Pesticides; Emergency Exemption Process Revisions; Notification to the Secretary of Agriculture

This document notifies the public that the Administrator of EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft proposed rule as required by section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As described in the Agency's semi-annual Regulatory Agenda, the draft proposed rule proposes several improvements to the pesticide emergency exemption process under section 18 of FIFRA. The two primary proposed improvements are currently being tested through a limited pilot, and are based on recommendations from the States which are the primary applicants for emergency exemptions. EPA has established regulations under section 18 of FIFRA which allow a Federal or State agency to apply for an emergency exemption to allow an unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time when such use is necessary to alleviate an emergency condition.