Rule2022-10163
Streptomyces sp. Strain SYM00257; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 12, 2022
Effective
May 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Indigo Ag, Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 under FFDCA when used in accordance with this exemption.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29056-29058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10163]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0401; FRL-9783-01-OCSPP]
Streptomyces sp. Strain SYM00257; Exemption From the Requirement
of a Tolerance
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement
of a tolerance for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 in or
on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions
and good agricultural practices. Indigo Ag, Inc. submitted a petition
to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA),
requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This
regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level
for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 under FFDCA when used
in accordance with this exemption.
DATES: This regulation is effective May 12, 2022. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before July 11, 2022 and
must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR
part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0401, is available at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection
Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg.,
Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001. The
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room and OPP Docket is (202) 566-1744. Due to the public health
concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and
Reading Room is open to visitors by appointment only. For the latest
status information on EPA/DC services and access, visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Smith, Biopesticides and
Pollution Prevention Division (7511M), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460-0001; main telephone number: (202) 566-2427; email address:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fab8aaaabebca8b4958e93999f89ba9f8a9bd49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abe9fbfbefedf9e5c4dfc2c8ced8ebcedbca85ccc4dd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer.
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them.
Potentially affected entities may include:
<bullet> Crop production (NAICS code 111).
<bullet> Animal production (NAICS code 112).
<bullet> Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
<bullet> Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).
B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?
You may access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR
part 180 through the Office of the Federal Register's e-CFR site at
<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40</a>.
C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a(g), any person may file
an objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0401 in the subject line on the first
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must
be in writing and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before
July 11, 2022. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections and
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b), although EPA
strongly encourages those interested in submitting objections or a
hearing request to submit objections and hearing requests
electronically. See Order Urging Electronic Service and Filing (April
10, 2020), <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-05/documents/2020-04-10_-_order_urging_electronic_service_and_filing.pdf">https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-05/documents/2020-04-10_-_order_urging_electronic_service_and_filing.pdf</a>.
At this time, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the judges and staff of
the Office of Administrative Law Judges are working remotely and not
able to accept filings or correspondence by courier, personal delivery,
or commercial delivery, and the ability to receive filings or
correspondence by U.S. Mail is similarly limited. When submitting
documents to the U.S. EPA Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), a
person should utilize the OALJ e-filing system at <a href="https://yosemite.epa.gov/OA/EAB/EAB-ALJ_upload.nsf">https://yosemite.epa.gov/OA/EAB/EAB-ALJ_upload.nsf</a>.
Although EPA's regulations require submission via U.S. Mail or hand
delivery, EPA intends to treat submissions filed via electronic means
as properly filed submissions during this time that the Agency
continues to maximize telework due to the pandemic; therefore, EPA
believes the preference for submission via electronic means will not be
prejudicial. If it is
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impossible for a person to submit documents electronically or receive
service electronically, e.g., the person does not have any access to a
computer, the person shall so advise OALJ by contacting the Hearing
Clerk at (202) 564-6281. If a person is without access to a computer
and must file documents by U.S. Mail, the person shall notify the
Hearing Clerk every time it files a document in such a manner. The
address for mailing documents is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Administrative Law Judges, Mail Code 1900R, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0401, by one of
the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
<bullet> Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets</a>.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets generally, is available at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
II. Background
In the Federal Register of September 22, 2021 (86 FR 52624) (FRL-
8792-03-OCSPP), EPA issued notification pursuant to FFDCA section
408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide
tolerance exemption petition (PP 0F8886) by Indigo Ag, Inc., 500
Rutherford Ave., Boston, MA 02129. The petition requested that 40 CFR
part 180 be amended by establishing an exemption from the requirement
of a tolerance for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 in or
on all food commodities. That document referenced a summary of the
petition prepared by the petitioner Indigo Ag, Inc. and available in
the docket via <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. No comments were received
on the filing.
