    To summarize, the critical use amounts authorized by the Parties in 
Decision XIX/9 for 2009 total 4,261,974 kg. The maximum amount of 
authorized new production or import as set forth in Table D of the 
Annex to Decision XIX/9 is 3,961,974 kg, ``minus available stocks.'' 
Applying the ``available stocks'' approach finalized in the 2008 CUE 
Rule, EPA is expecting 1,919,193 kg of 2009 critical use needs to be 
met from pre-phaseout inventory and thus is issuing CSAs in that 
amount. As in past years, EPA is adjusting the amount of CUAs 
accordingly, so that the sum of CUAs and CSAs is not greater than the 
total amount authorized by the Parties. After accounting for the 
additional reductions for unsold critical use methyl bromide at the end 
of 2007 and reductions to encourage research amounts to be supplied 
from pre-phaseout inventory, EPA is allowing 2,275,715 kg of new 
production and import for critical uses in 2009.
4. Treatment of Carryover Material
    As described in the December 23, 2004, Framework Rule (69 FR 
76997), EPA is not permitting entities to build stocks of methyl 
bromide produced or imported after January 1, 2005, under the critical 
use exemption. Under the current regulations, quantities of methyl 
bromide produced, imported, exported, or sold to end-users under the 
critical use exemption in a calendar year must be reported to EPA the 
following year. These reporting requirements appear at 40 CFR 
82.13(f)(3), 82.13(g)(4), 82.13(h)(1), 82.13(bb)(2), and 82.13(cc)(2). 
EPA uses the reported information to calculate the amount of critical 
use methyl bromide that has been produced or imported in that control 
period but not exported or sold to end-users in that year. An amount 
equivalent to this ``carryover,'' whether pre-plant or post-harvest, is 
then deducted from the total level of allowable new production and 
import in the year following the year of the data report. For example, 
EPA deducted the amount of carryover from 2006 (reported in 2007) from 
the allowable amount of production or import for critical uses in 2008. 
As discussed in

[[Page 19890]]

Section V.D.2., carryover material is not included in EPA's definition 
of existing stocks (ES) as it applies to the formula for determining 
the amount of available stocks (AS). EPA is not including carryover 
amounts as part of ES, because doing so could lead to a double-counting 
of carryover amounts, with proportionate effects on the calculation of 
critical use allowances (CUAs).
    EPA stated in the proposed rule that it calculates the amount of 
carryover CUE material each year based on data reported to EPA by 
distributors and applicators regarding sales to end-users. In 2008, 57 
entities reported information to EPA under the reporting requirements 
at 40 CFR 82.13 about critical use methyl bromide production, imports, 
exports, sales, and/or inventory holdings in 2007. In 2007, 4,314,150 
kg of critical use methyl bromide was acquired through production or 
import. The information reported to EPA indicates that 4,269,255 kg of 
critical use methyl bromide was exported or sold to end-users in 2007. 
The carryover amount at the end of 2007 was thus 44,895 kg, which is 
the difference between the reported amount of critical use methyl 
bromide acquired in 2007 and the reported amount of exports or sales of 
that material to end users in 2007 (4,314,150 kg-4,269,255 kg = 44,895 
kg). EPA's calculation of the amount of carryover at the end of 2007 is 
consistent with the method used in the final 2008 CUE Rule, and with 
the method agreed to by the Parties in Decision XVI/6, which 
established the Accounting Framework for critical use methyl bromide, 
for calculating column L of the U.S. the Accounting Framework. The 2007 
U.S. Accounting Framework is available in the public docket for this 
rulemaking.
    As a result of stakeholder concerns regarding the completeness of 
reporting and in response to public comment, EPA stated in the 2008 CUE 
Rule that it would collect the names of all distributors and third-
party applicators with critical use exemption reporting requirements 
under 40 CFR 82.13 using its information gathering authority under 
section 114 of the Clean Air Act. On January 31, 2008, EPA sent letters 
to all producers, distributors, and third-party applicators of critical 
use methyl bromide that it was aware of asking for ``the name and 
address of each non-end user entity (i.e. distributors of methyl 
bromide and third-party applicators of methyl bromide) to which your 
company sold critical use methyl bromide during calendar year 2007.'' 
As a result, EPA received contact information for distributors and 
third-party applicators that had never reported sales data to EPA as 
well as actual sales reports from some of those new entities. On March 
11, 2008, the Agency sent a follow-up letter to the previously unknown 
entities that had not reported sales data for 2007 and reminded them of 
their reporting obligations under 40 CFR 82.13. The Agency received 18 
responses from previously unknown entities satisfying the required 
annual reporting requirements.
    MBIP suggested that EPA calculate the carryover as the sum of all 
critical use methyl bromide that companies report as being held in 
inventory. MBIP raised this issue in the 2008 CUE Rule and EPA 
continues to maintain that the established methodology is a simple and 
accurate way to calculate the carryover amount each year and that 
adjusting the established method could create international confusion 
about U.S. reporting. More details of MBIP's proposals to modify how 
the carryover amount is calculated, as well as EPA's response, are 
found in the 2008 CUE Rule Preamble and Response to Comments document.
    In previous CUE rules, EPA has used the approach described in the 
Framework Rule for implementing carryover reductions. Consistent with 
that approach, EPA is reducing the total level of new production and 
import for critical uses by 44,895 kg to reflect the total level of 
carryover material in existence at the end of 2007.
5. Amounts for Research Purposes
    There continues to be a need for methyl bromide for research 
purposes. A common example is an outdoor field experiment that requires 
methyl bromide as a standard control treatment with which to compare 
the trial alternatives' results. EPA notes that the use of methyl 
bromide under the critical use exemption for research is distinct from 
the use of methyl bromide under the laboratory and analytical use 
exemption. Research uses under the critical use exemption refer to 
field trials of alternative fumigants where methyl bromide is used as a 
control. Research uses under the laboratory and analytical use 
exemption refer to methyl bromide used as a reference or standard; in 
laboratory toxicology studies; to compare the efficacy of methyl 
bromide and its alternatives inside a laboratory; and as a laboratory 
agent which is destroyed in a chemical reaction in the manner of 
feedstock. Decision XVIII/15(1). The critical use sectors that were 
approved by the Parties to use methyl bromide for research purposes in 
2009 are listed in Section V.C. and have ``research purposes'' as a 
limiting critical condition in Table I of this preamble. While use of 
methyl bromide for the research purposes listed in that section is a 
critical use, EPA has consistently encouraged research needs be met 
through the sale of inventory by deducting the amount needed for 
research from the overall critical use production level and issuing 
additional CSAs in that amount.
    MBIP commented that because the inventory is so low, EPA should 
increase the level of new production by 22,171 kg instead of issuing 
CSAs for that amount. EPA disagrees, and a detailed analysis of the 
amount of available stocks, explained further in Section V.D.2 of this 
preamble, finds that more than 1,900,000 kg of pre-phaseout inventory 
is available for critical uses. EPA is therefore allowing the sale of 
22,171 kg of pre-phaseout inventory for research purposes in 2009 to 
account for the amount authorized for those purposes. EPA is allowing 
methyl bromide sale from stocks for exempted research purposes by 
expending CSAs. The Agency continues to encourage methyl bromide 
suppliers to sell inventory to researchers and to encourage researchers 
to purchase inventory for research purposes.
6. Methyl Bromide Alternatives
    In this rule, as in previous CUE rules, EPA has considered new data 
regarding alternatives that was not available at the time the U.S. 
Government submitted its Critical Use Nomination (CUN) to the Parties. 
EPA has used this new information in deciding whether to adjust the 
amount of new production. For example, in the 2006 CUE Rule (71 FR 
5985), EPA adjusted the allocation for new production in order to 
account for the recent registration of sulfuryl fluoride. That 
allocation reflected transition rates that were included for the first 
time in the 2007 U.S. Critical Use Nomination (CUN). In the 2007 CUE 
Rule (72 FR 74139), EPA explained that the transition rates had already 
been applied as part of the international review process for that year 
and did not apply them as part of the Agency's domestic rulemaking. EPA 
did, however, reduce the total volume of critical use methyl bromide in 
the final CUE rule for 2008 by 27,769 kg because the transition rates 
did not account for the uptake of iodomethane in various pre-plant 
sectors or sulfuryl fluoride in cocoa fumigation.
    For 2009, EPA is taking into consideration new information about 
iodomethane and Telone. Absent other factors, new data on the uptake of 
iodomethane in 2009 would lead the Agency to adjust the CUA allocation 
to

