Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption to use Iprodione; Solicitation of Public Comment

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-180915; FRL 4753-6]

Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption to use Iprodione;

Solicitation of Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Georgia

Department of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as the ``Applicant'')

for use of the pesticide iprodione (CAS 36734-19-7) to control target

spot on up to 940 acres of tobacco transplants in Georgia. In

accordance with 40 CFR 166.24, EPA is soliciting public comment before

making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 3, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification

notation ``OPP-180915,'' should be submitted by mail to: Public

Response and Human Resource Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C),

Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M

St., SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm.

1128, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be

claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as

``Confidential Business Information.'' Information so marked will not

be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR

part 2. A copy of the comment that does not contain Confidential

Business Information must be provided by the submitter for inclusion in

the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed

publicly by EPA without prior notice. All written comments filed

pursuant to this notice will be available for public inspection in Rm.

1128, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA,

from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Susan Stanton, Registration

Division (7505W), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental

Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. 20460. Office

location and telephone number: 6th Floor, Crystal Station I, 2800

Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202 (703-308-8327).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 18 of the Federal

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p),

the Administrator may, at her discretion, exempt a State agency from

any registration provision of FIFRA if she determines that emergency

conditions exist which require such exemption.

The Applicant has requested the Administrator to issue a specific

exemption for the use of the fungicide, iprodione, available as Rovral

4 Flowable Fungicide (EPA Reg. No. 264-482) and Rovral Fungicide (EPA

Reg. No. 264-453) from Rhone Poulenc Ag Company, to control target

spot, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, on up to 940 acres of tobacco

transplants in Georgia. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166

was submitted as part of this request.

According to the Applicant, target spot became a statewide disease

problem on flue-cured tobacco for the first time in 1991. Under

conditions conducive to disease development, the disease may cause

serious losses in transplant beds and field tobacco plantings. Growers

who raise their own transplants could be faced with a shortage or

complete lack of planting material if a severe outbreak occurs, since

other sources of planting material are generally not available unless

contracted for prior to the growing season. Also, the disease may

spread to the field and cause tobacco yield losses if transplants

become infected. The Applicant claims that none of the registered

pesticides is effective against this disease and that, without an

effective control, growers will incur a significant economic loss

during the 1994 growing season.

Applications would be made under the proposed exemption at 0.5 to

1.0 pound of active ingredient per acre of transplants in plant beds

and greenhouses. Applications would begin when watersoaked spots first

appear on leaves and be repeated 7 to 14 days later if conditions are

favorable for disease development. A maximum of 3.0 pounds of active

ingredient per acre would be applied per year. Applications would be

made between February 1, 1994 and May 1, 1994.

This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the

application itself. The regulations governing section 18 require that

the Agency publish notice of receipt in the Federal Register and

solicit public comment on an application for a specific exemption if an

emergency exemption has been requested or granted for that use in any 3

previous years, and a complete application for registration of that use

has not been submitted to the Agency [40 CFR 166.24 (a)(6)]. Exemptions

for the use of iprodione on tobacco transplants have been requested and

granted for the past three years, and an application for registration

of this use has not been submitted to the Agency.

Accordingly, interested persons may submit written views on this

subject to the Field Operations Division at the address above. The

Agency will review and consider all comments received during the

comment period in determining whether to issue the emergency exemption

requested by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Pesticide and pests, Crisis exemptions.

Dated: January 6, 1994.

Stephen L. Johnson,

Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 94-1238 Filed 1-18-94; 8:45 am]

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