Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, Pesticide Registration Improvement Act Process Improvement Workgroup; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) Process Improvement Workgroup will hold a public meeting on January 31, 2006. An agenda for this meeting is being developed and will be posted on EPA's website. The workgroup is developing advice and recommendations on topics related to EPA's registration process.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2006, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at EPA's Offices in Rm. 1126, Crystal Mall #2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elizabeth Leovey, Immediate Office (7501C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7328; fax number: (703) 308-4776; e-mail address: leovey.elizabeth@epa.gov.

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 particular interest to persons who are concerned about implementation of PRIA; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Other potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to agricultural workers and farmers; pesticide industry trade associations; environmental, consumer, and farmworker groups; pesticide users and growers; pest consultants; State, local, and tribal governments; academia; public health organizations; food processors; and the public. Since other entities may also be intrested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all 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 identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0476. 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 (703) 305-5805.

2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document electronically through the EPA Internet under “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 instructions.

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 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. 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. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

II. Background

The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the American food supply, protection and education of those who apply or are exposed to pesticides occupationally or through use of products, and the general protection of the environment and special ecosystems from potential risks posed by pesticides.

The PPDC was established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, in September 1995 for a 2 year-term and has been renewed every 2 years since that time. PPDC provides advice and recommendations to OPP on a broad range of pesticide regulatory, policy, and program implementation issues that are associated with evaluating and reducing risks from the use of pesticides. The following sectors are represented on the PPDC: Pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental and public interest and consumer groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; Federal and State, local, and tribal governments; the general public; academia; and public health organizations. Copies of the PPDC charter are filed with appropriate committees of Congress and the Library of Congress and are available upon request.

III. How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?

This meeting will be open to the public and seating is available on a first-come basis. Persons interested in attending do not need to register in advance of the meeting. Opportunity will be provided for questions and comments by the public. Any person who wishes to file a written statement may do so before or after the meeting by giving a copy of the statement to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. These statements will become part of the official public docket and will be available for public inspection at the address listed under Unit 1.B.1. Do not submit any information in your request that is considered CBI. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to precess your request.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Pesticide and pests