[[Page 19891]]

account for the uptake of this alternative. Through the public 
comments, EPA also received information regarding a shortage in Telone 
production, the magnitude of which is uncertain but expected to be 
significant. EPA therefore believes that it would be imprudent to make 
a reduction for iodomethane in the face of this substantial but 
currently unquantifiable reduction in Telone. EPA also received 
comments regarding the uptake of sulfuryl fluoride. As described below, 
the Agency does not believe that this information is new or sufficient 
to adjust new production levels for 2009. Therefore, EPA is not making 
any adjustment to the authorized amount of new production to account 
for new data regarding alternatives.
    EPA proposed to reduce critical use allowances to account for new 
information about the uptake of iodomethane. The TEAP report of August 
2007 included reductions based on the transition rates for alternatives 
considered in the 2009 CUN. These alternatives included sulfuryl 
fluoride, but not iodomethane, which was not yet registered for use. 
The TEAP's recommendations were then considered in the Parties' 2009 
authorization amounts, as listed in Decision XIX/9. Therefore, with the 
exception of iodomethane, transition rates accounting for the uptake of 
alternatives like sulfuryl fluoride have already been applied for 
authorized 2009 critical use amounts. Furthermore, the 2010 CUN, which 
is the U.S. Government's last opportunity to adjust the 2009 
authorization, did not conclude that transition rates should be 
increased for 2009. As the 2010 CUN reflected, the United States 
Government had not found new information that supports changing the 
2009 transition rates included in the 2009 CUN and applied by MBTOC.
    After considering new information about iodomethane, EPA expects 
that in 2009 iodomethane will be a technically and economically 
feasible alternative for many pre-plant applications. Beginning in Fall 
2008, iodomethane obtained a full pesticide registration for use as a 
soil fumigant by EPA for a limited number of crops. Iodomethane also 
received state registrations by all states except California, New York, 
and Washington.
    Iodomethane is currently registered on food crops (peppers, 
tomatoes, strawberries) and non-food nursery crops (ornamentals, forest 
seedlings, and strawberry nurseries). EPA has assumed uptake on only 
the food crops at this time. Although it is registered on non-food 
nursery crops, the Agency has not assumed any uptake for 2009. This is 
in keeping with the Agency's policy of being protective of nursery 
crops until there is certainty that use of the newly registered 
alternative is efficacious on nematodes, diseases, and fungi and can 
meet any certification requirement. There are two major CUE food crops 
that do not have an iodomethane registration: Curcurbits and eggplants. 
EPA did not estimate any uptake on those crops. For the crops and 
states where iodomethane is registered, EPA has estimated that an 
additional 15 percent of the critical use methyl bromide authorized by 
the Parties for 2009 can transition to iodomethane use. The Agency's 
analysis, described in a memo on the docket for this action, estimates 
that iodomethane can feasibly replace 262,035 kg of methyl bromide in 
2009.
    MBIP commented that EPA may not reduce new production to account 
for the uptake of iodomethane because EPA did not provide a meaningful 
opportunity to comment. MBIP states that EPA did not explain the 
factors it would consider in assessing the uptake of iodomethane or 
include a memo in the docket setting forth the Agency's methodology, 
and that accounting for anything other than a de minimis uptake of 
iodomethane would be contrary to administrative law. EPA disagrees that 
it could not account for the uptake of iodomethane in the final rule. 
EPA provided for reference the estimated market uptake for iodomethane 
in the 2008 CUE Rule along with the number of states in which 
iodomethane was registered at that time compared to the date of the 
proposed rule. While EPA did not place the analysis conducted for the 
2008 CUE Rule in the 2009 Rule docket prior to proposal, EPA's 
methodology for estimating uptake can be found in the docket to the 
2008 Final CUE Rule and has been reviewed and commented upon by MBIP in 
the past. EPA believes that it has the discretion to make a reduction 
to account for iodomethane uptake based on the information provided in 
the proposal and the methodology used in 2008. However, as discussed 
further below, EPA is not making such a reduction in this rule.
    EPA also received comments that it should make reductions for 
increased use of sulfuryl fluoride. As described above, data about the 
uptake of sulfuryl fluoride was included in the 2009 CUN and thus was 
included in the TEAP's August 2007 recommendations. Dow AgroSciences 
commented that sulfuryl fluoride can currently replace 100% of current 
post-harvest methyl bromide uses and that EPA should therefore reduce 
the allocation of methyl bromide to account for market advances of 
sulfuryl fluoride. EPA does not believe that the data Dow AgroSciences 
submitted was applicable to the 2009 control period. Additionally, Dow 
AgroSciences did not submit economic data regarding the transition to 
sulfuryl fluoride. While many post-harvest users submitted comment 
expressing support for sulfuryl fluoride as an efficacious fumigant, 
the Agency does not yet have the economic data to support a faster 
transition rate in 2009 than was contained in the CUN. Therefore, EPA 
is not reducing new production of methyl bromide to account for the 
adoption of sulfuryl fluoride in the post-harvest sector.
    EPA also received information that Dow AgroSciences has reduced its 
production of 1,3-D (marketed as Telone) for the first half of 2009. 
The comment states, and the Agency has confirmed, that 1,3-D is a co-
product of a chemical used in the plastics industry. The recent 
downturn in the economy has resulted in less demand of that chemical. 
Dow AgroSciences has produced less of that chemical and as a result the 
production of 1,3-D has similarly declined. Commenters believe that 
this shortage will place greater pressure on stockpiled methyl bromide 
as growers facing a shortage of Telone will be forced to rely on the 
pre-phaseout inventory.
    EPA agrees that a shortage of Telone in 2009 will result in a 
greater reliance on methyl bromide, whether newly produced or pre-
phaseout inventory. Some growers who had planned to transition to 
Telone this year will likely not do so and others who had already 
transitioned to Telone may instead have to revert to methyl bromide for 
this season. Other crops that use Telone, such a potatoes and tobacco, 
will not be able to switch to critical use methyl bromide in 2009 as 
they are not critical use crops.
    The Agency believes that it should treat the new information on 
Telone shortages in the same way as other new data on alternatives. In 
previous CUE rules, EPA has reduced the amount of new production to 
account for the expected uptake of alternatives such as sulfuryl 
fluoride and iodomethane. In this instance, EPA believes that it should 
not ignore the new information about the reduced production and 
therefore opportunity for use of an alternative. This reduction in 
supply directly affects the economic feasibility of Telone in a way not 
contemplated in the CUN.
    EPA is currently unable to quantify the effect that a reduction in 
Telone