III. Final Rule
A. EPA's Safety Determination
Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish an
exemption from the requirement of a tolerance (the legal limit for a
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that
the exemption is ``safe.'' Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines
``safe'' to mean that ``there is a reasonable certainty that no harm
will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue,
including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for
which there is reliable information.'' This includes exposure through
drinking water and in residential settings but does not include
occupational exposure. Pursuant to FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), in
establishing or maintaining in effect an exemption from the requirement
of a tolerance, EPA must take into account the factors set forth in
FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C), which require EPA to give special
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance or tolerance exemption and
to ``ensure that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will
result to infants and children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide
chemical residue . . . .'' Additionally, FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D)
requires that EPA consider ``available information concerning the
cumulative effects of [a particular pesticide's] . . . residues and
other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
EPA evaluated the available toxicological and exposure data on
Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 and considered their validity,
completeness, and reliability, as well as the relationship of this
information to human risk. A full explanation of the data upon which
EPA relied and its risk assessment based on those data can be found
within the document entitled ``Human Health Risk Assessment of
Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257, a New Active Ingredient.'' This
document, as well as other relevant information, is available in the
docket for this action as described under ADDRESSES.
The available data and rationale demonstrated that, with regard to
humans, Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 has no demonstrated
infectivity and low acute toxicity based on the toxicity and
infectivity study results and information presented for the active
ingredient and its closely related species. It is not toxic,
pathogenic, or infective via the oral route of exposure and is not
expected to be toxic via dermal or inhalation routes of exposure based
on the data presented in those acute toxicity studies. Additionally, in
the acute oral toxicity/pathogenicity study, Streptomyces sp. strain
SYM00257 was not detected in the blood and organs of the test animals.
Based on the lack of adverse effects seen in the available toxicity/
pathogenicity data, EPA did not identify any points of departure for
assessing risk; thus, no quantitative risk assessment was conducted.
Significant dietary and non-occupational exposures to residues of
Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 are not anticipated because it will be
used only as a pre-planting seed treatment application. Additionally,
while Streptomyces is present in soil, it is not expected to reach deep
well water and therefore, it is not expected to be present in drinking
water, which is either obtained from a deep well, or treated and
disinfected prior to consumption. Even if dietary and non-occupational
exposures to residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 were to
occur, there is no concern due to the lack of potential for adverse
effects. Because there are no threshold levels of concern with the
toxicity, pathogenicity, or infectivity of Streptomyces sp. strain
SYM00257, EPA determined that no additional margin of safety is
necessary to protect infants and children as part of the qualitative
assessment conducted. Based upon its evaluation in the Streptomyces sp.
strain SYM00257 Human Health Assessment, which concludes that there are
no risks of concern from aggregate exposure to Streptomyces sp. strain
SYM00257, EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no
harm will result to the U.S. population, including infants and
children, from aggregate exposure to residues of Streptomyces sp.
strain SYM00257.
B. Analytical Enforcement Methodology
An analytical method is not required for Streptomyces sp. strain
SYM00257 because EPA is establishing an exemption from the requirement
of a tolerance without any numerical limitation.
C. Conclusion
Therefore, an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is
established for residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 in or on
all food commodities when used in accordance
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with label directions and good agricultural practices.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This action establishes an exemption from the requirement of a
tolerance under FFDCA section 408(d) in response to a petition
submitted to EPA. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
exempted these types of actions from review under Executive Order
12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993). Because this action has been exempted from review
under Executive Order 12866, this action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211, entitled ``Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001), or Executive Order 13045, entitled ``Protection
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not contain any information
collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act,
44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any special considerations
under Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance
exemption in this action, do not require the issuance of a proposed
rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
et seq.) do not apply.
This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food
handlers, and food retailers, not States or Tribes. As a result, this
action does not alter the relationships or distribution of power and
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, EPA has determined that this
action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or Tribal
Governments, on the relationship between the National Government and
the States or Tribal Governments, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government or between the
Federal Government and Indian Tribes. Thus, EPA has determined that
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), and Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000), do not apply to this action. In addition, this action does not
impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as
described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C.
1501 et seq.).
This action does not involve any technical standards that would
require EPA's consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
V. Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
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. This action is not a ``major rule''
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 29, 2022.
Edward Messina,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, for the reasons stated in the preamble, EPA is amending
40 CFR chapter I as follows:
PART 180--TOLERANCES AND EXEMPTIONS FOR PESTICIDE CHEMICAL RESIDUES
IN FOOD
0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
0
2. Add Sec. 180.1392 to subpart D to read as follows:
Sec. 180.1392 Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257; exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance.
An exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is established for
residues of Streptomyces sp. strain SYM00257 in or on all food
commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good
agricultural practices.
[FR Doc. 2022-10163 Filed 5-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 12, 2022.
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