Federal Register: November 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 212)
DOCID: fr04no09-9 FR Doc E9-26540
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Environmental Protection Agency
CFR Citation: 40 CFR Part 180
EPA ID: [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1125; FRL-8350-6]
NOTICE: RULES
DOCID: fr04no09-9
DOCUMENT ACTION: Final rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Pesticide Inert Ingredients; Revocation of Tolerance Exemption for Sperm Oil
DATES: This regulation is effective November 4, 2009. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before January 4, 2010, and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
EPA is issuing this final rule to revoke the existing obsolete tolerance exemption for residues of sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210. There have not been any active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations containing this inert ingredient for many years. In addition, the sperm whale (from which sperm oil is derived) is a federally listed endangered species, and taking (or harming) this species is prohibited under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Therefore, since this exemption corresponds to uses no longer current or registered under FIFRA in the United States, EPA is revoking the existing tolerance exemption under 40 CFR 180.910 because it is no longer necessary.
SUMMARY:
Pesticide Inert Ingredients; Revocation of Tolerance Exemption for Sperm Oil
SUPPLEMENTAL 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. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to:
This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. 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 Access Electronic Copies of this Document?
In addition to accessing an electronic copy of this Federal Register document through the electronic docket at http:// www.regulations.gov, you may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may also access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR part 180 through the Government Printing Office's pilot eCFR site at http:// www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.
C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing Request?
Under section 408(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, (FFDCA), 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 EPAHQOPP 20071125 in the subject line on the first page of your submission. All requests must be in writing, and must be mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk as required by 40 CFR part 178 on or before January 4, 2010.
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 that does not contain any CBI for inclusion in the public
docket that is described in ADDRESSES. Information not marked
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA
without prior notice. Submit your copies, identified by docket ID number EPAHQOPP20071125, by one of the following methods:
II. Background and Statutory Findings
A. What Action Is the Agency Taking?
EPA is revoking the existing tolerance exemption under 40 CFR
180.910 for residues of sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210 as part
of a broader administrative effort to correct errors and clarify
permitted uses of pesticide inert ingredients in the Code of Federal
Regulations. It is EPA's general practice to revoke tolerances and
tolerance exemptions for pesticide chemical residues (which include both active and inert ingredients) for which there are no
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associated active registered uses under FIFRA, or for which there are
no registered products to which the tolerance or tolerance exemption
applies, or for tolerances or tolerance exemptions that have been superseded.
EPA has historically been concerned that retention of tolerances
and tolerance exemptions that are not necessary to cover residues in or
on legally treated foods may encourage misuse of pesticides within the
United States. Thus, it is EPA's policy to issue a final rule revoking
those tolerances and tolerance exemptions for residues of pesticide
chemicals for which there are no active registrations or uses under FIFRA.
Generally, EPA will proceed with the revocation of these tolerance
and tolerance exemptions on the grounds discussed in Unit II if one of the following conditions applies:
1. Prior to EPA's issuance of a section 408(f) order requesting additional data or issuance of a section 408(d) or (e) order revoking the tolerances or tolerance exemptions on other grounds, commenters retract the comment identifying a need for the tolerance to be retained.
2. EPA independently verifies that the tolerance or tolerance exemption is no longer needed.
3. The tolerance or tolerance exemption is not supported by data that demonstrate that the tolerance or tolerance exemption meets the requirements under FQPA.
EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register of May 16, 2008 (73 FR 28391) (FRL83636) proposing to revoke the tolerance exemption under 40 CFR 180.910 for residues of sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210. There were no comments received in response to the proposed rule.
EPA believes it is appropriate to revoke the tolerance exemption associated with this inert ingredient because there are no longer any active FIFRA pesticide product registrations for pesticide products containing sperm oil. Additionally, since sperm oil is derived from the sperm whale and the sperm whale is a federally listed endangered species, taking (or harming) this species to obtain sperm oil is prohibited by the Endangered Species Act. EPA does not expect there to be existing stocks of pesticides containing sperm oil in the hands of users because the sperm whale has been listed as an endangered species since 1970. Also, EPA is not aware of any food or feed commodities treated with pesticides containing sperm oil imported into the United States.
Therefore, for the reasons stated herein, EPA is revoking the
existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of
sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210 under 40 CFR 180.910. B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?
This rule is issued pursuant to section 408(l) of FFDCA (21 U.S.C.
