Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Notice.
This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide metaldehyde, and opens a public comment period on this document. The Agency's risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the metaldehyde Docket. Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used to control snails and slugs on a wide variety of sites, including turf, ornamentals, berries, citrus, and vegetables. EPA has reviewed metaldehyde through the public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and
Comments must be received on or before October 10, 2006.
Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2005–0231, by one of the following methods:ÿ09
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Jill Bloom, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (703) 308–8019; fax number: (703) 308–7070; E-mail address:
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
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ÿ09i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading,
ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes.
iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used.
v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced.
vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and suggest alternatives.
vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats.
viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified.
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 Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide metaldehyde under section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA. Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used to control snails and slugs on a wide variety of sites, including turf, ornamentals, berries, citrus, and vegetables. EPA has determined that the data base to support reregistration is substantially complete. The technical registrant of metaldehyde, Lonza, elected not to support many uses through the development of residue and other data. Of the uses Lonza is supporting, turf and dichondra lawns are not eligible for reregistration, mainly based on the risks these residential uses pose to domestic animals, which may be
EPA must review tolerances and tolerance exemptions that were in effect when the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was enacted in August 1996, to ensure that these existing pesticide residue limits for food and feed commodities meet the safety standard established by the new law. Tolerances are considered reassessed once the safety finding has been made or a revocation occurs. EPA has reviewed and made the requisite safety finding for the sole existing metaldehyde tolerance.
Although the metaldehyde RED was signed on July 27, 2006, certain components of the document, which did not affect the final regulatory decision, are undergoing final editing at this time. These components, including the list of additional generic data requirements, summary of labeling changes, appendices, and other relevant information, will be added to the metaldehyde RED when they are complete. None of these additions will alter the conclusions documented in the July 27, 2006 metaldehyde RED.
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
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. The Agency is issuing the metaldehyde RED for public comment. This comment period is intended to provide an additional opportunity for public input and a mechanism for initiating any necessary amendments to the RED. All comments should be submitted using the methods in
In particular, during the 60–day comment period following the publication of this Notice, the Agency is soliciting input on several of the mitigation measures required by the RED. ÿ09
The Agency is specifically seeking public comment on how the directions on home and garden product labels to exclude children and domestic animals from treated areas may be enhanced. As an example, the RED requires that these product labels include a graphic representing the prohibition for allowing children and domestic animals access to treated areas (
In addition, the Agency seeks public comment on a requirement that all metaldehyde granular products be formulated with a bright blue pigment, which anecdotal evidence suggests may deter ingestion by animals. Some registrants have expressed concern that the blue color could attract children who might mistake the granules for candy. The Agency is soliciting input on this issue and data on the potential effect of the blue color on ingestion of such material by animals. The registrants are also concerned that the blue color in granules could transfer to produce or the containers in which harvested produce is transported, reducing the marketability of the produce. The Agency believes that the soil-applied baits should have little likelihood of transferring color to plants, but is seeking public comment on experience with the pigmented formulations in agricultural sites, where they are already used.
The Agency is also seeking input on a prohibition of use for metaldehyde in strawberries grown as annuals. The annual growth pattern is typically associated with lower populations of slugs which may do little economic damage to the fruits. The Agency seeks information to be able to confirm or refute that the use of metaldehyde on strawberries grown as annuals is not necessary.ÿ09
The Agency will carefully consider all comments received by the closing date and subsequently will post a Response to Comments Memorandum to the metaldehyde Docket. If any comment significantly affects the reregistration decision, EPA also will publish an amendment to the RED in the
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.”
Section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(q), requires EPA to review tolerances and exemptions for pesticide residues in effect as of August 2, 1996, to determine whether the tolerance or exemption meets the requirements of section 408(b)(2) or (c)(2) of FFDCA. This review is to be completed by August 3, 2006.
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.