Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths, 51299-51300 [2014-20496]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 167 / Thursday, August 28, 2014 / Notices no substantive information has been received that would warrant APHIS altering its preliminary regulatory determination or FONSI, our preliminary regulatory determination will become final and effective upon notification of the public through an announcement on our Web site at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/ petitions_table_pending.shtml. APHIS will also furnish a response to the petitioner regarding our final regulatory determination. No further Federal Register notice will be published announcing the final regulatory determination regarding soybean event MON 87751. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– 7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of August 2014. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2014–20495 Filed 8–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2014–0056] Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available for public comment our environmental assessment for the field release of diamondback moths which have been genetically engineered for repressible female lethality and to express red fluorescence as a marker. The purpose of the field release is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of these moths in reducing populations of non-genetically engineered diamondback moths. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 29, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0056. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2014–0056, Regulatory Analysis pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:14 Aug 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0056 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Document Control Officer/ Team Leader, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1236; (301) 851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ‘‘Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests,’’ regulate, among other things, the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products are considered ‘‘regulated articles.’’ A permit must be obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may be released into the environment. The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment of a regulated article. On October 24, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received a permit application from Cornell University (APHIS Permit Number 13–297–102r) seeking the permitted field release of three strains of GE diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, strains designated as OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy. The GE DBM have been genetically engineered to exhibit red fluorescence (DsRed2) as a marker and repressible female lethality, also known as female autocide. The GE DBMs are considered a regulated article under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because the recipient organism is or may be a plant pest. APHIS has previously issued PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51299 Cornell University a permit authorizing the importation of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy from the United Kingdom to the Cornell University New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES, APHIS Permit Number 12– 227–102m) in Geneva, NY. The purpose of the requested field release is to assess the efficacy of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319NPxy, and OX4767A-Pxy in reducing pest populations of non-GE DBM. The female autocidal trait permits the selection of DBM males during rearing. When released, it is likely that any female progeny produced from GE DBM males and non-GE DBM females will die. The proposed release would be at NYSAES and would not exceed 3 years. The release would be limited to 6 sites not exceeding 10 acres per site, surrounded by other agricultural fields within NYSAES’ 870 total acres. The release of 20,000 GE DBMs per release per site would be allowed, with up to 5 releases per week per site. Postexperiment monitoring of DBM with traps would continue for 2 weeks after the conclusion of each release to assess field longevity of GE DBM. The red fluorescent marker will allow the GE DBMs to be positively identified. To provide the public with documentation of APHIS’ review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release of the GE DBM, an environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared. The EA was prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). APHIS will accept written comments on our EA regarding the proposed release of the GE DBM from interested or affected persons for a period of 30 days from the date of this notice. Copies of the EA are available as indicated in the ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections of this notice. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– 7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1 51300 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 167 / Thursday, August 28, 2014 / Notices Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of August 2014. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2014–20496 Filed 8–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P the CCFL by conference call, please use the call in number and participant code listed below: Call in Number: 1–888–844–9904. The participant code will be posted on the following link: https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/ topics/international-affairs/us-codexalimentarius/public-meetings. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE 42ND SESSION OF THE CCFL CONTACT: Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS–800), College Park, MD 20740, Email: ccfl@fda.hhs.gov. [Docket No. FSIS–2014–0013] Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC MEETING CONTACT: Barbara Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments. AGENCY: The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting on September 23, 2014. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 42nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling in Foods (CCFL) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), taking place in Santiago, Chile October 21–24, 2014. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 42nd Session of CCFL, and to address items on the agenda. DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2014 from 1:00–4:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will take place at the Jamie L. Whitten Building, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 107–A, Washington, DC 20250. Documents related to the 42nd Session of CCFL will be accessible via the World Wide Web at the following address: https:// www.codexalimentarius.org/meetingsreports/en/. Felicia Billingslea, U.S. Delegate to the 42nd Session of the CCFL, invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address: ccfl@ fda.hhs.gov. Call in Number: If you wish to participate in the public meeting for the 42nd Session of pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:14 Aug 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 McNiff, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 690–4719, Fax: (202) 720–3157, Email: Barbara.McNiff@fsis.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The CCFL is responsible for: (a) Drafting provisions on labeling applicable to all foods; (b) Considering, amending if necessary, and endorsing draft specific provisions on labeling prepared by the Codex Committees drafting standards, codes of practice and guidelines; (c) Studying specific labeling problems assigned to it by the Commission; and (d) Studying problems associated with the advertisement of food with particular reference to claims and misleading descriptions. The Committee is hosted by Canada. Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting The following items on the Agenda for the 42nd Session of the CCFL will be discussed during the public meeting: • Matters referred to the Committee • Organic Aquaculture • General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods to address the issue of date marking • Other Business and Future Work Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, or PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to be distributed, by the Secretariat prior to the Committee meeting. Members of the public may access or request copies of these documents (see ADDRESSES). Public Meeting At the September 23, 2014, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Delegate for the 42nd Session of the CCFL, Felicia Billingslea (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 42nd Session of the CCFL. Additional Public Notification FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/ fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register. FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which provides information on FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other matters that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/ fsis/programs-and-services/emailsubscription-service. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their accounts. USDA Nondiscrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51299-51300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20496]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Field Release 
of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is making available for public comment our 
environmental assessment for the field release of diamondback moths 
which have been genetically engineered for repressible female lethality 
and to express red fluorescence as a marker. The purpose of the field 
release is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of these moths in 
reducing populations of non-genetically engineered diamondback moths.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0056.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-
0056 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Document Control 
Officer/Team Leader, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, 
Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3892, email: 
cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, 
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through 
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to 
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the 
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the 
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through 
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to 
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered (GE) organisms and 
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be 
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may 
be released into the environment. The regulations set forth the permit 
application requirements and the notification procedures for the 
importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment of a 
regulated article.
    On October 24, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application from Cornell University (APHIS 
Permit Number 13-297-102r) seeking the permitted field release of three 
strains of GE diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, strains 
designated as OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy. The GE DBM 
have been genetically engineered to exhibit red fluorescence (DsRed2) 
as a marker and repressible female lethality, also known as female 
autocide. The GE DBMs are considered a regulated article under the 
regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because the recipient organism is or may 
be a plant pest. APHIS has previously issued Cornell University a 
permit authorizing the importation of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, 
OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy from the United Kingdom to the Cornell 
University New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES, 
APHIS Permit Number 12-227-102m) in Geneva, NY.
    The purpose of the requested field release is to assess the 
efficacy of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy in 
reducing pest populations of non-GE DBM. The female autocidal trait 
permits the selection of DBM males during rearing. When released, it is 
likely that any female progeny produced from GE DBM males and non-GE 
DBM females will die.
    The proposed release would be at NYSAES and would not exceed 3 
years. The release would be limited to 6 sites not exceeding 10 acres 
per site, surrounded by other agricultural fields within NYSAES' 870 
total acres. The release of 20,000 GE DBMs per release per site would 
be allowed, with up to 5 releases per week per site. Post-experiment 
monitoring of DBM with traps would continue for 2 weeks after the 
conclusion of each release to assess field longevity of GE DBM. The red 
fluorescent marker will allow the GE DBMs to be positively identified.
    To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed release of the GE DBM, an environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared. The EA was prepared in accordance with: (1) The National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) 
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). APHIS will accept 
written comments on our EA regarding the proposed release of the GE DBM 
from interested or affected persons for a period of 30 days from the 
date of this notice. Copies of the EA are available as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections of this notice.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.


[[Page 51300]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of August 2014.
Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20496 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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