EPA Posts Pesticides for Comments

July 16, 2001

The public has 60 days to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary determination that two classes of pesticides should be assessed for potential cumulative exposure risks. The two pesticide groups are chemicals known as N-methyl carbamates and certain members of the group of chemicals known as chloroacetanilides (acetochlor, alachlor, and butachlor). Both classes of chemicals are widely used in home gardens and in agriculture.

A cumulative risk assessment considers the combined risks from exposure to different pesticides that act the same way in the body, known as a common mechanism of toxicity. The agency is required to develop methodologies to perform this kind of cumulative exposure risk assessment under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.

Interested parties have until Sept.10 to submit comments. Detailed information on these chemicals and on EPA's proposed cumulative exposure risk assessment methodology are available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at EPA's Office of Pesticide Program Public Docket, which is located in Room 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

Comments may be brought to the docket or mailed to: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments may also be submitted using electronic mail at: opp_docket@.epa.gov.