[[Page 19892]]

production may have on critical users of methyl bromide. EPA does not 
know how long the reduction will last because it is due to a downturn 
in the economy, and the demand for the chemical with which 1,3-D is co-
produced. While Dow AgroSciences has only announced this decision for 
the first half of 2009, neither Dow AgroSciences nor EPA can estimate 
the length of the economic downturn. EPA is thus unable to estimate the 
extent of the shortage.
    EPA does have some data, however, to suggest that there will be an 
effect and that action is warranted. EPA anticipates this effect will 
be greater in California, which has not registered iodomethane, than in 
the Southeast where that alternative is available. In 2007, Telone was 
the fifth-most-used pesticide in California by pounds of active 
ingredient, according to the California Department of Pesticide 
Regulation. According to that data, strawberries are the largest user 
of Telone, with over 860,000 kg applied in 2007. Another 356,000 kg 
were used for ``soil fumigation/preplant.'' Using this data, EPA 
estimates that at least 1,450,000 kg of Telone were applied in 
California in 2007 on CUE crops. This compares to the 4,269,255 kg of 
methyl bromide used throughout the U.S. in 2007, as reported to UNEP in 
the 2007 Accounting Framework. Any reduction in Telone production will 
therefore likely result in an increase in the use of methyl bromide, 
assuming the limiting critical conditions are met. EPA notes, however, 
that Telone usage on CUE crops is only a small fraction of the total 
amount of Telone used. EPA estimates that about 13,000,000 kg of Telone 
is used on a variety of crops, with potatoes and tobacco constituting 
about half of that use. The effect on methyl bromide will depend in 
large part on how Telone is distributed, and whether some growers will 
have greater access to what is produced than others.
    Given these uncertainties, EPA is unable to model the effects of 
the shortage with the same precision used to model the uptake of 
iodomethane. The Agency does anticipate pressure on newly produced 
methyl bromide as well as pre-phaseout inventory as a result of this 
shortage. EPA believes that it would be imprudent to make a reduction 
for iodomethane in the face of this substantial but unquantifiable 
reduction in Telone production. Therefore, for the 2009 control period, 
EPA is not adjusting the amount of new production either upward or 
downward to account for new information regarding alternatives. For the 
same reasons, EPA is also not making a reduction for the uptake of 
alternatives when calculating the supply chain factor. EPA will 
consider any appropriate adjustments for iodomethane and Telone in the 
2010 CUE Rule based on information available at the time that rule is 
developed.
7. Summary of Calculations
    The calculations described above for determining the level of new 
production and critical stock allowances are summarized in Table II 
below:

                    Table II--Summary of Calculations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Kilograms
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Step 1: Calculate supply chain factor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. authorization for 2009..........................          4,261,974
    - Further reduction for uptake of alternatives...                  0
    = One year's CUE need............................          4,261,974
    x Percentage of year's production to recover from            55.186%
     production failure..............................
    = Supply Chain Factor............................          2,352,013
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Step 2: Calculate available stocks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing pre-phaseout inventory on January 1, 2008             6,457,806
 (``ES2008'')........................................
    - Drawdown of inventory during 2008 (``D2008'')..          2,186,600
    - Supply Chain Factor............................          2,352,013
    = Available stocks (``AS2009'') = Critical Stock           1,919,193
     Allowance.......................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Step 3: Calculate carryover
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reported as produced/imported in 2007................          4,314,150
    - Reported as sold in 2007.......................          4,269,255
    = Carryover......................................             44,895
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Step 4: Calculate new production
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. authorization for 2009..........................          4,261,974
    - Critical Stock Allowance (Step 2)..............          1,919,193
    - Carryover (Step 3).............................             44,895
    - Amounts Used for Research......................             22,171
    - Uptake of alternatives.........................                  0
    = New production = Critical Use Allowance........          2,275,715
------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. The Criteria in Decisions IX/6 and Ex. I/4

