Notice2023-11664
DCPA Registration Review; Draft Occupational and Residential Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability
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
June 1, 2023
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft human health occupational and residential risk assessment for the registration review of Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) for the registered uses of DCPA and opens a public comment period on the assessment. The risk assessment is accompanied by several related documents, including an assessment of the benefits associated with the use of DCPA and a companion document to aid in interpretation of the risk assessment and provide an explanation of the approach being considered by EPA to address the potential risks.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35869-35871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11664]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374; FRL-10959-01-OCSPP]
DCPA Registration Review; Draft Occupational and Residential Risk
Assessment; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft human
health occupational and residential risk assessment for the
registration review of Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) for the
registered uses of DCPA and opens a public comment period on the
assessment. The risk assessment is accompanied by several related
documents, including an assessment of the benefits associated with the
use of DCPA and a companion document to aid in interpretation of the
risk assessment and provide an explanation of the approach being
considered by EPA to address the potential risks.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 3, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374, through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <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 Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional
instructions on commenting and 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>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Douglass, Chemical Review
Manager, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508M), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-2343; email
address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8aeee5ffede6ebf9f9a4e0ebe7eff9caeffaeba4ede5fc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aacec5dfcdc6cbd9d984c0cbc7cfd9eacfdacb84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human
health, farm worker, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry;
pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the sale,
distribution, or use of pesticides. Since others also may be
interested, the
[[Page 35870]]
Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may
be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the
Chemical Review Manager listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting
your comments, see the commenting tips at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets</a>.
3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental
justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group,
including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the
Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population
who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other
factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human
health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticide
discussed in this document, compared to the general population.
II. Background
Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide
registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the
statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform
its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human
health or the environment. Through this program, required by FIFRA
section 3(g), 7 U.S.C. 136a(g), EPA must ensure that each pesticide's
registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge,
including its effects on human health and the environment. As part of
the registration review process, the Agency has completed a draft
occupational and residential risk assessment for the registered uses of
DCPA. DCPA is an herbicide used to control grassy and broadleaf weeds
on a variety of use sites including cole crops, onions, and turf. The
Agency is taking the unusual step of publishing the DCPA occupational
and residential risk assessment in advance of other pieces of the human
health risk assessment and the ecological risk assessment because of
newly submitted data on the toxicity of DCPA. These data, from a
Comparative Thyroid Assay conducted in rats, suggest that there are
potential risks for people exposed to DCPA during their work and
leisure activities. The Agency anticipates that there is the potential
for some pregnant workers to be exposed to levels of DCPA that are
sufficient to cause thyroid hormone perturbations in the fetuses they
are carrying. In order to determine the best path forward, the Agency
is seeking comments on the draft occupational and residential risk
assessment. The assessment is accompanied by several related documents,
including an assessment of the benefits associated with the use of DCPA
and a companion document to aid in interpretation of the risk
assessment and to explain the approach being considered by EPA to
address the potential risks. After reviewing comments received during
the public comment period, EPA plans to respond to those comments and,
if warranted, will issue a revised risk assessment. EPA encourages
public input on all aspects of the assessment and mitigation of the
potential occupational and residential risks for DCPA. The Agency will
also keep the public advised on aspects related to risk mitigation as
warranted.
III. Authority
EPA is conducting its registration review of DCPA pursuant to
section 3(g) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) and the Procedural Regulations for Registration Review at 40
CFR part 155, subpart C. Section 3(g) of FIFRA provides, among other
things, that the registrations of pesticides are to be reviewed every
15 years. Under FIFRA, a pesticide product may be registered or remain
registered only if it meets the statutory standard for registration
given in FIFRA section 3(c)(5) (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(5)). When used in
accordance with widespread and commonly recognized practice, the
pesticide product must perform its intended function without
unreasonable adverse effects on the environment; that is, without any
unreasonable risk to man or the environment, or a human dietary risk
from residues that result from the use of a pesticide in or on food.
IV. What action is the Agency taking?
Pursuant to 40 CFR 155.53(c), this notice announces the
availability of EPA's draft human health occupational and residential
risk assessment for the pesticide DCPA and opens a 30-day public
comment period on the risk assessment. In order to expedite Agency
action to address the risks posed by DCPA, the comment period will not
be extended. The Agency will consider all comments received during the
public comment period and make changes, as appropriate, to the draft
risk assessment. After the close of the public comment period, EPA may,
as needed, issue a revised occupational and residential risk
assessment, explain any changes to the draft risk assessment, and
respond to comments. Public comments received during the 30-day comment
period will help inform the Agency's next steps. Unless any new
information comes to light during this time that significantly changes
the risk conclusions, the Agency is considering if cancellation of all
DCPA product registrations is necessary.
Information Submission Requirements
Anyone may submit data or information in response to this document.
To be considered during a pesticide's registration review, the
submitted data or information must meet the following requirements:
<bullet> To ensure that EPA will consider data or information
submitted, interested persons must submit the data or information
during the comment period. The Agency may, at its discretion, consider
data or information submitted at a later date.
<bullet> The data or information submitted must be presented in a
legible and useable form. For example, an English translation must
accompany any material that is not in English, and a written transcript
must accompany any information submitted as an audio graphic or
videographic record. Written material may be submitted in paper or
electronic form.
<bullet> Submitters must clearly identify the source of any
submitted data or information.
<bullet> Submitters may request the Agency to reconsider data or
information that the Agency rejected in a previous review. However,
submitters must explain why they believe the Agency should reconsider
the data or information in the pesticide's registration review.
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As provided in 40 CFR 155.58, the registration review docket for
DCPA will remain publicly accessible through the duration of the
registration review process; that is, until all actions required in the
final decision on the registration review case have been completed.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.
Dated: May 25, 2023.
Mary Elissa Reaves,
Director, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2023-11664 Filed 5-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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