Comment Period Extended on Endosulfan Risk Assessments

To provide additional time for interested parties to provide input, EPA is extending the public comment period on the Agency's updated risk assessments for the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan until February 19, 2008. The Federal Register notice is now available.

In a November 16, 2007, Federal Register notice, EPA issued the updated endosulfan human health and ecological risk assessments and requested comment on or before January 16, 2008. The updated risk assessments are based in part on data recently submitted by endosulfan registrants, as required in the 2002 endosulfan Reregistration Eligibility Decision. EPA also is requesting comment on the Agency's updated analysis of endosulfan use information and preliminary assessment of endosulfan's importance to growers, as well as the availability of alternatives. Extending the comment for an additional 30 days will give interested parties a greater opportunity to comment on these issues.

Endosulfan is an insecticide and acaricide used on a wide variety of agricultural crops as well as on ornamentals, trees and vines. EPA has determined that endosulfan and its sulfate degradate pose occupational and ecological risks of concern. The Agency also has concerns about dietary risks for vulnerable subpopulations due to the pesticide's ability to migrate to sites distant from its use and because of uncertainty regarding its potential to bioaccumulate in foods consumed by subsistence hunters and fishers.