    Paragraphs 2 and 7 of Decision XIX/9 request Parties to ensure that 
the conditions or criteria listed in Decisions Ex. I/4 and IX/6, 
paragraph 1, are applied to exempted critical uses for the 2009 control 
period. A discussion of the Agency's application of the criteria in 
paragraph 1 of Decision IX/6 appears in sections V.A., V.C., V.D., and 
V.H. of this preamble. The CUNs detail how each critical use meets the 
criteria listed in paragraph 1 of Decision IX/6, apart from the 
criterion located at (b)(ii), as well as the criteria in paragraphs 5 
and 6 of Decision Ex. I/4.
    The criterion in Decision IX/6(1)(b)(ii), which refers to the use 
of available stocks of methyl bromide, is addressed in sections V.D., 
V.G., and V.H. of this preamble. The Agency has previously provided its 
interpretation of

[[Page 19893]]

the criterion in Decision IX/6(1)(a)(i) regarding the presence of 
significant market disruption in the absence of an exemption, and EPA 
refers readers to the 2006 CUE final rule (71 FR 5989) as well as to 
the memo on the docket titled ``Development of 2003 Nomination for a 
Critical Use Exemption for Methyl Bromide for the United States of 
America'' for further elaboration.
    The remaining considerations, including the lack of available 
technically and economically feasible alternatives under the 
circumstance of the nomination; efforts to minimize use and emissions 
of methyl bromide where technically and economically feasible; the 
development of research and transition plans; and the requests in 
Decision Ex. I/4(5) and (6) that Parties consider and implement MBTOC 
recommendations, where feasible, on reductions in the critical use of 
methyl bromide and include information on the methodology they use to 
determine economic feasibility, are all addressed in the nomination 
documents.
    Some of these criteria were evaluated in other documents as well. 
For example, the U.S. has further considered matters regarding the 
adoption of alternatives and research into methyl bromide alternatives, 
criterion (1)(b)(iii) in Decision IX/6, in the development of the 
National Management Strategy submitted to the Ozone Secretariat in 
December 2005 and in ongoing consultations with industry. The National 
Management Strategy addresses all of the aims specified in Decision Ex. 
I/4(3) to the extent feasible and is available in the docket for this 
rulemaking.

F. Emissions Minimization

    Decision XIX/9, paragraph 11 states that Parties shall request 
critical users to employ ``emission minimization techniques such as 
virtually impermeable films, barrier film technologies, deep shank 
injection and/or other techniques that promote environmental 
protection, whenever technically and economically feasible.'' In the 
proposed rule, EPA encouraged growers to use such techniques but did 
not propose to require them. At the public hearing for this action the 
California Strawberry Commission expressed its opinion that EPA should 
create a regulatory incentive for emissions reduction. Similarly, Dow 
AgroSciences commented that emissions minimization measures, 
potentially including application rate reductions, soil sealing 
requirements, minimum application depths, and maximum soil temperatures 
be mandated and not merely recommended.
    In the judgment of USG scientists, use of virtually impermeable 
film (VIF) tarps allows pest control with lower application rates while 
minimizing emissions. EPA encourages the use of tarps by reflecting the 
lower application rates that are necessary when using tarps in its 2009 
nomination. EPA believes that reducing supply through the phaseout 
provides incentives for use minimization and therefore limits 
emissions. EPA disagrees, however, that the 2009 CUE rule should 
require the use of emissions minimization techniques, as the Agency did 
not propose to do so. The Agency continues to investigate the emissions 
reductions benefits of using various types of tarps, recognizing the 
lack of data in field situations, variability in efficacy in reducing 
emissions by application type (broadcast vs. raised bed), as well as 
regulatory prohibitions on less permeable tarps in California. EPA has 
placed a memo detailing some of this analysis into the docket for this 
rule. Users of methyl bromide should make every effort to minimize 
overall emissions of methyl bromide by implementing measures such as 
the ones listed above, to the extent consistent with State and local 
laws and regulations. The Agency also continues to encourage 
researchers and users who are successfully utilizing such techniques to 
provide such information with their critical use applications.

G. Critical Use Allowance Allocations

    A critical use allowance (CUA) is a privilege granted by EPA, using 
its authority under Section 604(d)(6) of the Clean Air Act, that 
enables the holder to produce or import one kilogram of methyl bromide 
for an approved critical use during the specified control period. These 
allowances expire at the end of the control period and, as explained in 
the Framework Rule, are not bankable from one year to the next. The 
allocation of 2009 pre-plant and post-harvest CUAs to the entities 
listed below is subject to the trading provisions at 40 CFR 82.12, 
which are discussed in section V.G. of the preamble to the Framework 
Rule (69 FR 76982).
    EPA proposed to allocate 2009 critical use allowances for new 
production or import of methyl bromide up to the amount of 1,617.921 kg 
(6.3% of baseline). EPA sought comment on the total levels of exempted 
new production or import for pre-plant and post-harvest critical uses 
in 2009. For the reasons discussed in Section V.D. of this preamble, 
EPA is adjusting the proposed CUA amounts to account for (1) new data 
regarding the drawdown of pre-phaseout inventory, (2) carryover of 
unsold methyl bromide in 2007, and (3) amounts authorized by the 
Parties for research.
    Therefore, the total critical use exemption amount for 2009 is 
4,194,908 kg (16.4% of baseline), with 2,275,715 kg (8.9% of baseline) 
of critical use allowances allowing new production or import, and the 
remaining amount, 1,919,193 kg (7.5% of baseline), available through 
critical stock allowances (CSAs) that allow critical users to access 
pre-phaseout methyl bromide. EPA is continuing to apportion company-
specific CUA allocations on the basis of the 1991 baseline consumption 
share of the companies listed in Table III. The updated calculation 
spreadsheet is available in the docket. The CUAs are allocated as 
follows:

        Table III--Proposed Allocation of Critical Use Allowances
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                2009 critical use     2009 critical use
                               allowances for pre-  allowances for post-
           Company                 plant uses*          harvest uses*
                                   (kilograms)           (kilograms)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Lakes Chemical Corp. A             1,249,703               133,249
 Chemtura Company...........
Albemarle Corp..............               513,906                54,795
ICL-IP America..............               283,995                30,281
TriCal, Inc.................                 8,843                   943
                             -------------------------------------------
    Total \2\...............             2,056,448               219,267
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For production or import of Class I, Group VI controlled substance
  exclusively for the Pre-Plant or Post-Harvest uses specified in
  appendix L to 40 CFR part 82.
\2\ Due to rounding, numbers do not add exactly.

