
[Federal Register: April 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 74)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20662-20663]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap08-57]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1078; FRL-8359-5]

 
Prometon; Reregistration Eligibility Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide prometon. The Agency's 
risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the 
prometon docket. Prometon is an herbicide used in industrial sites and 
under paved surfaces. EPA has reviewed prometon through the public 
participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in 
developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment 
decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides 
meet current health and safety standards.

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) 308-8005; e-mail address: louie.rosanna@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 20663]]

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 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-2007-1078. 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?

    Under section 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is reevaluating existing pesticides to 
ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. EPA 
has completed a RED for the pesticide, prometon, under section 
4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Prometon is a non-selective herbicide intended to 
leave the treatment site bare and devoid of any vegetation. Products 
containing prometon can be used under block or solid paving, and at 
various industrial sites including pipelines, along fencerows, around 
building perimeters, cross connects, fire plugs, storage areas, fences, 
pumps, machinery, fuel tanks, recreational areas, guard rails, 
airports, military installations, highway medians, railroads, 
lumberyards, and rights-of-way. EPA has determined that the database to 
support reregistration is substantially complete and that products 
containing prometon are eligible for reregistration depending on their 
specific uses, provided the risks are mitigated either in the manner 
described in the RED or by another means that achieves equivalent risk 
reduction. Upon submission of any required product specific data under 
section 4(g)(2)(B) of FIFRA and any necessary changes to the 
registration and labeling (either to address concerns identified in the 
RED or as a result of product specific data), EPA will make a final 
reregistration decision under section 4(g)(2)(C) of FIFRA for products 
containing prometon.
    EPA is applying the principles of public participation to all 
pesticides undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment. The 
Agency's ``Pesticide Tolerance Reassessment and Reregistration; Public 
Participation Process,'' published in the Federal Register on May 14, 
2004, (69 FR 26819) (FRL-7357-9) explains that in conducting these 
programs, EPA is tailoring its public participation process to be 
commensurate with the level of risk, extent of use, complexity of 
issues, and degree of public concern associated with each pesticide. 
Due to its uses, minimal risks, and other factors, prometon was 
reviewed through the modified 4-Phase public participation process. 
Through this process, EPA worked extensively with stakeholders and the 
public to reach the regulatory decisions for prometon.
    The reregistration program is being conducted under congressionally 
mandated time frames, and EPA recognizes the need both to make timely 
decisions and to involve the public. An additional comment period is 
not needed at this time, because few comments were received during the 
earlier comment period for this pesticide, and issues related to this 
pesticide were resolved through consultations with stakeholders. The 
Agency, therefore, is issuing the prometon RED without an additional 
comment period.

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.


    Dated: April 3, 2008.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-8001 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
