Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths, 51299-51300 [2014-20496]
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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
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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.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture
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alternative means for communication of
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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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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