[[Page 19894]]

    EPA received comment that Ameribrom changed its name to ICL-IP 
America. This new name is reflected in Table III and in the final rule.
    Paragraph 6 of Decision XIX/9 states ``that Parties shall endeavor 
to license, permit, authorize or allocate quantities of critical-use 
methyl bromide as listed in tables A and C of the annex to the present 
decision.'' This is similar to language in Decisions Ex. I/3(4), Ex. 
II/1(4), XVII/9(4), and XVIII/13(5) regarding 2005, 2006, 2007, and 
2008 critical uses, respectively. The language from these Decisions 
calls on Parties to endeavor to allocate critical use methyl bromide on 
a sector basis.
    As it did in the final Framework Rule (69 FR 76989) and each 
critical use allocation rulemaking since, EPA is allocating critical 
use allowances on a lump-sum, or universal basis, modified to include 
distinct caps for pre-plant and post-harvest uses. The Agency continues 
to believe that this is the most efficient and least burdensome 
approach that would achieve the desired environmental results, and that 
a sector-specific approach would pose significant administrative and 
practical difficulties. Although the approach adopted in the Framework 
Rule does not directly allocate allowances to each category of use, the 
Agency anticipates that reliance on market mechanisms will achieve 
similar results indirectly. The Agency believes that under a system of 
universal allocations, divided into pre-plant and post-harvest sectors, 
the actual critical use will closely follow the sector breakout listed 
by the TEAP. These issues were addressed in previous rules and EPA is 
not aware of any factors that would alter the analysis performed during 
the development of the Framework Rule.
    In developing this action, EPA did not propose to change the 
approach adopted in the Framework Rule for the allocation of CUAs but, 
in an endeavor to address Decision XIX/9(6), sought additional comment 
on the Agency's allocation of CUAs in the two groupings (pre-plant and 
post-harvest) that the Agency has employed in the past. MBIP's comment 
supported the continued use of the universal allocation approach 
characterizing it as a simple and understandable system that has proven 
to work well. Dow AgroSciences commented that CSAs and CUAs should be 
allocated specifically to each of the 15 critical use categories 
authorized by the Parties. The comment states that this method would 
ensure that all critical users have access to methyl bromide, rather 
than just those with the greatest ability to pay.
    EPA agrees with the comments that supported the existing allocation 
system. EPA considered sector-specific and other allocation approaches 
in the proposed Framework Rule, and decided that the existing universal 
allocation system with pre-plant and post-harvest allowances was the 
most effective and least burdensome system.

H. Critical Stock Allowance Allocations

    Each critical stock allowance (CSA) is equivalent to one kilogram 
of critical use methyl bromide. CSAs expire at the end of the control 
period and, as explained in the Framework Rule, are not bankable from 
one year to the next (69 FR 76990). CSAs are not used to produce or 
import methyl bromide but are privileges that enable the holder to sell 
a specified amount of pre-phaseout inventory for approved critical 
uses. A CSA is expended when the entity selling methyl bromide sells 
the material, or fumigation services with the material, to an approved 
critical user who certifies that the material is for an approved 
critical use. Thus the movement of pre-phaseout inventories or methyl 
bromide along the supply chain does not require expenditure of a CSA.
    EPA proposed to allocate CSAs to the entities listed below in Table 
IV for the 2009 control period in the amount of 2,576,987 kg (10.1% of 
baseline). EPA followed its approach to determining available stocks 
introduced in the 2008 CUE rule and described in Section V.D.4. For the 
reasons discussed in Section V.D., in this action EPA is allocating 
1,919,193 kg of CSAs to the entities listed in Table IV.
    In 2006, the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia upheld EPA's treatment of company-specific methyl bromide 
inventory information as confidential. NRDC v. Leavitt, 2006 WL 667327 
(D.D.C. March 14, 2006). EPA's allocation of CSAs is based on each 
company's proportionate share of the aggregate inventory. Therefore, 
the documentation regarding company-specific allocation of CSAs is in 
the confidential portion of the rulemaking docket and the individual 
CSA allocations are not listed in Table IV. Following past practice, 
EPA will inform the listed companies of their CSA allocations in a 
letter following publication of the final rule.

       Table IV--Proposed Allocation of Critical Stock Allowances
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Company
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albemarle.
Bill Clark Pest Control, Inc.
Burnside Services, Inc.
Cardinal Professional Products.
Chemtura Corp.
Degesch America, Inc.
Helena Chemical Co.
Hendrix & Dail.
Hy Yield Bromine.
ICL-IP America.
Industrial Fumigation Company.
Pacific Ag.
Pest Fog Sales Corp.
Prosource One.
Reddick Fumigants.
Royster-Clark, Inc.
Trical Inc.
Trident Agricultural Products.
UAP Southeast (NC).
UAP Southeast (SC).
Univar.
Western Fumigation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total--1,919,193 kilograms.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several companies that receive very small amounts of CSAs from EPA 
have contacted the Agency and requested that they be permitted to 
permanently retire their allowances. Some companies receive as few as 6 
kg of CSAs. Due to the small allocation and because they typically do 
not sell critical use methyl bromide, some companies find the 
allocation of CSAs, and associated record-keeping and reporting 
requirements, to be unduly burdensome.
    For the last two rounds of CUE allocation rulemakings EPA has 
allowed CSA holders, on a voluntary basis, to permanently relinquish 
their allowances through written notification to the Agency. Such 
companies would not receive CSA allocations and would be excluded from 
future allocations. During the comment period for the 2008 CUE Rule, 
seven companies voluntarily agreed to permanently relinquish their 
allowances. In the final 2008 CUE Rule, the Agency reallocated the 
allowances forfeited by these companies to the remaining companies on a 
pro-rata basis. Though no companies voluntarily relinquished their 
allowances this year, EPA continues to strongly encourage CSA holders 
to take advantage of this voluntary opportunity to retire their CSA 
allocations.

