EPA extended comment period for chlorpyrifos’ assessment

EPA is extending the current comment period on the chlorpyrifos preliminary human health risk assessment for 30 days, in response to requests from several stakeholder groups. The comment period is extended from September 6, 2011 to October 6, 2011. The Agency recognizes that in view of the complex, robust scientific database and studies available for chlorpyrifos and the associated science issues, additional time for public comment is warranted. The comment period extension is announced in a Federal Register notice published Wednesday, August 24, 2011. EPA issued the preliminary risk assessment on July 1, 2011 as part of the registration review of chlorpyrifos, and published a Federal Register notice on July 6, 2011 announcing its availability and opening a 60-day comment period.

As of early August, eight comments had been submitted to the chlorpyrifos docket requesting a 60-day extension of the comment period based on the complex scientific issues and precedent setting policy applications. The submitters of these extension requests are Dow AgroSciences, Gharda Chemicals Limited, Agricultural Retailers Association, California Citrus Mutual, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, CropLife America, and Washington Friends of Farms and Forests.

After the extended comment period closes on October 6, EPA plans to revise the chlorpyrifos preliminary risk assessment based on a full weight of evidence evaluation of all available data, including comments and new information received on the human health and exposure analysis during the comment period.