346a(l)). Section 408(l) of FFDCA authorizes the establishment of
tolerances, exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance,
modifications in tolerances, and revocation of tolerances for residues
of pesticide chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities and
processed foods. Without a tolerance or tolerance exemption, food
containing pesticide residues is considered to be unsafe and therefore
``adulterated'' under section 402(a) of the FFDCA. If food containing
pesticide residues is found to be adulterated, the food may not be
distributed in interstate commerce (21 U.S.C. 331(a) and 342(a)).
EPA's general practice is to revoke tolerances and tolerance
exemptions for residues of pesticide chemicals on crops for which FIFRA
registrations no longer exist and on which the pesticide may therefore
no longer be used in the United States. EPA has historically been
concerned that retention of tolerances and tolerance exemptions that
are not necessary to cover residues in or on legally treated foods may
encourage misuse of pesticides within the United States. Nonetheless,
EPA will establish and maintain tolerances and tolerance exemptions
even when corresponding domestic uses are canceled if the tolerances,
which EPA refers to as ``import tolerances,'' are necessary to allow
importation into the United States of food containing such pesticide
residues. However, where there are no imported commodities that require
these import tolerances, the Agency believes it is appropriate to
revoke tolerances and tolerance exemptions for unregistered pesticide chemicals in order to prevent potential misuse.
C. When do These Actions Become Effective?
This action becomes effective on the date of publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. Any commodities listed in the regulatory text of this document that are treated with Sperm oil, and that are in the channels of trade following the tolerance exemption revocations, shall be subject to FFDCA section 408(l)(5), as established by the FQPA. Under this section, any residues of this pesticide chemical in or on such food shall not render the food adulterated so long as it is shown to the satisfaction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that:
1. The residue is present as the result of an application or use of the pesticide chemical at a time and in a manner that was lawful under FIFRA.
2. The residue does not exceed the level that was authorized at the time of the application or use to be present on the food under an exemption from tolerance. Evidence to show that food was lawfully treated may include records that verify the dates that the pesticide chemical was applied to such food.
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
In this final rule, EPA is revoking a specific tolerance exemption
established under FFDCA section 408. EPA establishes tolerances under
FFDCA section 408(e), and also modifies and revokes specific tolerances
established under FFDCA section 408. The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has exempted this type of action (i.e., a tolerance
revocation for which extraordinary circumstances do not exist) from
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled Regulatory Planning and
Review (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this rule has been
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866 due to its lack of
significance, this rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211,
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This final rule does
not contain any information collections subject to OMB approval under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., or impose
any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Public Law
1044). Nor does it require any special considerations under Executive
Order 12898, entitled Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice
in Minority Populations and LowIncome Populations (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994); or OMB review or any Agency action under Executive
Order 13045, entitled Protection of Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). 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 of 1995
(NTTAA), Public Law 104113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). Pursuant to
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the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Agency
previously assessed whether revocations of tolerances might
significantly impact a substantial number of small entities and
concluded that, as a general matter, these actions do not impose a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This analysis was published on December 17, 1997 (62 FR 66020), and was
provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration. Taking into account this analysis, and available
information concerning the pesticide listed in this rule, the Agency
hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Furthermore,
for the inert ingredient named in this final rule, the Agency knows of
no extraordinary circumstances that exist as to the present revocation
that would change the EPA's previous analysis. In addition, the Agency
has determined that this action will not have a substantial direct
effect on States, on the relationship between the national government
and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities
among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order
13132, entitled Federalism (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). Executive
Order 13132 requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the
Executive order to include regulations that have ''substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' This final
rule directly regulates growers, food processors, food handlers and
food retailers, not States. This action does not alter the
relationships or distribution of power and responsibilities established
by Congress in the preemption provisions of section 408(n)(4) of the
FFDCA. For these same reasons, the Agency has determined that this rule
does not have any ``tribal implications'' as described in Executive
Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). Executive Order 13175,
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations
that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal Government and the Indian tribes,
or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes.'' This rule will not have
substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.
IV. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. 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 this final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule 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: October 23, 2009.
Donald J. Rosenblatt,
Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:
PART 180[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
Sec. 180.910 [Amended]
2. Section 180.910 is amended by removing from the table the entry for ``Sperm oil conforming to 21 CFR 172.210.''
[FR Doc. E926540 Filed 11309 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Karen Samek, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 204600001; telephone number: (703) 3478825; email address: samek.karen@epa.gov.