I. Stocks of Methyl Bromide

    As discussed above and in the December 23, 2004, Framework Rule, an 
approved critical user may purchase methyl bromide produced or imported 
with CUAs as well as limited inventories of pre-phaseout methyl 
bromide, the combination of which

[[Page 19895]]

constitute the supply of ``critical use methyl bromide'' intended to 
meet the needs of agreed critical uses. The Framework Rule established 
provisions governing the sale of pre-phaseout inventories for critical 
uses, including the concept of CSAs and a prohibition on the sale of 
pre-phaseout inventories for critical uses in excess of the amount of 
CSAs held by the seller. It also established trading provisions that 
allow CUAs to be converted into CSAs. EPA has retained these provisions 
for the 2009 control period.
    EPA believes that the refined approach for calculating available 
stocks that was finalized in the 2008 CUE Rule reduces the risks of 
methyl bromide shortages for critical uses. However, as in prior years, 
the Agency will continue to closely monitor CUA and CSA data. Further, 
as stated in the final 2006 CUE rule, safety valves continue to exist. 
If an inventory shortage occurs, EPA may consider various options 
including authorizing the conversion of a limited number of CSAs to 
CUAs through a rulemaking, bearing in mind the upper limit on U.S. 
production/import for critical uses.
    The aggregate amount of pre-phaseout methyl bromide reported as 
being in inventory on December 31, 2007, was 6,457, 806 kg. Based on 
reported end-of-year data submitted by inventory owners, the aggregate 
inventory on December 31, 2008, was 4,271,226 kg. As explained in 
detail in the 2008 CUE final rule, the Agency intends to continue 
releasing the aggregate of methyl bromide stockpile information 
reported to the Agency under the reporting requirements at 40 CFR 82.13 
for the end of each control period. EPA notes that if the number of 
competitors in the industry were to decline appreciably, EPA would 
revisit the question of whether the aggregate is entitled to treatment 
as confidential information and whether to release the aggregate 
without notice. EPA is not proposing to change the treatment of 
submitted information but welcomes information concerning the 
composition of the industry in this regard. The aggregate information 
for 2003 through 2007 is available in the docket for this rulemaking.
    EPA is also correcting its assessment of the amount pre-phaseout 
inventory that was available on December 31, 2006, which EPA originally 
stated was 7,671,091 kg. EPA received late data in 2007 that it did not 
incorporate into the total inventory level for the year. The corrected 
value for the amount of pre-phaseout inventory as of December 31, 2006, 
is 7,941,009 kg. This change does not affect the CUA or CSA allocations 
in this rule, which are based on reported data rather than estimates.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

    Under Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), 
this action is a ``significant regulatory action.'' This action is 
likely to result in a rule that may raise novel legal or policy issues. 
Accordingly, EPA submitted this action to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review under EO 12866 and any changes made in response 
to OMB recommendations have been documented in the docket for this 
action.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not impose any new information collection burden. 
The application, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements have already 
been established under previous Critical Use Exemption rulemakings and 
this action does not propose to change any of those existing 
requirements. However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
previously approved the information collection requirements contained 
in the existing regulations at 40 CFR part 82 under the provisions of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and has assigned 
OMB control number 2060-0482. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The RFA generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice-and-comment 
rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any 
other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions. For purposes of assessing the impacts of 
this rule on small entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small 
business that is identified by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) Code in the Table below; (2) a small 
governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, 
school district or special district with a population of less than 
50,000; and (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit 
enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not 
dominant in its field.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          NAICS small business size standard (in
            Category                 NAICS code           SIC code          number of employees or millions of
                                                                                         dollars)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural production........  1112--Vegetable     0171--Berry Crops.  $0.75 million.
                                  and Melon farming.
                                 1113--Fruit and     0172--Grapes......
                                  Nut Tree Farming.
                                 1114--Greenhouse,   0173--Tree Nuts...
                                  Nursery, and
                                  Floriculture
                                  Production.
                                                     0175--Deciduous
                                                      Tree Fruits
                                                      (except apple
                                                      orchards and
                                                      farms).
                                                     0179--Fruit and
                                                      Tree Nuts, NEC.
                                                     0181--Ornamental
                                                      Floriculture and
                                                      Nursery Products.
                                                     0831--Forest
                                                      Nurseries and
                                                      Gathering of
                                                      Forest Products.
Storage Uses...................  115114--Postharves  ..................  $7 million.
                                  t Crop activities
                                  (except Cotton
                                  Ginning).
                                 311211--Flour       2041--Flour and     500 employees.
                                  Milling.            Other Grain Mill
                                                      Products.
                                 311212--Rice        2044--Rice Milling  500 employees.
                                  Milling.

[[Page 19896]]

