[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28747-28750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0845; FRL-9994-34]


Melamine Formaldehyde Polycondensate Resin; Tolerance Exemption

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance for residues of formaldehyde, reaction products with 
melamine; 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde; 
formaldehyde reaction products with melamine and methanol; and 1,3,5-
triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde, methylated; 
collectively referred to as melamine formaldehyde polycondensate resin; 
when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. 
BASF Corporation submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to 
establish a maximum permissible level for residues of formaldehyde, 
reaction products with melamine; 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer 
with formaldehyde; formaldehyde reaction products with melamine and 
methanol; 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde, 
methylated on food or feed commodities.

DATES: This regulation is effective June 20, 2019. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before August 19, 2019, 
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0845, is available at http://www.regulations.gov

[[Page 28748]]

or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory Public Docket (OPP 
Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), 
West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. 
NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public Reading Room is open from 
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 
566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP Docket is (703) 305-
5805. Please review the visitor instructions and additional information 
about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Goodis, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; main telephone 
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR 
part 180 through the Government Publishing Office's e-CFR site at 
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.

C. Can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0845 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing, and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
August 19, 2019. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections and 
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential 
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without 
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing 
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0845, by one of 
the following methods.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. Additional 
instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Background and Statutory Findings

    In the Federal Register of March 18, 2019 (84 FR 9735) (FRL-9989-
90), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408, 21 U.S.C. 
346a, announcing the receipt of a pesticide petition (PP IN-11260) 
filed by BASF Corporation, 26 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180.960 be amended by 
establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for 
residues of formaldehyde, reaction products with melamine (CAS Reg. No. 
94645-56-4); 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde 
(CAS Reg. No. 9003-08-1); formaldehyde reaction products with melamine 
and methanol (CAS Reg. No. 94645-53-1); 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, 
polymer with formaldehyde, methylated (CAS Reg. No. 68002-20-0). That 
document included a summary of the petition prepared by the petitioner 
and solicited comments on the petitioner's request. One comment was 
received on the notice of filing. EPA's response to these comments is 
discussed in Unit VIII.B.
    Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish an 
exemption from the requirement for a tolerance (the legal limit for a 
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that 
the exemption is ``safe.'' Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines 
``safe'' to mean that ``there is a reasonable certainty that no harm 
will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue, 
including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for 
which there is reliable information.'' This includes exposure through 
drinking water and use in residential settings, but does not include 
occupational exposure. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to 
give special consideration to exposure of infants and children to the 
pesticide chemical residue in establishing an exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance and to ``ensure that there is a reasonable 
certainty that no harm will result to infants and children from 
aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue . . .'' and 
specifies factors EPA is to consider in establishing an exemption.

III. Risk Assessment and Statutory Findings

    EPA establishes exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance only 
in those cases where it can be shown that the risks from aggregate 
exposure to pesticide chemical residues under reasonably foreseeable 
circumstances will pose no appreciable risks to human health. In order 
to determine the risks from aggregate exposure to pesticide inert 
ingredients, the Agency considers the toxicity of the inert in 
conjunction with possible exposure to residues of the inert ingredient 
through food, drinking water, and through other exposures that occur as 
a result of pesticide use in residential settings. If EPA is able to 
determine that a finite tolerance is not necessary to ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate 
exposure to the inert ingredient, an exemption from the requirement of 
a tolerance may be established.
    Consistent with FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the 
available scientific data and other relevant information in support of 
this action and considered its validity, completeness and reliability 
and the relationship of this information to human risk. EPA has also 
considered available information concerning the

[[Page 28749]]

variability of the sensitivities of major identifiable subgroups of 
consumers, including infants and children. In the case of certain 
chemical substances that are defined as polymers, the Agency has 
established a set of criteria to identify categories of polymers 
expected to present minimal or no risk. The definition of a polymer is 
given in 40 CFR 723.250(b) and the exclusion criteria for identifying 
these low-risk polymers are described in 40 CFR 723.250(d). Melamine 
formaldehyde polycondensate resin conforms to the definition of a 
polymer given in 40 CFR 723.250(b) and meets the following criteria 
that are used to identify low-risk polymers.
    1. The polymer is not a cationic polymer nor is it reasonably 
anticipated to become a cationic polymer in a natural aquatic 
environment.
    2. The polymer does contain as an integral part of its composition 
at least two of the atomic elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, 
silicon, and sulfur.
    3. The polymer does not contain as an integral part of its 
composition, except as impurities, any element other than those listed 
in 40 CFR 723.250(d)(2)(ii).
    4. The polymer is neither designed nor can it be reasonably 
anticipated to substantially degrade, decompose, or depolymerize.
    5. The polymer is manufactured or imported from monomers and/or 
reactants that are already included on the TSCA Chemical Substance 
Inventory or manufactured under an applicable TSCA section 5 exemption.
    6. The polymer is not a water absorbing polymer with a number 
average molecular weight (MW) greater than or equal to 10,000 daltons.
    7. The polymer does not contain certain perfluoroalkyl moieties 
consisting of a CF3- or longer chain length as listed in 40 CFR 
723.250(d)(6).
    Additionally, the polymer also meets as required the following 
exemption criteria specified in 40 CFR 723.250(e).
    8. The polymer's number average MW of 10,000 is greater than or 
equal to 10,000 daltons. The polymer contains less than 2% oligomeric 
material below MW 500 and less than 5% oligomeric material below MW 
1,000.
    Thus, melamine formaldehyde polycondensate resin meet the criteria 
for a polymer to be considered low risk under 40 CFR 723.250. Based on 
its conformance to the criteria in this unit, no mammalian toxicity is 
anticipated from dietary, inhalation, or dermal exposure to melamine 
formaldehyde polycondensate resin.

