
[Federal Register: June 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 117)]
[Notices]               
[Page 29207]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jn09-73]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0558; FRL-8421-1]

 
Coppers Amendment to the Reregistration Eligibility Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's decision to modify certain 
provisions that were specified in the 2006 Reregistration Eligibility 
Decision (RED) for the copper pesticides. EPA conducted this 
reassessment of the Coppers RED in response to public comments received 
during the comment period, and updated information that would impact 
product labeling. Based on the new information received, and in a 
continuing effort to mitigate risk, the Agency has made certain 
modifications in the Coppers RED.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosanna Louie, Special Review and 
Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-0037; fax 
number: (703) 308-8090; e-mail address: louie.rosanna@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, farm worker and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; 
pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the sale, 
distribution, or use of pesticides. Since others also may 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.

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

    1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under 
docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0558. Publicly 
available docket materials are available either in the electronic 
docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard 
copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public 
Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal 
Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The Docket Facility 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.

II. Background

A. What Action Is the Agency Taking?

    Section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act (FIFRA) directs EPA to reevaluate existing pesticides to ensure 
that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. In 2006, 
EPA issued a RED for coppers under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. In 
response to a notice of availability published in the Federal Register 
of August 9, 2006 (71 FR 45550) (FRL-8085-4), the Agency received 
substantive comments and information from commenters. The amended 
Coppers RED reflects changes resulting from Agency consideration of 
these comments received on the RED, as well as efforts by the Agency to 
appropriately mitigate overall risk. The RED amendment for coppers 
concludes EPA's reregistration eligibility decision-making process for 
this pesticide.
    A total of 46 submissions were received, which included comments 
from various growers that use copper products, university extension 
services, registrants, and publicly-owned treatment works facilities. 
Comments received during the public comment period included information 
on application rates, copper use in aquatic areas and water treatment 
facilities, and human health exposures. In consideration of these 
comments, and other decisions that occurred after the RED was 
published, the RED has been updated to reflect current product labeling 
requirements. Appendix A, which is a summary of the use sites and 
application rates eligible for reregistration, has been updated based 
on input received from stakeholders. The label table has also been 
revised to include modifications to some of the restricted entry 
intervals after copper pesticide applications, labeling language for 
spray drift management requirements, and personal protective equipment 
requirements for workers who handle and apply copper pesticides.

B. What Is the Agency's Authority for Taking This Action?

    Section 4(g)(2) of FIFRA, as amended, directs that, after 
submission of all data concerning a pesticide active ingredient, ``the 
Administrator shall determine whether pesticides containing such active 
ingredient are eligible for reregistration,'' before calling in product 
specific data on individual end-use products and either reregistering 
products or taking other ``appropriate regulatory action.''

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Coppers.

    Dated: June 6, 2009.
 Richard P. Keigwin, Jr.,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. E9-14336 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