 
                                 493110--General     4225--General       $25.5 million.
                                  Warehousing and     Warehousing and
                                  Storage.            Storage.
                                 493130--Farm        4221--Farm Product  $25.5 million.
                                  Product             Warehousing and
                                  Warehousing and     Storage.
                                  Storage.
Distributors and Applicators...  115112--Soil        0721--Crop          $7 million.
                                  Preparation,        Planting,
                                  Planting and        Cultivation, and
                                  Cultivating.        Protection.
Producers and Importers........  325320--Pesticide   2879--Pesticides    500 employees.
                                  and Other           and Agricultural
                                  Agricultural        Chemicals, NEC.
                                  Chemical
                                  Manufacturing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Agricultural producers of minor crops and entities that store 
agricultural commodities are categories of affected entities that 
contain small entities. This rule will only affect entities that 
applied to EPA for a de-regulatory exemption. In most cases, EPA 
received aggregated requests for exemptions from industry consortia. 
EPA asked consortia applying for critical use exemptions to describe 
the number and size distribution of entities their applications 
covered. EPA estimated that 3,218 entities petitioned EPA for critical 
use exemptions for the 2005 control period. EPA now estimates there to 
be 2,000 end users of critical use methyl bromide. Since many 
applicants did not provide information on the distribution of sizes of 
entities covered in their applications, EPA estimated that, based on 
the above definition, between one-fourth and one-third of the entities 
may be small businesses. In addition, other categories of affected 
entities do not contain small businesses based on the above 
description.
    After considering the economic impacts of this rule on small 
entities, EPA certifies that this action will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. In 
determining whether a rule has a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities, the impact of concern is any 
significant adverse economic impact on small entities, since the 
primary purpose of the regulatory flexibility analyses is to identify 
and address regulatory alternatives ``which minimize any significant 
economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities.'' (5 U.S.C. 
603-604). Thus, an Agency may certify that a rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
if the rule relieves a regulatory burden, or otherwise has a positive 
economic effect on all of the small entities subject to the rule. Since 
this rule exempts methyl bromide for approved critical uses after the 
phaseout date of January 1, 2005, this is a de-regulatory action which 
will confer a benefit to users of methyl bromide. EPA believes the 
estimated de-regulatory value for users of methyl bromide is between 
$20 million and $30 million annually. We have therefore concluded that 
this rule will relieve regulatory burden for all small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This action contains no Federal mandates under the provisions of 
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 
1531-1538 for State, local, or tribal governments or the private 
sector. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any State, local or 
tribal governments or the private sector. Instead, this action is 
deregulatory and does not impose any new requirements on any entities. 
Therefore, this action is not subject to the requirements of sections 
202 or 205 of the UMRA. This action is also not subject to the 
requirements of section 203 of UMRA because it contains no regulatory 
requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, titled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' 
The phrase ``policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in 
the Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial 
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
    This final rule does not have federalism implications. It will not 
have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, 
as specified in Executive Order 13132. This rule is expected to 
primarily affect producers, suppliers, importers and exporters and 
users of methyl bromide. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to 
this rule.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This rule does 
not significantly or uniquely affect the communities of Indian tribal 
governments nor does it impose any enforceable duties on communities of 
Indian tribal governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply 
to this action.

G. Executive Order No. 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) as applying 
only to those regulatory actions that concern health or safety risks, 
such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of the EO has the 
potential to influence the regulation. This action is not subject to EO 
13045 because it does not establish an environmental standard intended 
to mitigate health or safety risks.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This action is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)), because it is not 
likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy. This rule does not have any effect on 
energy as it only relates to the production, import, and uses of 
critical use the agricultural fumigant methyl bromide.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law No.

[[Page 19897]]

104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use voluntary 
consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would 
be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary 
consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials 
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business 
practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, 
explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and 
applicable voluntary consensus standards.
    This action does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA 
did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes 
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, 
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 
populations in the United States.
    EPA has determined that this rule will not have disproportionately 
high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or 
low-income populations, because it affects the level of environmental 
protection equally for all affected populations without having any 
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects on any population, including any minority or low-income 
population. Any ozone depletion that results from this rule will impact 
all affected populations equally because ozone depletion is a global 
environmental problem with environmental and human effects that are, in 
general, equally distributed across geographical regions.

K. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq. as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A Major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). This rule will be effective April 30, 2009.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 82

    Environmental protection, Ozone depletion, Chemicals, Exports, 
Imports.

    Dated: April 24, 2009.
Lisa P. Jackson,
Administrator.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 40 CFR Part 82 is amended as 
follows:

PART 82--PROTECTION OF STRATOSPHERIC OZONE

0
1. The authority citation for part 82 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7601, 7671-7671q.

0
2. Section 82.8 is amended by revising the table in paragraph (c)(1) 
and paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:

Sec.  82.8  Grant of essential use allowances and critical use 
allowances.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            2009 critical use
                                                                   2009 critical use       allowances for post-
                            Company                               allowances for pre-         harvest uses*
                                                                plant uses* (kilograms)        (kilograms)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Lakes Chemical Corp. A Chemtura Company.................                1,249,703                  133,249
Albemarle Corp................................................                  513,906                   54,795
ICL-IP America................................................                  283,995                   30,281
TriCal, Inc...................................................                    8,843                      943
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Total**...................................................                2,056,448                  219,267
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For production or import of Class I, Group VI controlled substance exclusively for the Pre-Plant or Post-
  Harvest uses specified in appendix L to this subpart.
** Due to rounding, numbers do not add exactly.

    (2) Allocated critical stock allowances granted for specified 
control period. The following companies are allocated critical stock 
allowances for 2009 on a pro-rata basis in relation to the inventory 
held by each.

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Company
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albemarle.
Bill Clark Pest Control, Inc.
Burnside Services, Inc.
Cardinal Professional Products.
Chemtura Corp.
Degesch America, Inc.
Helena Chemical Co.
Hendrix & Dail.
Hy Yield Bromine.
ICL-IP America.
Industrial Fumigation Company.
Pacific Ag.
Pest Fog Sales Corp.
Prosource One.
Reddick Fumigants.
Royster-Clark, Inc.
Trical Inc.
Trident Agricultural Products.
UAP Southeast (NC).
UAP Southeast (SC).
Univar.
Western Fumigation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total--1,919,193 kilograms.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
3. Appendix L to Subpart A is revised to read as follows:

APPENDIX L TO PART 82 SUBPART A--APPROVED CRITICAL USES AND LIMITING 
CRITICAL CONDITIONS FOR THOSE USES FOR THE 2009 CONTROL PERIOD

