[Federal Register: January 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 4)]
[Notices]
[Page 930-933]
[DOCID:fr06ja06-48]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252; FRL-7756-7]

Iodomethane Risk Assessment; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's human health
risk assessment and related documents for the pesticide iodomethane and
opens a public comment period on these documents. EPA has completed a
human health risk assessment for the fumigant, iodomethane and wants to
provide the public an opportunity to comment on the risk assessment.
Iodomethane is a new chemical under consideration by the Agency for
registration and has been identified as a potential partial replacement
for methyl bromide.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-
HQ-OPP-2005-0252, must be received on or before February 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES:  Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or
through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as
provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mary L. Waller, Registration Division
(7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone
number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

     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 may also 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 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. The official public
docket consists of the documents specifically referenced in this
action, any public comments received, and other information related to
this action. Although, a part of the official docket, the public docket
does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official
public docket is the collection of materials that is available for
public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch
(PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington,
VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone number
is<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this  Federal Register
document electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal
Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. EDOCKET, EPA's

electronic public docket and comment system was replaced on November
25, 2005, by an enhanced Federal-wide electronic docket management and
comment system located at http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on-

line instruction.
     An electronic version of the public docket is available through
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public

comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
     Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA
Dockets. Information claimed as CBI and other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute, which is not included in the
official public docket, will not be available for public viewing in
EPA's electronic public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted
material will not be placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will
be available only in printed, paper form in the official public docket.
To the extent feasible, publicly available docket materials will be
made available in EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is
selected from the index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify
whether the document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic
public docket. Although, not all docket materials may be available
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1.
EPA intends to work towards providing electronic access to all of the
publicly available docket materials through EPA's electronic public
docket.
     For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy
is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or on paper,
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
     Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the docket will
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief
description written by the docket staff.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

     You may submit comments electronically, by mail, or through hand
delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the
appropriate docket ID number in the subject line on the first page of
your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the
specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments. If you wish to submit CBI or information that is
otherwise protected by statute, please follow the instructions in Unit
I.D. Do not use EPA Dockets or e-mail to submit CBI or information
protected by statute.
    1. Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as
prescribed in this unit, EPA recommends that you include your name,
mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in
the body of your comment. Also, include this contact information on the
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact
you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's
policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or
contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included
as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket,
and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot
read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you
for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/
, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in docket ID number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by e-mail to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
Attention: Docket ID number EPQ-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. In contrast to EPA's
electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous
access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket
without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail
system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses
that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as
part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and
made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit I.C.2. These
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. By mail. Send your comments to: Public Information and Records
Integrity Branch (PIRIB) (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, Attention: Docket ID
number EPQ-HQ-OPP-2005-0252.
    3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your comments to: Public
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall
2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA, Attention: Docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252. Such deliveries are only accepted during
the docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Unit I.B.1.

D. How Should I Submit CBI to the Agency?

     Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI
electronically through EPA's electronic public docket or by e-mail. You
may claim information that you submit to EPA as CBI by marking any part
or all of that information as CBI (if you submit CBI on disk or CD ROM,
mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that
is CBI). Information so marked will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
     In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes
any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion
in the public docket and EPA's electronic public docket. If you submit
the copy that does not contain CBI on disk or CD ROM, mark the outside
of the disk or CD ROM clearly that it does not contain CBI. Information
not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and EPA's
electronic public docket without prior notice. If you have any
questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

E. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that
supportyour views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at your estimate.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternatives.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline
identified.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket
ID number in the subject line on the first page of your response. It
would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and Federal
Register citation related to your comments.

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

     EPA is making available the human health risk assessment for
iodomethane. Iodomethane is a new chemical proposed for use as a pre-
plant fumigant to control soil borne pests including weed seeds,
nematodes, insects, and diseases in fields intended for commercial
production of strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, turf, ornamentals
(flowers grown for cutting, bulbs, and nursery plants), trees and
vines. The Agency developed this risk assessment as part of the
registration decision process. EPA is ensuring that all new pesticides
proposed for use meet current standards under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of
1996 (FQPA).
     The risk assessment for iodomethane addresses exposures to workers
and the general population which are expected to occur primarily via
inhalation. Dermal exposure is not expected due to the high vapor
pressure of iodomethane. Potential general population exposures via
inhalation are those in proximity to treated fields (i.e., bystanders).
These exposure scenarios are plausible considering the volatility of
fumigants, in general, and the potential for fumigant off-gassing into
the air and transport off-site by winds to bystanders in proximity to
treated fields. Exposures to iodomethane may be acute (less than 24
hours), short-term (one to thirty days), intermediate-term (one month
to six months) or long-term in duration. Acute exposures have been
quantitatively assessed because this duration is the key concern due to
the anticipated use pattern of iodomethane, its emission profile and
the nature of its toxicity. Additionally, for these same reasons, it is
believed that the human health assessment of acute exposures are
protective of other durations of exposure. Iodomethane is considered a
nonfood use chemical, and a dietary risk assessment was not conducted.
The general population may be exposed to iodomethane through drinking
water. Therefore, a qualitative drinking water risk assessment was
conducted, and no risks were identified from this potential source of
exposure.
     EPA is providing an opportunity, through this notice, for
interested parties to provide comments and input on the Agency's risk
assessment for iodomethane. Such comments and input could address, for
example, the availability of additional data to further refine the risk
assessments, such as meteorological data for probabilistic modeling
purposes and projections for product use by major use regions,
frequency or application parameters, etc., or could address the
Agency's risk assessment methodologies and assumptions, air dispersion
models, or physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models as applied to
this specific pesticide.
     EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help
address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks
information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a
result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may
have potentially atypical, unusually high exposure to iodomethane,
compared to the general population.
     Comments should be limited to issues raised within the risk
assessment and associated documents or to environmental justice issues
discussed above. All comments should be submitted using the methods in
Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, and must be received by EPA
on or before the closing date. Comments will become part of the Agency
Docket for iodomethane. Comments received after the close of the
comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider
these late comments.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

     Section 3 of FIFRA directs that ``the Administrator may by
regulation limit the distribution, sale, or use in any State of any
pesticide that is not registered under this Act and that is not the
subject of an experimental use permit under section 5 or an emergency
exemption under section 18.''

List of Subjects

     Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: December 30, 2005.
Donald R. Stubbs,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-28 Filed 1-5-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S