Subject: [epa-pesticide-updates] 1)Lindane, Other Risk assesment - Comments 2)Fed Reg Feb 6-10, 06
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:51:12 -0500

IN THIS UPDATE:

1) Lindane, Other HCH Isomers Risk Assessment
Available for Comment

2) Pesticide Federal Register Items for the Week of February 6 - 10, 2006

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1) Lindane, Other HCH Isomers Risk Assessment
Available for Comment

EPA is seeking public comment on its risk assessment for the organochlorine
pesticide Lindane and the other hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, as well as
ideas and suggestions on possible risk-reduction options. Lindane currently is
used in the United States as a seed treatment on six agricultural crops: barley,
corn, oats, rye, sorghum, and wheat. The other HCH isomers are by-products of
the Lindane manufacturing process. Although technical or manufacturing grade
Lindane has not been produced in the U.S. since the 1970s, it continues to be
manufactured in Romania and India. Lindane and the other HCH isomers are mobile
in the environment and, through long-range atmospheric transfer, are deposited in
the Arctic, where they have been detected in air, surface water,
groundwater, sediment, soil, ice, snowpack, fish, wildlife, and humans. EPA's
assessment indicates potential risks from dietary exposure to the alpha and beta
HCH isomers to certain US subpopulations, particularly communities in Alaska who
depend on subsistence foods such as caribou, seal, and whale. EPA is sensitive to indigenous
cultures, ways of life, and dietary patterns, and recognizes that traditional
foods remain an outstanding source of a broad range of nutrients necessary for
good health in these communities. The Agency seeks ideas and suggestions on ways
to prevent HCH contaminants from continuing to make their way into indigenous
diets.

EPA completed its Lindane Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) on
July 31, 2002. This decision document states that the six remaining Lindane seed
treatment uses are eligible for reregistration provided that certain conditions
are met, one of which is that the Agency is able to establish all required
tolerances for Lindane residues on food. In response to the RED, the Agency
received comments stating that the other HCH isomers also should be considered.
These isomers are included in the draft North American Regional Action Plan (
NARAP) on Lindane and Other HCH Isomers. Consistent with the RED comments and with our national and regional actions in the draft Lindane NARAP, the Agency has prepared this assessment considering
risks from exposures to the other HCH isomers.

EPA requests by April 10, 2006, comments on its risk assessment for Lindane
and the other HCH isomers, as well as suggestions for possible risk reduction
options. The Agency?s February 8, 2006, Federal Register notice and risk
assessment on lindane and other HCH isomers are available at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-08/p1103.htm,
http://www.regulations.gov in Docket #EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0034, and on
the lindane chemical page at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/lindane/.

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2) Pesticide Federal Register Items for the Week of February 6 - 10, 2006

The Office of Pesticide Programs published the following eight items in the
Federal Register during the past week:

* Iodomethane Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability; Extension of Comment Period
* Imazethapyr; Pesticide Tolerance
* Lindane and Other Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) Isomers Risk Assessment; Notice of
Availability and Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options
* Boscalid; Pesticide Tolerance
* Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, Workgroup on Pesticide Worker Safety
Regulations; Notice of Public Meeting
* Full Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC) Public Meeting
* Rotenone Risk Assessments; Notice of Availability, and Risk Reduction Options
* Protections for Subjects in Human Research

Title: Protections for Subjects in Human Research
Date of publication: February 6, 2006
Citation: Volume 71, Number 24, Page 6137-6176
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2006/February/Day-06/g1045.htm
Purpose:With this final rule, EPA bans research for pesticides involving
intentional exposure of human subjects, when the subjects are pregnant women or
children. The rule further strengthens existing protections for subjects in
research conducted or supported by EPA, by prohibiting such research if it would
involve intentional exposure of human subjects who are pregnant women or
children. The rule also extends new protections to adult subjects in research for
pesticides conducted by others who intend to submit the research to EPA, when it
involves intentional exposure of human subjects who are non-pregnant adults, and
creates a new, independent Human Studies Review Board to advise the Agency on the
ethical and scientific issues arising in such research. This final rule focuses on third-party
intentional dosing human studies for pesticides and sets the stage for further
agency actions. In addition, in order to display the OMB control number for the
informationcollection requirements contained in this final rule, EPA is amending
the table of OMB approval numbers for EPA regulations that appears in 40 CFR part
9.
Chemical(s): N/A
Comments: This rule is effective on April 7, 2006. EPA has established a docket
for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2003-0132.
Contact: William L. Jordan, Mailcode 7501C, telephone number: (703) 305-1049; fax
number: (703) 308-4776; e-mail address: jordan.william@epa.gov.

