

[Federal Register: December 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 244)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75798-75799]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21de05-43]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0253- FRL-7752-6]

 
Propylene Oxide Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability and Risk 
Reduction Options; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of November 9, 
2005, concerning propylene oxide (PPO). This document is extending the 
comment period for 30 days, from January 9, 2006, to February 8, 2006, 
in response to a request by the Almond Board of California.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 8, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) EPA-HQ-
OPP-2005-0253- may be submitted electronically, by mail, or through 
hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in 
Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the November 9, 2005 
Federal Register document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Bartow, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 603-0065; fax 
number: (703) 308-8041; e-mail address: bartow.susan@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    The Agency included in the November 9, 2005 Federal Register 
document notice a list of those who may be potentially affected by this 
action. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this 
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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-2005-0253-. 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 online instructions.

    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.regulations.gov/ 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.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    To submit comments, or access the official public docket, please 
follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.C. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the November 9, 2005 Federal Register 
document. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

    This document extends the public comment period established in the 
Federal Register document of November 9, 2005 (70 FR 68031) (FRL-7740-
2). In that document, EPA made available the human health risk 
assessment for PPO. PPO is an insecticidal fumigant used on several 
food items such as processed

[[Page 75799]]

spices, cocoa (beans and powder), and in-shell and processed nutmeats 
(except peanuts). PPO also has nonfood uses for bird seeds, cosmetic 
articles, gums, ores, packaging, pigments, pharmaceutical materials, 
and discarded nut shells prior to disposal. EPA developed the risk 
assessment and risk characterization for PPO through a modified version 
of its public process for making pesticide reregistration eligibility 
and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these programs, EPA is 
ensuring that pesticides 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 Agency received a request from the 
Almond Board of California to extend the comment period. EPA is hereby 
extending the comment period, which was set to end on January 9, 2006, 
to February 8, 2006. This extension is being given based on the request 
to have additional time to address data gaps identified in the 
preliminary human health risk assessment. In particular, the Almond 
Board plans to gather and submit survey information on worker exposure 
during fumigation and post fumigation, the time between fumigation and 
consumption by the public, and to prepare and present residue 
dissipation data on almonds. Since this is the only public comment 
period, the Agency is allowing a 30 day extension.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: December 12, 2005.
Debra Edwards,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E5-7625 Filed 12-20-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
