Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption to use Sodium Fluoroacetate; Solicitation of Public Comment; Extension of Comment Period

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-180949A; FRL-4910-9]

Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption to use Sodium

Fluoroacetate; Solicitation of Public Comment; Extension of Comment

Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On its own initiative, EPA is extending for 15 days the

comment period on a notice of a public health exemption request from

the Texas Department of Agriculture (Applicant) to use the pesticide

sodium fluoroacetate (CAS 62-74-8) to treat up to 34,837,687 acres in

gray fox rabies epizootic areas in Texas to control vectors of rabies.

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 September 23, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Three copies of written comments, bearing the identification

notation ``OPP-180949A'' should be submitted by mail to: Public

Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division

(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,

401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm.

1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA.

Information submitted and any comment(s) concerning this notice may

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

as ``Confidential Business Information'' (CBI). Information so marked

will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in

40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment(s) that does not contain CBI must

be submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked

confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice to

the submitter. All written comments filed pursuant to this notice will

be available for public inspection in Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921

Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Libby Pemberton, Registration

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

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

location and telephone number: Floor 6, Crystal Station #1, 2800

Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703)-308-8326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of August 24, 1994

(59 FR 43580), EPA issued a notice stating that pursuant to section 18

of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7

U.S.C. 136p), the Administrator may exempt a State agency from any

registration provision of FIFRA if it can be determined that emergency

conditions exist which require such exemption and that the Applicant

had requested the Administrator to issue a public health exemption for

the use of sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) to reduce gray fox, red

fox, coyote, bobcot, striped skunk, ringtail, and raccoon populations

in 43 counties in central Texas. Information in accordance with 40 CFR

part 166 was submitted as part of the request.

This notice announces that EPA, on its own initiative, is extending

the time for public comment on the notice (59 FR 43580; August 24,

1994), from September 8, 1994, to September 23, 1994. Procedures for

filing comments on this notice are described under the ADDRESSES

heading above in this document.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Crises exemptions, Pesticides and pests.

Dated: September 2, 1994.

Lois Rossi,

Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 94-22341 Filed 9-6-94; 2:19 pm]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-F