Title: Iodomethane Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability; Extension of Comment
Period
Date of publication: February 6, 2006
Citation: Volume 71, Number 24, Page 6072
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-06/p1082.htm
Purpose: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of January 6, 2006,
concerning the availability of EPA's human health risk assessment and related
documents for the fumigant idomethane. These documents can be viewed in the
docket. This document is extending the comment period for 15 days, from
February 6, 2006 to February 21, 2006.
Chemical(s): Iodomethane
Comments: Comments, identified by the docket identification number OPP-
EPA-HQ-2005-0252, must be received on or before February 21, 2006.
Contact: Mary L. Waller, Registration Division (7505C), telephone number:
(703) 308-9354; fax number: (703) 308-1825; e-mail address: waller.mary@epa.gov

Title: Imazethapyr; Pesticide Tolerance
Date of publication: February 8, 2006
Citation:Volume 71, Number 26, Page 6356-6359
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-08/p1036.htm
Purpose: This regulation establishes an increase in tolerances for the sum of the
residues of imazethapyr and its metabolites, CL 288511, (2- [4,5-dihydro-4-
methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-(1- hydroxyethyl)-3-
pyridine carboxylic acid), and CL 182704, (5-[1-(beta- D-glucopyranosyloxy)
ethyl]-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5- oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3
-pyridinecarboxylic acid), applied as its acid or ammonium salt in or on rice grain
at 0.3 ppm, rice straw at 0.4 ppm, and imazethapyr and its metabolite, CL 288511
in or on crayfish at 0.15 ppm. BASF Corporation requested the tolerances for rice
grain and rice straw under (FFDCA) because of a requested increase in the use rate
of imazethapyr in rice. In addition, this regulation increases the tolerance on
crayfish from 0.10 ppm to 0.15 ppm due to exposure of crayfish raised in rice
fields to imazethapyr.
Chemical(s): Imazethapyr;
Comments: This regulation is effective February 8, 2006. Objections and requests
for hearings must be received on or before April 10, 2006. EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0508.
Contact: James A. Tompkins, Registration Division (7505C), telephone number:
(703) 305-5697; e-mail address: tompkins.jim@epa.gov.

Title: Lindane and Other Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) Isomers Risk Assessment;
Notice of Availability and Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options
Date of publication: February 8, 2006
Citation: Volume 71, Number 26, Page 6479-6480
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-08/p1103.htm
Purpose: This notice announces the availability of EPA's risk assessment for the
organochlorine pesticide lindane, gamma hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and the
other HCH isomers, and opens a public comment period on these documents. In
addition, this notice solicits public comment on risk reduction options for lindane
and the other HCH isomers.
Chemical(s): Lindane and others.**
Comments: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0034, must be received on or before April 10, 2006.
Contact: Kimberly Nesci, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C),
telephone number: (703) 308-8059; fax number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail: nesci.
kimberly@epa.gov or Mark Howard, Special Review and Reregistration Division
(7508C), telephone number: (703) 308-8172; fax number: (703) 308-8005;
e-mail address: howard.markt@epa.gov.

