

[Federal Register: January 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 4)]
[Notices]               
[Page 930-933]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ja06-48]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252; FRL-7756-7]

 
Iodomethane 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 human health 
risk assessment and related documents for the pesticide iodomethane and 
opens a public comment period on these documents. EPA has completed a 
human health risk assessment for the fumigant, iodomethane and wants to 
provide the public an opportunity to comment on the risk assessment. 
Iodomethane is a new chemical under consideration by the Agency for 
registration and has been identified as a potential partial replacement 
for methyl bromide.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPP-2005-0252, must be received on or before February 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES:  Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or 
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as 
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mary L. Waller, Registration Division 
(7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 308-9354; fax number: (703) 308-1825; e-mail 
address:waller.mary@epa.gov.


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, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide 
users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution, 
or use of pesticides. Since others may also be interested, the 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 person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

[[Page 931]]

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. The official public 
docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this 
action, any public comments received, and other information related to 
this action. Although, a part of the official docket, the public docket 
does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official 
public docket is the collection of materials that is available for 
public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch 
(PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, 
VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone number 
is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this  Federal Register 
document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal 
Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. EDOCKET, EPA's 

electronic public docket and comment system was replaced on November 
25, 2005, by an enhanced Federal-wide electronic docket management and 
comment system located at http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on-

line instruction.
     An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 

comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
     Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA 
Dockets. Information claimed as CBI and other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute, which is not included in the 
official public docket, will not be available for public viewing in 
EPA's electronic public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted 
material will not be placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will 
be available only in printed, paper form in the official public docket. 
To the extent feasible, publicly available docket materials will be 
made available in EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is 
selected from the index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify 
whether the document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. Although, not all docket materials may be available 
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available 
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. 
EPA intends to work towards providing electronic access to all of the 
publicly available docket materials through EPA's electronic public 
docket.
     For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy 
is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or on paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
     Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public 
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will 
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where 
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph 
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

     You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand 
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the 
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of 
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the 
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider 
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is 
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit 
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information 
protected by statute.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as 
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name, 
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in 
the body of your comment. Also, include this contact information on the 
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter 
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be 
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact 
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's 
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or 
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included 
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, 
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot 
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you 
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/
, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. 

Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other 
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to opp-docket@epa.gov, 
Attention: Docket ID number EPQ-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. In contrast to EPA's 
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous 
access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket 
without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail 
system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses 
that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as 
part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and 
made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM 
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These 
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file 
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

[[Page 932]]

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID 
number EPQ-HQ-OPP-2005-0252.
    3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide 
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 
2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID 
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.

D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?

     Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI 
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You 
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part 
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM, 
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 CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in 
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
     In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 
any 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 and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit 
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside 
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information 
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's 
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any 
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that 
supportyour views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternatives.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket 
ID number in the subject line on the first page of your response. It 
would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation related to your comments.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

     EPA is making available the human health risk assessment for 
iodomethane. Iodomethane is a new chemical proposed for use as a pre-
plant fumigant to control soil borne pests including weed seeds, 
nematodes, insects, and diseases in fields intended for commercial 
production of strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, turf, ornamentals 
(flowers grown for cutting, bulbs, and nursery plants), trees and 
vines. The Agency developed this risk assessment as part of the 
registration decision process. EPA is ensuring that all new pesticides 
proposed for use meet current standards under the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 
1996 (FQPA).
     The risk assessment for iodomethane addresses exposures to workers 
and the general population which are expected to occur primarily via 
inhalation. Dermal exposure is not expected due to the high vapor 
pressure of iodomethane. Potential general population exposures via 
inhalation are those in proximity to treated fields (i.e., bystanders). 
These exposure scenarios are plausible considering the volatility of 
fumigants, in general, and the potential for fumigant off-gassing into 
the air and transport off-site by winds to bystanders in proximity to 
treated fields. Exposures to iodomethane may be acute (less than 24 
hours), short-term (one to thirty days), intermediate-term (one month 
to six months) or long-term in duration. Acute exposures have been 
quantitatively assessed because this duration is the key concern due to 
the anticipated use pattern of iodomethane, its emission profile and 
the nature of its toxicity. Additionally, for these same reasons, it is 
believed that the human health assessment of acute exposures are 
protective of other durations of exposure. Iodomethane is considered a 
nonfood use chemical, and a dietary risk assessment was not conducted. 
The general population may be exposed to iodomethane through drinking 
water. Therefore, a qualitative drinking water risk assessment was 
conducted, and no risks were identified from this potential source of 
exposure.
     EPA is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for 
interested parties to provide comments and input on the Agency's risk 
assessment for iodomethane. Such comments and input could address, for 
example, the availability of additional data to further refine the risk 
assessments, such as meteorological data for probabilistic modeling 
purposes and projections for product use by major use regions, 
frequency or application parameters, etc., or could address the 
Agency's risk assessment methodologies and assumptions, air dispersion 
models, or physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models as applied to 
this specific pesticide.
     EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, 
national origin, or income, 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 potentially atypical, unusually high exposure to iodomethane, 
compared to the general population.
     Comments should be limited to issues raised within the risk 
assessment and associated documents or to environmental justice issues 
discussed above. All comments should be submitted using the methods in 
Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, and must be received by EPA 
on or before the closing date. Comments will become part of the Agency 
Docket for iodomethane. Comments received after the close of the 
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider 
these late comments.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

     Section 3 of FIFRA directs that ``the Administrator may by 
regulation limit the distribution, sale, or use in any State of any 
pesticide that is not registered under this Act and that is not the 
subject of an experimental use permit under section 5 or an emergency 
exemption under section 18.''

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.


[[Page 933]]


    Dated: December 30, 2005.
Donald R. Stubbs,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-28 Filed 1-5-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
