Notice2026-07625
Pesticide Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of Application; Comment Request (February 2026)
Primary source
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Published
April 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
This notice announces EPA's receipt of an application 92643- EUP-E from Google LLC requesting an experimental use permit (EUP) for the Wolbachia pipientis wPip strain contained in live adult Aedes albopictus males. The Agency has determined that the permit may be of regional and national significance. Therefore, because of the potential significance, EPA is seeking comments on this application.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 75 (Monday, April 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 20997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07625]
[[Page 20997]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-4216; FRL-13288-01-OCSPP]
Pesticide Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of Application;
Comment Request (February 2026)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's receipt of an application 92643-
EUP-E from Google LLC requesting an experimental use permit (EUP) for
the Wolbachia pipientis wPip strain contained in live adult Aedes
albopictus males. The Agency has determined that the permit may be of
regional and national significance. Therefore, because of the potential
significance, EPA is seeking comments on this application.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-4216, 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 on and visiting the docket, along with more
information about dockets generally, are available at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Each application summary in Unit II.
specifies a contact division. The appropriate division contacts are
identified as follows:
<bullet> BPPD (Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division)
(Mail Code 7511M); Shannon Borges; main telephone number: (202) 566-
1400; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d6f7d7d696b7f634259444e485e6d485d4c034a425b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="115341415557435f7e6578727462517461703f767e67">[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. Although this
action may be of particular interest to those people who conduct or
sponsor research on pesticides, the Agency has not attempted to
describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action.
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 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>.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
Under section 5 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136c, EPA can allow manufacturers to
field test pesticides under development. Manufacturers are required to
obtain an EUP before testing new pesticides or new uses of pesticides
if they conduct experimental field tests on 10 acres or more of land or
one acre or more of water.
Pursuant to 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency has determined that the
following EUP application may be of regional and national significance,
and therefore is seeking public comment on the EUP application:
<bullet> Experimental Use Permit Number: 92643-EUP-E. Docket ID
Number: EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-4216. Submitter: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre
Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. Pesticide Chemical: Wolbachia
pipientis wPip strain contained in live adult Ae. Albopictus males.
Summary of Request: Google LLC is requesting an experimental use permit
for the active ingredient (AI) Wolbachia pipientis wPip strain
contained in live adult Ae. Albopictus male mosquitoes for three years
in New Jersey, and two years in California and Florida. In 2026, up to
16,000,000 Debug albo male mosquitoes are proposed to be released over
an area of up to 800 acres, with a total active ingredient of up to
8,480 mg, in New Jersey. In 2027 and 2028, up to 16,000,000 Debug albo
male mosquitoes are proposed to be released over an area of up to 800
acres, with a total active ingredient of up to 8,480 mg per state, in
New Jersey, California, and Florida. The purpose of this EUP is to
gather efficacy data on the success of Debug albo males (mosquitoes)
mating with wild-type Aedes albopictus females, which can lead to
population suppression. Date of Receipt: October 27, 2025. Contact:
BPPD.
Following the review of the application and any comments and data
received in response to this solicitation, EPA will decide whether to
issue or deny the EUP request, and if issued, the conditions under
which it is to be conducted. Any issuance of an EUP will be announced
in the Federal Register.
(Authority: 21 U.S.C. 346a.)
Dated: April 15, 2026.
Edward Messina,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2026-07625 Filed 4-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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