Reader’s Guide to the Methyl Bromide Docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0123

Publication Date: May 2, 2007

EPA has created this document to provide an organizational structure to
the methyl bromide (MeBr) Docket.  The docket index organizes and
explains related documents.  The Agency is providing the Reader’s
Guide to allow the reader to more easily access and navigate the various
items contained in the MeBr docket. Since MeBr is one of six soil
fumigants being evaluated at this time, its docket contains both MeBr
documents as well as other documents related to other fumigants.

 

Below is an annotated list, with docket entry numbers and organized by
subject matter, of all documents relevant to the current MeBr Phase 5
public comment period.  The docket documents were divided into four
groups; (1) Federal Register and Docket Organizational Documents; (2)
Special Review and Reregistration Division Documents, (3) Health Effects
Division Documents, (4) Biological and Economic Analysis Division
Documents.  A revised Environmental Fate and Ecological Risk Assessment
was not included for Phase 5 since changes were not needed based on
comments received during the Phase 3 comment period. The most recent
version of EPA’s Fate and Ecological Risk Assessment can be found in
the MeBr docket (June 6, 2005 document, Revised Draft Methyl Bromide
Environmental Fate and Ecological Risk Assessment - Following the Review
of 30-Day Error Correction Comments, EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0123-0029)

EPA is seeking public comment all of the Phase 5 documents described
below as well as any other document included in the docket that is
related to MeBr soil, greenhouse, and residential/structural uses such
as EPA’s assessment of methyl bromide’s impact on stratospheric
ozone depletion, as well as the health effects expressed as incremental
number of skin cancer mortality and incidence for U.S. residents.  This
document was previously put in the docket during the Phase 5 comment
period for MeBr commodity uses in the Spring of 2006 (March 17, 2006,
document “Methyl Bromide: Science of Ozone Depletion and Health
Effects Estimates, EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0123-0165). 

Federal Register and Docket Organizational Documents

Docket Item #1:  Federal Register Notice: Methyl Bromide Revised Risk
Assessment for Soil, Greenhouse, Residential, and Structural Uses,
Notice of Availability, and Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options
(Phase 5 of 6-Phase Process)

This notice announces that the risk assessments, risk mitigation options
documents, benefits assessments, and other supporting documents are
available for public review and comment.

	Special Review and Reregistration Division (SRRD) Documents

Docket Item #2:  Reader’s Guide to Methyl Bromide Docket #.
EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0123 (Phase 5 for Methyl Bromide Soil, Greenhouse,
Residential/Structural Uses)

As mentioned above, this document provides an organizational structure
to MeBr Docket.  

Docket Item #3: Risk Mitigation Options to Address Bystander and
Occupational Exposures from Soil Fumigant Applications

This document contains the Agency’s paper soliciting for comments on
risk mitigation options soil fumigant applications. 

Docket Item #4: Risk Mitigation Options to Address Handler, Bystander,
Reentry Exposures from Methyl Bromide’s Greenhouse, Residential and
Structural Uses

This document contains the Agency’s paper soliciting for comments on
risk mitigation options for methyl bromide’s uses in greenhouse,
residential, and structural uses.

Docket Item #5: Agency Responses to Phase 3 Public Comments Related to
Methyl Soil Uses 

This document contains the Agency’s response to Phase 3 public
comments on methyl bromide’s soil uses.

	Health Effects Division (HED) Documents

Docket Item #6:  Methyl Bromide: Phase 5 Health Effects Division (HED)
Human Health Risk Assessment for Soil, Greenhouse, and
Residential/Structural Uses.  PC Code: 053201, DP Barcode: D337288

This document describes the human health risk from the methyl bromide
soil, greenhouse, and residential uses.  Docket items #7 through #36
contain the appendices for this document.

Key considerations as you review the MeBr risk assessment:

	

Much of the MeBr risk assessment focuses on bystander risk, however EPA
is also seeking comment on mitigation for occupational risk to handlers
(mixers, loaders, and applicators) and post application workers (see
Docket items 2 and 3).

EPA has considered multiple lines of evidence, using the best available
data including information from incidents, actual field monitoring
studies and modeling estimates.