[[Page 19898]]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Limiting critical conditions that exist,
                                          Approved critical user and       or that the approved critical user
        Approved critical uses                  location of use          reasonably expects could arise without
                                                                               methyl bromide fumigation:
Column A                                Column B......................  Column C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 PRE-PLANT USES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cucurbits.............................  (a) Growers in Delaware,        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Maryland, and Michigan.         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Growers in Georgia and      Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Southeastern U.S. limited to    nutsedge infestation.
                                         growing locations in Alabama,  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Arkansas, Kentucky,             infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Mississippi, North  Moderate to severe root knot nematode
                                         Carolina, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, and Virginia.       A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Eggplant..............................  (a) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Georgia growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe pythium collar, crown
                                                                         and root rot.
                                                                        Moderate to severe southern blight
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Forest Nursery Seedlings..............  (a) Growers in Alabama,         Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana,   nutsedge infestation.
                                         Mississippi, North Carolina,   Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Oklahoma, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, Texas, and          Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Virginia.
                                        (b) International Paper and     Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     nutsedge infestation.
                                         growing locations in Alabama,   Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Arkansas, Georgia, South        infestation.
                                         Carolina, and Texas.
                                        (c) Government-owned seedling   Moderate to severe weed infestation
                                         nurseries in Illinois,          including purple and yellow nutsedge
                                         Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,    infestation.
                                         Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio,    Moderate to severe Canada thistle
                                         Pennsylvania, West Virginia,    infestation.
                                         and Wisconsin.                 Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                        (d) Weyerhaeuser Company and    Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     nutsedge infestation.
                                         growing locations in Alabama,   Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Arkansas, North Carolina, and   infestation.
                                         South Carolina.                Moderate to severe nematode or worm
                                                                         infestation.
                                        (e) Weyerhaeuser Company and    Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge
                                         its subsidiaries limited to     infestation.
                                         growing locations in Oregon    Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         and Washington.                 infestation.
                                        (f) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                         Moderate to severe Canada thistle
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation
Orchard Nursery Seedlings.............  (a) Members of the Western      Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Raspberry Nursery Consortium   Medium to heavy clay soils.
                                         limited to growing locations   Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                         in Washington, and members of   dichloropropene.
                                         the California Association of  A need for methyl bromide for research
                                         Nursery and Garden Centers      purposes.
                                         representing Deciduous Tree
                                         Fruit Growers.
                                        (b) California rose nurseries.  Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Orchard Replant.......................  (a) California stone fruit,     Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         table and raisin grape, wine
                                         grape, walnut, and almond
                                         growers.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Replanted orchard soils to prevent
                                                                         orchard replant disease.
                                                                        Medium to heavy soils.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
Ornamentals...........................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe weed infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.

[[Page 19899]]

 
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Michigan herbaceous         Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         perennial growers.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge and
                                                                         other weed infestation.
Peppers...............................  (a) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Kentucky, Louisiana,            nutsedge infestation.
                                         Mississippi, North Carolina,   Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         South Carolina, Tennessee,     Moderate to severe pythium root, collar,
                                         and Virginia growers.           crown and root rots.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Georgia growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation,
                                                                         or moderate to severe pythium root and
                                                                         collar rots.
                                                                        Moderate to severe southern blight
                                                                         infestation, crown or root rot.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (d) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Strawberry Fruit......................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe black root rot or
                                                                         crown rot.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Florida growers...........  Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Carolina geranium or cut-leaf evening
                                                                         primrose infestation.
                                                                        Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and soils
                                                                         not supporting seepage irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky,    nutsedge infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Maryland,           Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         Mississippi, Missouri, New     Moderate to severe black root and crown
                                         Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio,   rot.
                                         South Carolina, Tennessee,     A need for methyl bromide for research
                                         and Virginia growers.           purposes.
Strawberry Nurseries..................  (a) California growers........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) North Carolina and          Moderate to severe black root rot.
                                         Tennessee growers.
                                                                        Moderate to severe root-knot nematode
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe yellow and purple
                                                                         nutsedge infestation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Sweet Potato Slips....................  (a) California growers........  Local township limits prohibiting 1,3-
                                                                         dichloropropene.
Tomatoes..............................  (a) Michigan growers..........  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                        Moderate to severe fungal pathogen
                                                                         infestation.
                                                                         A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (b) Alabama, Arkansas,          Moderate to severe yellow or purple
                                         Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,     nutsedge infestation.
                                         Louisiana, Mississippi, North  Moderate to severe soilborne disease
                                         Carolina, South Carolina,       infestation.
                                         Tennessee, and Virginia        Moderate to severe nematode infestation.
                                         growers.                       Restrictions on alternatives due to
                                                                         karst topographical features and, in
                                                                         Florida, soils not supporting seepage
                                                                         irrigation.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
                                        (c) Maryland growers..........  Moderate to severe fungal pathogen
                                                                         infestation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                POST-HARVEST USES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food Processing.......................  (a) Rice millers in the U.S.    Moderate to severe beetle, weevil, or
                                         who are members of the USA      moth infestation.
                                         Rice Millers Association.      Presence of sensitive electronic
                                                                         equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (b) Pet food manufacturing      Moderate to severe beetle, moth, or
                                         facilities in the U.S. who      cockroach infestation.
                                         are members of the Pet Food    Presence of sensitive electronic
                                         Institute.                      equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (c) Bakeries in the U.S.......  Presence of sensitive electronic
                                                                         equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.

[[Page 19900]]

 
                                        (d) Members of the North        Moderate to severe beetle infestation.
                                         American Millers' Association
                                         in the U.S.
                                                                        Presence of sensitive electronic
                                                                         equipment subject to corrosion.
                                                                        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                        (e) Members of the National     Moderate to severe beetle or moth
                                         Pest Management Association     infestation.
                                         treating processed food,       Presence of sensitive electronic
                                         cheese, herbs and spices, and   equipment subject to corrosion.
                                         spaces and equipment in        Time to transition to an alternative.
                                         associated processing and
                                         storage facilities.
Commodities...........................  (a) California entities         Rapid fumigation required to meet a
                                         storing walnuts, beans, dried   critical market window, such as during
                                         plums, figs, raisins, and       the holiday season.
                                         dates (in Riverside county     Export to countries which do not allow
                                         only) in California.            the use of sulfuryl fluoride.
                                                                        A need for methyl bromide for research
                                                                         purposes.
Dry Cured Pork Products...............  (a) Members of the National     Red legged ham beetle infestation.
                                         Country Ham Association and    Cheese/ham skipper infestation.
                                         the Association of Meat        Dermested beetle infestation.
                                         Processors, Nahunta Pork       Ham mite infestation.
                                         Center (North Carolina), and
                                         Gwaltney and Smithfield Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. E9-9966 Filed 4-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P