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Proposed Rules, Policies, and Guidance - Open for Comment

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Requirements, policies, and guidance that EPA is proposing. Comments are solicited from the public before EPA issues final versions. Public comment is open for all items on this page. Items for which the comment period has expired are listed on the following archive pages:

Proposed Rules, Policies, and Guidance - 2009 Archive
Proposed Rules, Policies, and Guidance - 2008 Archive
Proposed Rules, Policies, and Guidance - 2007 Archive

Comment Period Open

Proposed Registration Decision for Ulocladium Odemansii (U3 strain) Available for Public Comment

EPA is making its proposed registration decision for Ulocladium odemansii available for comment. The Biopesticides Registration Action Decision (BRAD) contains EPA's proposed registration decision and risk assessment. In addition, EPA is making the proposed product labels available for comment. Comments will be accepted through November 19, 2009.

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Registration Review Final Work Plan and Proposed Registration Review Decision Available for Bromine

EPA announces the availability of its final work plan and proposed registration review decision for the pesticide bromine and opens a public comment period on the proposed decision. Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0167, must be received on or before November 23, 2009.

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Pesticide Registration Review Dockets Opened for Review and Comment

EPA has established registration review dockets for the pesticides listed below. With this document, EPA is opening the public comment period for these registration review cases:

Comments must be received on or November 23, 2009.

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Four New Biopesticide Registration Review Dockets Opened for Review and Comment

EPA has established registration review dockets for the pesticides listed below, and is opening the public comment period for these registration reviews:

Comments must be received on or before November 30, 2009.

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EPA Solicits Comments on Draft Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 Update

EPA is announcing a 60-day public comment period for the external review draft document titled, "Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 Update" (EPA/600/R-09/052A), which was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). The Exposure Factors Handbook provides a summary of the available statistical data on various factors used in assessing human exposure. This Handbook is aimed at exposure assessors inside the Agency as well as those outside who use data on standard factors to calculate human exposure to toxic chemicals. These factors include: drinking water consumption; mouthing behavior; soil ingestion rates; inhalation rates; dermal factors, including skin area and soil adherence factors; consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, dairy products, and homegrown foods; breast milk intake; human activity factors; consumer product use; and residential characteristics. The draft document is available on the NCEA Exposure Factors Handbook 2009 Update Web page. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by December 7, 2009.

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EPA Solicits Comments on Petition To Suspend the Registration of Rozol Prairie Dog Bait and Cancel Certain Application Sites

EPA is publishing for public comment a June 5, 2009 petition from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) available in docket number EPA-HQ-OPP- 2009-0684, requesting that the Agency suspend the registration of the chlorophacinone product, Rozol Prairie Dog Bait (EPA Reg. No. 7173- 286), and cancel certain application sites for the product. The primary basis for the petition is the potential effect of this product on non-target species, including certain predators and scavengers of the black-tailed prairie dog. November 4, 2009 update: The comment period has been extended to end on December 7, 2009.

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Draft Ecological Risk Assessment Available for Urea Sulfate Registration Review

As directed by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) section 3(g), EPA is reviewing the pesticide registration for urea sulfate to ensure that it continues to satisfy the FIFRA standard for registration-- that is, that urea sulfate can still be used without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Urea sulfate is a herbicide used as a desiccant on cotton as a cotton harvest aid/defoliant. EPA has completed a comprehensive draft ecological risk assessment, including an endangered species assessment, for all urea sulfate uses and is announcing the availability of the draft ecological risk assessment. Comments must be received on or before December 15, 2009.

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EPA Seeks Preliminary Comment on the Development of a Nutrient and Sediment TMDL for the Chesapeake Bay

EPA announces its intent to establish a Chesapeake Bay-wide Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment for all impaired segments in the tidal portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and is seeking preliminary comment on the development of a TMDL. EPA requests that the public provide to EPA any water quality related data and information that may be relevant to the development and calculation of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL by December 18, 2009.

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Three Antimicrobial Pesticide Dockets Opened for Review and Comment

EPA has established registration review dockets for the following pesticides and is opening the public comment period for these registration reviews:

Comments must be received on or before December 22, 2009.

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Proposed Registration Review Decision for Disulfoton Open for Public Comment

This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed registration review decision for the pesticide disulfoton and opens a public comment period on the proposed decision. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, that the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Disulfoton is an organophosphate insecticide registered for use on asparagus, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cotton, coffee beans, lettuce, radish grown for seed, Christmas trees, Easter lilies, and residential ornamentals. Comments must be received on or before December 22, 2009.

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EPA Proposes New Pesticide Labeling To Control Spray Drift and Protect Human Health; Requests Comment on Draft Interpretation, Support Documents

EPA has rolled out proposed guidance for new pesticide labeling to reduce off-target spray and dust drift. The actions in the draft pesticide registration (PR) notice, when implemented, will improve the clarity and consistency of pesticide labels and help prevent harm from spray drift. The new instructions will prohibit drift that could cause adverse health or environmental effects. In addition to the draft notice on pesticide-drift labeling, EPA is seeking comment on a draft pesticide drift labeling interpretation document that provides guidance to state and tribal enforcement officials. An additional supporting document provides background information on pesticide drift, a description of current and planned EPA actions, a reader’s guide explaining key terms and concepts, and specific questions on which EPA is seeking input. Comments must be received on or before January 4, 2010.

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Comments Requested on Petition To Protect Children from Pesticide Drift

EPA is requesting comment on a petition filed recently by environmental and farm worker organizations asking EPA to evaluate children’s exposure to pesticide drift and to adopt, on an interim basis, requirements for “no-spray” buffer zones near homes, schools, day-care centers, and parks. Comments must be received on or before January 4, 2010.

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Comments Requested on Draft Strategy for Restoration and Protection of the Chesapeake Bay

EPA announces the availability of a draft strategy for restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and requests public comment. The draft strategy contains a comprehensive package of federal initiatives to restore clean water, conserve treasured places, protect fish and wildlife, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These objectives will be accomplished by empowering local efforts, making decisions based on science and forging a new era of federal leadership and accountability. Close collaboration of efforts with the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District of Columbia will also be critical. To restore clean water, EPA will create a framework for performance and accountability to guide federal and state pollution control programs, and expand regulatory tools to reduce pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations and urban and suburban runoff. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will intensively target voluntary conservation incentives at high priority areas. New emphasis is also placed on improving stormwater management on federal land and reducing polluted runoff from transportation infrastructure. The draft strategy is available at the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order Web site. Comments on the draft strategy must be submitted on or before January 8, 2010.

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EPA Seeks Comment on New Permit for Animal Feeding Operations in Idaho

The public is encouraged to take a close look at a new proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Discharge Permit, required by the Clean Water Act, that would affect animal feeding operations in Idaho. If enacted as proposed, this permit will regulate discharges to surface waters from many Idaho feedlots, including those on tribal lands. When improperly managed, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can be significant sources of excess nutrients, hormones and bacteria, which may impair water quality and deplete oxygen levels, causing serious damage to the environment. The general permit would allow a CAFO operator to discharge to surface waters only if they are in compliance with new regulations regarding production areas and land applications areas. Also, under the new permit, CAFO owners and operators must submit a nutrient management plan for review in addition to the required standard notice of intent. CAFOs that have had permits in the past, or currently discharge or propose to discharge, will have 90 days to submit their notice of intent and nutrient management plans to obtain coverage under the new permit. The full proposed permit is available online at Region 10's NPDES Permits Web page. The public comment period will run for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. For more information about CAFOs and permitting, visit EPA's CAFO Industry Effluent Guideline Web page.

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