EPA approached the risk assessments for MeBr and the other fumigants
differently from other agricultural pesticide risk assessments.  Because
the fumigants are or are converted to gases shortly after application,
exposures to workers and bystanders are largely through inhalation. 
Thus, new methods for estimating concentrations in air through time and
at various distances from the application site were developed. 

EPA used an industry model, which relies on EPA’s long-used air
dispersion model, and provides distances at which air concentrations
reach or fall below a concentration that EPA has identified as a level
of concern.

Although the model (as do other industry-developed models) refers to
these outputs as “buffer zones,” they are in fact estimates of air
concentrations at various distances and should not be interpreted as a
decision regarding what mitigation measures (e.g., what specific size
buffer) will be required.

The risk assessments are designed to present risk estimates largely as a
broad spectrum of distances, representing different combinations of
applications factors, such as application rate, number of acres being
treated, type of application method used, and type of sealing method
used.

Later, in developing risk mitigation decisions, EPA will consider
modeling results, information from incidents, and air monitoring
studies, to select practical measures to reduce exposure to soil
fumigants.

Docket Item #7: D337288.AppendixCoverSheets.doc

Docket Item #8: D337288.AppendixA.ToxProfile.doc

Docket Item #9: D337288.AppendixB.HECArrays.doc

Docket Item #10: D337288.AppendixC.ModelInfo.doc

Docket Item #11: D337288.AppendixD1.PERFUMAnalysis.xls

Docket Item #12: D337288.AppendixD1a.Ventura.Tarped.xls

Docket Item #13: D337288.AppendixD1b.Ventura.ShallowUntarped.xls

Docket Item #14: D337288.AppendixD1c.Ventura.HotGas.xls

Docket Item #15: D337288.AppendixD1d.Ventura.DeepUntarped.xls

Docket Item #16: D337288.AppendixD1e.Ventura.BeddedTarped.xls

Docket Item #17: D337288.AppendixD2a.Tallahassee.Tarped.xls

Docket Item #18: D337288.AppendixD2b.Tallahassee.ShallowUntarped.xls

Docket Item #19: D337288.AppendixD2c.Tallahassee.HotGas.xls

Docket Item #20: D337288.AppendixD2d.Tallahassee.DeepUntarped.xls

Docket Item #21: D337288.AppendixD2e.Tallahassee.BeddedTarped.xls

Docket Item #22: D337288.AppendixD3a.Flint.Tarped.xls

Docket Item #23: D337288.AppendixD3b.Flint.ShallowUntarped.xls

Docket Item #24: D337288.AppendixD3c.Flint.HotGas.xls

Docket Item #25: D337288.AppendixD3d.Flint.DeepUntarped.xls

Docket Item #26: D337288.AppendixD3e.Flint.BeddedTarped.xls

Docket Item #27: D337288.AppendixD4a.Bakersfield.Tarped.xls

Docket Item #28: D337288.AppendixD4b.Bakersfield.ShallowUntarped.xls

Docket Item #29: D337288.AppendixD4c.Bakersfield.HotGas.xls

Docket Item #30: D337288.AppendixD4d.Bakersfield.DeepUntarped.xls

Docket Item #31: D337288.AppendixD4e.Bakersfield.BeddedTarped.xls

Docket Item #32: D337288.AppendixD5a.Bradenton.Tarped.xls

Docket Item #33: D337288.AppendixD5b.Bradenton.ShallowUntarped.xls

Docket Item #34: D337288.AppendixD5c.Bradenton.HotGas.xls

Docket Item #35: D337288.AppendixD5d.Bradenton.DeepUntarped.xls

Docket Item #36: D337288.AppendixD5e.Bradenton.BeddedTarped.xls

Docket Item #37:  CD with supporting files for PERFUM modeling 

A CD containing input, output and other supporting files for PERFUM
modeling runs can be obtained by contacting the OPP Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac
Yard (South Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The
Docket’s normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays). The Docket telephone number
is (703) 305-5805.

