In the February 8, 2018 Federal Register, EPA published a notice announcing a public comment period, ending April 9, 2018, on a proposed renewal of an Information Collection Request (ICR) titled “Submission of Unreasonable Adverse Effects Information under FIFRA Section 6(a)(2).”
The Agency anticipates an estimated increase of 71,778 burden hours under the proposed ICR renewal which translates into a 16% increase in the number of responses from 93,000 under the current ICR to 108,000 under the proposed ICR renewal. EPA attributes this expected increase to additional information the Agency has requested on the use of spot-on pesticide products for pets, alleged tree and plant damage associated with application of a certain herbicide, and concerns about neonicotinoid pesticides and the loss of bee colonies.
Section 6(a)(2) of FIFRA requires the registrant to submit any information that it acquires regarding adverse effects associated with the use of a pesticide product. The Agency then determines whether that information constitutes an unreasonable adverse effect. EPA explains that the adverse effects information submitted under Section 6(a)(2) of FIFRA provides an important means of focusing the Agency’s attention on key problem areas regarding the use of a pesticide. This information is considered by EPA in conjunction with other information to determine whether pesticide products containing a specific active ingredient should be reregistered, or whether the terms and conditions of registration should be changed. According to EPA, this type of information may also be pertinent to granting FIFRA Section 18 emergency exemptions.
Once EPA considers the public comments it receives in response to its announcement of this proposed ICR renewal, the Agency will amend the ICR package as appropriate and submit it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. At that time EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the opportunity to submit additional public comment to OMB. Public comment on EPA’s proposed ICR renewal may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0687.
