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News Archive: June 2002

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This information is provided for reference. Over time, links to news items may become unavailable, in these cases the item will remain listed, but no link will be provided. Also, please be aware that the information in any particular article may be outdated or superseded by additional information.

June 19
EPA Announces Data Availability for Proposed Biosolids Rule; Invites Comments
In December 1999, EPA proposed a numeric standard for dioxins in sewage sludge applied to agricultural land. The Agency based its proposed limit on the results of a risk assessment for dioxins in land-applied sewage sludge. Since the proposal, EPA has gathered new data and conducted a new risk assessment. This notice summarizes the new data and the revised risk assessment and invites public comments. Comments must be submitted in writing and must be received or postmarked on or before midnight September 10, 2002.

EPA Releases Proposed Effluent Guidelines Program Plan
EPA has published its proposed Effluent Guidelines Program Plan for 2002/2003.  The plan identifies industrial categories for which EPA expects to develop or revise effluent limitations guidelines and standards and sets forth the schedules for those rulemakings. Included in the list are: Feedlots (swine, poultry, dairy and beef cattle); Aquatic Animal Production (fish hatcheries and farms); and Meat Products (slaughtering, rendering, packing, processing of red meat and poultry).

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

June 17
Draft Report Identifies Potential Changes for EPA's Health Risk Assessment Procedures
EPA published  for public comment a draft report entitled A Review of the Reference Dose and Reference Concentration Processes. This report reviews the Agency's health risk assessment process, which determines whether chemicals pose a risk to human health. The report offers a series of recommendations to harmonize the Agency's health risk assessment procedures and thus make more efficient use of animal testing and other resources. A 30-day comment period, from June 4th to July 5th, has been established for this report, and there will be a peer review workshop on June 19th, 2002. EPA's Risk Assessment Forum drafted this report with input from the Office of Pesticide Programs and other offices.

June 14
Stop Sale Order Issued to Missouri Disinfectant Company
EPA ordered Wexford Labs, of Kirkwood, Missouri, to immediately stop selling and distributing three ineffective antimicrobial disinfectant products. The products are: Wex-Cide Concentrated Germicidal Detergent (EPA Reg. No. 34810-8); Phenex-Cel Concentrated Germicidal Detergent (EPA Reg. No. 34810-16) and Ready-To-Use Wex-Cide Germicidal Detergent (EPA Reg. No. 34810-21).

Guidance for Methodology for Assessing Low Toxicity Pesticide Chemicals
EPA has prepared a guidance document on how low toxicity pesticide chemicals would be evaluated for use in pesticide products. A chemical can be used as an inert ingredient in some pesticide products and as an active ingredient in other pesticide products. The Agency believes that a screening methodology is the most efficient and appropriate way to handle the variety of hazard and exposure issues posed by inert ingredients. Comments must be received by EPA no later than September 11, 2002.

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June 12
Difenzoquat and Diquat Dibromide: Tolerance Reassessment Decision (TRED)
This notice of tolerance reassessment for difenzoquat and diquat dibromide starts the 30-day public comment period. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket ID number OPP-2002-0097 for difenzoquat and OPP-2002-0098 for diquat dibromide. Comments must be received on or before July 12, 2002.

June 11
Norflurazon and Fenbutatin-Oxide: Tolerance Reassessment Decision (TRED)
This notice of tolerance reassessment for norflurazon and fenbutatin-oxide (Vendex) starts the 30-day public comment period.  Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0096, must be received on or before July 11, 2002.

June 10
Revised Cumulative Risk Assessment for Organophosphate Pesticides
The Environmental Protection Agency is releasing a revised assessment of the cumulative risks of organophosphate pesticides, and is making the document available for public comment and scientific peer review of the methodologies used in its development. EPA is nearing completion of a process to evaluate over a thousand organophosphate pesticide food tolerances (legal residue limits), virtually all of which are expected to meet the highest, most rigorous safety standards. Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0110, must be received by EPA on or before July 22, 2002.

June 6
Methyl and Ethyl Parathion: Tolerance Revocations Announced
On June 5, 2002, EPA published a final rule to revoke 73 tolerances for residues of the insecticides methyl parathion and ethyl parathion. These pesticides are in the first priority group for tolerance reassessment. The 73 tolerances are revoked because there are no registered uses for methyl parathion or ethyl parathion on these commodities. All uses of ethyl parathion have been canceled. There are 25 remaining crop uses for methyl parathion; the 29 tolerances associated with these uses are not being revoked. This rule becomes effective September 3, 2002. 

Propanil: Tolerance Reassessment Decision and Preliminary Risk Assessment
On June 5, 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in the Federal Register the tolerance reassessment decision for propanil and released the accompanying human health and ecological effects risk assessment and related documents. Propanil is a selective post-emergent herbicide registered on rice, barley, oats and spring wheat to control broadleaf and grass weeds in commercial settings. Propanil is also registered (but not currently marketed) for turf use at commercial sod farms. EPA will accept comments on the tolerance reassessment decision until July 5, 2002.

June 3
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Pesticide Active Ingredient Production
On March 22, 2002 (67 FR 13504), EPA proposed an amendment to change the existing source compliance date of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Pesticide Active Ingredient Production to December 23, 2003. Under the promulgated rule, existing affected sources would be required to be in compliance by August 22, 2002. With this final action, existing sources will be required to be in compliance with the rule by December 23, 2003.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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