Docket Item #38:  Review of Fumigants Group Incident Reports 	DP Barcode
D326938, Chemical #069005

Docket Item #39:  Summary Fumigants Group Incident Reports for DP
Barcode D326938, Chemical #069005 and Other Data 

Docket Item #40: Summary Fumigants Group Incident DP Barcode D326938,
Chemical #069005 and Other Data: (1) Epidemiologic Review of General
Comments and Technical Comments from PAN on Oct.12, 2005; and (2) State
of Washington Letter Incidents for Metam-Sodium D326938; PC Code 039003
from Barbara Morrissey and Dorothy Tibbetts on October 20, 2005 

Docket items #38, 39 and 40 contain analyses of incident reports for
methyl bromide and other soil fumigants.

	Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD) Documents

Docket items #41 through #61 contain BEAD’s assessments of the
benefits of soil fumigation with methyl bromide and other soil fumigants
on various crops.  Docket item #59 contains an overall benefits
assessment for methyl bromide.  Docket item#60 provides a list of crops
with significant fumigant use and BEAD’s rationale for choosing these
crops. This document also solicits input from stakeholders on crops that
may have significant use of the above fumigants but that were not
identified by available data.

Key considerations as you review the benefits assessments:

Benefits assessments for MeBr and other fumigants focus on benefits of
the chemicals as they are currently labeled and used.  The assessments
do not yet evaluate the possible impacts associated with the range of
mitigation options under consideration.

The “benefits” have been estimated by comparing the costs associated
with current use to those estimated for use of next best alternative(s).
 Assessments at this stage are limited to consideration of a
hypothetical situation in which new restrictions would make a grower’s
first choice of fumigant use for pest control less practical than use of
an alternative.

This approach helps EPA to understand the “worst case” and predict
possible consequences if new restrictions were to make the use of a
grower’s first choice pest control fumigant less feasible than the
next best alternative.  

EPA is particularly interested in receiving information on the economic
impact of various mitigation options in particular crops and locations
during this Phase 5 comment period.  

Later, in developing risk mitigation decisions, EPA will consider the
benefits of soil fumigant use and the predicted impacts of mitigation
options.

Docket Item #41:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, and Metam-Sodium in Cucurbit Production

Docket Item #42:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Metam-Sodium, and Methyl Bromide in Eggplant Production

Docket Item #43:  Assessment of the Benefits Soil Fumigants (Methyl
Bromide, Chloropicrin, Metam-Sodium, Dazomet) Used by Forest Tree
Seedling Nurseries

Docket Item #44:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Methyl Bromide, Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Potassium and Metam Sodium
for Use in Raspberry Nurseries, Fruit and Nut Deciduous Tree Nurseries,
and Rose Bush Nurseries in California

Docket Item #45:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin and Metam-sodium In Onion Production

Docket Item #46:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Methyl Bromide, Chloropicrin and Metam-sodium In Grape Production

Docket Item #47:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Methyl Bromide, Chloropicrin and Metam-sodium In Tree Nut Production

Docket Item #48:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, and Methyl Bromide In Pome Fruit Production

Docket Item #49:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Methyl Bromide, Chloropicrin, and Metam Sodium In Stone Fruit Production

Docket Item #50:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, and Metam-Sodium in Bell Pepper Production

Docket Item #51:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Metam-sodium in Potato Production

Docket Item #52:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, and Metam-sodium In Strawberry Production

Docket Item #53:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, Metam-sodium, and Dazomet In Strawberry
Nursery Runner Production

Docket Item #54:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide and Metam-sodium In Sweet Potato Production

Docket Item #55:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin In Tobacco Production

Docket Item #56:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, and Metam-sodium in Tomato Production

Docket Item #57:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Metam Sodium in Carrot Production

Docket Item #58:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Metam Sodium in Peanut Production  

Docket Item #59:  Assessment of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with
Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, Metam Sodium and Dazomet in Ornamental
Production

Docket Item #60:  Summary of the Benefits of Soil Fumigation with Methyl
Bromide in Crop Production

Docket Item #61: BEAD's Planned Impact Assessments on Agricultural Sites
with Significant Use of Soil Fumigants

 

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