Title: Boscalid; Pesticide Tolerance
Date of publication: February 8, 2006
Citation: Volume 71, Number 26, Page 6359-6364
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-08/p1170.htm
Purpose: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of boscalid, 3-
pyridinecarboxamide, 2-chloro-N-(4'-chloro [1,1'-biphenyl]- 2-yl) in or on
banana (imported), celery, and spinach. In addition, existing tolerances are
being increased on almond hulls. Finally, the existing lettuce exception listed
for the indirect or inadvertent residues in vegetables, leafy, group 4, is being
revised to include celery and spinach, as well as lettuce. BASF requested the
tolerances on almonds and bananas, and Interregional Research Project #4
(IR-4) has proposed group tolerances on vegetable, leafy, except brassica,
Group 4 (to include celery and spinach), under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act.
Chemical(s): Boscalid
Comments: This regulation is effective February 8, 2006. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received on or before April 10, 2006. EPA
has established a docket for this action under Docket identification (ID)
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0145.
Contact: Tony Kish, Registration Division (7505C), telephone number:
(703) 308-9443; e-mail address: kish.tony@epa.gov.

Title: Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, Workgroup on Pesticide
Worker Safety Regulations; Notice of Public Meeting
Date of publication: February 8, 2006
Citation Volume 71, Number 26, Page 6477-6478
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-08/p1711.htm
Purpose: EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), Workgroup
on Pesticide Worker Safety Regulations will hold a public meeting on
February 27, 2006. An agenda for this meeting is being developed and will
be posted on EPA's website at: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/ppdc/.
The workgroup will provide input and advice on regulatory changes being
considered to the Worker Protection Standard (40 CFR part 170) and
the Certification of Pesticide Applicators (40 CFR part 171).
Chemical(s):N/A
Comments: The meeting will be held on Monday, February 27, 2006,
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at EPA's offices at 1801 S. Bell St. (formerly 1921
Jefferson Davis Hwy.),Crystal Mall #2, Rm. 1110 (the Fishbowl), Arlington, VA.
Contact: Kathy Davis, Field and External Affairs Division (7506C), 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 308-7002; fax number: (703) 308-2962;
e- mail address: davis.kathy@epa.gov.

Title: Full Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC) Public Meeting
Date of publication: February 10, 2006
Citation:Volume 71, Number 28, Page 7040-7041
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-10/p1848.htm
Purpose: The Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC) will hold a 2 and
1/2-day meeting, beginning on March 8 and ending on March 10, 2006.
This notice sets forth the tentative agenda topics. One Tribal Caucus scheduled
each day.
Chemical(s): N/A
Comments: The meeting will be held on March 8-9, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and a half day training for Tribes on March 10, 2006 at Doubletree Hotel
Crystal City), 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Contact: Georgia McDuffie, Field and External Affairs Division (7506C), telephone
number: (703) 605-0195; fax number: (703) 308-1850; e- mail address:
mcduffie.georgia@epa.gov or Lillian Wilmore, TPPC Facilitator, P.O. Box 470829
Brookline Village, MA 02447-0829; telephone number: (617) 232-5742; fax
(617) 277-1656; e-mail address: naecology@aol.com

Title: Rotenone Risk Assessments; Notice of Availability, and Risk Reduction Options
Date of publication: February 10, 2006
Citation: Volume 71, Number 28, Page 7041-7043
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/February/Day-10/p1902.htm
Purpose: This notice announces the availability of EPA's risk assessments, and
related documents for the pesticide rotenone, and opens a public comment period on these
documents. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals
to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility
Decision (RED), for roteneone through a modified, 4-Phase public participation
process.
Chemical(s): Rotenone**
Comments: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-EPA-
HQ-2005-0494 must be received on or before April 11, 2006.
Contact: Katie Hall, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C), telephone
number: (703) 308-0166; fax number: (703) 308-8041; e-mail address: hall.katie@epa.gov.

* Mailing address for all listed staff: Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460

** For information about this pesticide and access to the documents being announced see
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest in pesticide activities and decisions. This update service is part of EPA's continuing effort to improve public access to Federal pesticide information.

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EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest in pesticide activities and decisions. This update service is part of EPA's continuing effort to improve public access to Federal pesticide information.

For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention,
contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), toll free, at:
1-800-858-7378, by E-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their
website at: http://npic.orst.edu/

To report an environmental violation, visit EPA's website at
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html

For information about EPA's pesticide program, visit our homepage at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/

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