IV. Aggregate Exposures

    For the purposes of assessing potential exposure under this 
exemption, EPA considered that melamine formaldehyde polycondensate 
resin could be present in all raw and processed agricultural 
commodities and drinking water, and that non-occupational non-dietary 
exposure was possible. The number average MW of melamine formaldehyde 
polycondensate resin is 10,000 daltons. Generally, a polymer of this 
size would be poorly absorbed through the intact gastrointestinal tract 
or through intact human skin. Since melamine formaldehyde 
polycondensate resin conform to the criteria that identify a low-risk 
polymer, there are no concerns for risks associated with any potential 
exposure scenarios that are reasonably foreseeable. The Agency has 
determined that a tolerance is not necessary to protect the public 
health.

V. Cumulative Effects From Substances With a Common Mechanism of 
Toxicity

    Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when considering 
whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the Agency 
consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative effects of 
a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances that have a 
common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA has not found melamine formaldehyde polycondensate resin to 
share a common mechanism of toxicity with any other substances, and 
melamine formaldehyde polycondensate resin does not appear to produce a 
toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this 
tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that melamine formaldehyde 
polycondensate resin does not have a common mechanism of toxicity with 
other substances. For information regarding EPA's efforts to determine 
which chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the 
cumulative effects of such chemicals, see EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative.

VI. Additional Safety Factor for the Protection of Infants and Children

    Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA provides that EPA shall apply an 
additional tenfold margin of safety for infants and children in the 
case of threshold effects to account for prenatal and postnatal 
toxicity and the completeness of the data base unless EPA concludes 
that a different margin of safety will be safe for infants and 
children. Due to the expected low toxicity of melamine formaldehyde 
polycondensate resin, EPA has not used a safety factor analysis to 
assess the risk. For the same reasons the additional tenfold safety 
factor is unnecessary.

VII. Determination of Safety

    Based on the conformance to the criteria used to identify a low-
risk polymer, EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty of no 
harm to the U.S. population, including infants and children, from 
aggregate exposure to residues of melamine formaldehyde polycondensate 
resin.

VIII. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    An analytical method is not required for enforcement purposes since 
the Agency is establishing an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance without any numerical limitation.

B. Response to Comments

    One comment was received in response to the Notice of Filing, 
generally stating that exposure to pesticides needs to be decreased. 
The Agency recognizes that some individuals believe that pesticides 
should be limited or banned on agricultural crops. However, the 
existing legal framework provided by section 408 of the Federal Food, 
Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) states that tolerances may be set when 
persons seeking such tolerances or exemptions have demonstrated that 
the pesticide meets the safety standard imposed by that statute. This 
citizen's comment appears to be directed at the underlying statute and 
not EPA's implementation of it; the citizen has provided no information 
that would support a conclusion that these exemptions are not safe.

IX. Conclusion

    Accordingly, EPA finds that exempting residues of melamine 
formaldehyde polycondensate resin from the requirement of a tolerance 
will be safe.

X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action establishes a tolerance under FFDCA section 408(d) in 
response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this action has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not 
subject to Executive Order 13211,

[[Page 28750]]

entitled ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or 
Executive Order 13045, entitled ``Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 
1997). This action does not contain any information collections subject 
to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), nor does it require any special considerations under 
Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis 
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance in this 
final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.), do not apply.
    This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food 
handlers, and food retailers, not States or tribes, nor does this 
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and 
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions 
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency has determined that 
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or 
tribal governments, on the relationship between the national government 
and the States or tribal governments, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between 
the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has 
determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 
67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply to this action. In addition, this 
action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded 
mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

XI. Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 10, 2019.
Michael Goodis,
Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 180--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.


0
2. In Sec.  180.960, add alphabetically the polymers ''Formaldehyde, 
reaction products with melamine, minimum number average molecular 
weight (in amu), 10000''; ''Formaldehyde, reaction products with 
melamine and methanol, minimum number average molecular weight (in 
amu), 10000''; ``1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with 
formaldehyde, minimum number average molecular weight (in amu), 
10000''; and ``1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with 
formaldehyde, methylated, minimum number average molecular weight (in 
amu), 10000'' to the table to read as follows:


Sec.  180.960  Polymers; exemptions from the requirement of a 
tolerance.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Polymer                              CAS No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
formaldehyde, reaction products with melamine, minimum        94645-56-4
 number average molecular weight (in amu), 10000........
 
                              * * * * * * *
formaldehyde, reaction products with melamine and             94645-53-1
 methanol, minimum number average molecular weight (in
 amu), 10000............................................
 
                              * * * * * * *
1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with                    9003-08-1
 formaldehyde, minimum number average molecular weight
 (in amu), 10000........................................
 
                              * * * * * * *
1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with                   68002-20-0
 formaldehyde, methylated, minimum number average
 molecular weight (in amu), 10000.......................
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2019-12994 Filed 6-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


