Ventria Bioscience; Availability of Environmental Assessment for Field Test of Genetically Engineered Rice Expressing Lysozyme, 8762-8763 [E5-701]
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8762
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 70, No. 35
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. 05–007–1]
Ventria Bioscience; Availability of
Environmental Assessment for Field
Test of Genetically Engineered Rice
Expressing Lysozyme
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an
environmental assessment for a
confined field planting of rice plants
genetically engineered to express the
protein lysozyme. This environmental
assessment is available for public
review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
we receive on or before March 25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• EDOCKET: Go to https://
www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are
available electronically. Once you have
entered EDOCKET, click on the ‘‘View
Open APHIS Dockets’’ link to locate this
document.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. 05–007–1, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road
Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Please state that your comment refers to
Docket No. 05–007–1.
Reading Room: You may read the
environmental assessment and any
comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:28 Feb 22, 2005
Jkt 205001
room 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) 690–2817 before
coming.
Other Information: You may view
APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register and related
information on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/
webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Levis Handley, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1236; (301) 734–5721. To obtain copies
of the environmental assessment,
contact Ms. Ingrid Berlanger, at (301)
734–4885; e-mail
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The
environmental assessment is also
available on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/
04_30901r_ea.pdf.
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 organisms and
products are considered ‘‘regulated
articles.’’ A permit must be obtained or
a notification acknowledged before a
regulated article may be introduced into
the United States. The regulations set
forth the permit application
requirements and the notification
procedures for the importation,
interstate movement, and release into
the environment of a regulated article.
On November 4, 2004,the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received a permit application (APHIS
permit number 04–309–01r) from
Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for
a permit for a confined field planting of
rice (Oryza sativa) line LZ159–53,
which is genetically engineered to
express a gene coding for the protein
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
lysozyme. The field planting is to be
conducted in Scott County, MO. The
subject rice plants have been genetically
engineered, using micro-projectile
bombardment, to express human
lysozyme protein. Expression of the
gene is controlled by the rice glutelin 1
promoter, the rice glutelin 1 signal
peptide, and the NOS, (nopaline
synthase) terminator sequence from
Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The gene is
expressed only in the endosperm. In
addition, the plants contain the coding
sequence for the gene hygromycin
phosphotransferase (hpt), an enzyme
which confers tolerance to the antibiotic
hygromycin. This gene is a selectable
marker that is only expressed during
plant cell culture and is not expressed
in any tissues of the mature plant.
Expression of the gene is controlled by
the rice glucanase 9 (Gns 9) promoter
and the Rice Alpha Amylase 1A
(RAmy1A) terminator. The genetically
engineered rice plants are considered
regulated articles under the regulations
in 7 CFR part 340 because they contain
gene sequences from plant pathogens.
The purpose of the field planting is
for pure seed production and for the
extraction of lysozyme for a variety of
research and commercial products. The
planting will be conducted using
physical confinement measures. In
addition, the experimental protocols
and field plot design, as well as the
procedures for termination of the field
planting, are designed to ensure that
none of the subject rice plants persist in
the environment beyond the termination
of the experiments.
To provide the public with
documentation of APHIS’ review and
analysis of any potential environmental
impacts and plant pest risk associated
with the proposed confined field
planting of the subject rice plants, an
environment 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). Copies of the EA are available
from the individual listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 23, 2005 / Notices
Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of
February, 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5–701 Filed 2–22–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. 05–006–1]
Ventria Bioscience; Availability of
Environmental Assessment for Field
Test of Genetically Engineered Rice
Expressing Lactoferrin
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an
environmental assessment for a
confined field planting of rice plants
genetically engineered to express the
protein lactoferrin. This environmental
assessment is available for public
review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
we receive on or before March 25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• EDOCKET: Go to https://
www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are
available electronically. Once you have
entered EDOCKET, click on the ‘‘View
Open APHIS Dockets’’ link to locate this
document.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. 05–006–1, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road
Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Please state that your comment refers to
Docket No. 05–006–1.
Reading Room: You may read the
environmental assessment and any
comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading
room 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) 690–2817 before
coming.
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:28 Feb 22, 2005
Jkt 205001
Other Information: You may view
APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register and related
information on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/
webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Levis Handley, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1236; (301) 734–5721. To obtain copies
of the environmental assessment,
contact Ms. Ingrid Berlanger, at (301)
734–4885; e-mail
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The
environmental assessment is also
available on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/
04_30201r_ea.pdf.
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 organisms and
products are considered ‘‘regulated
articles.’’ A permit must be obtained or
a notification acknowledged before a
regulated article may be introduced into
the United States. The regulations set
forth the permit application
requirements and the notification
procedures for the importation,
interstate movement, and release into
the environment of a regulated article.
On October 28, 2004, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received a permit application (APHIS
permit number 04–302–01r) from
Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for
a permit for a confined field planting of
rice (Oryza sativa) plants genetically
engineered to express a gene coding for
the protein lactoferrin, rice line LF164–
12. The field planting is to be conducted
in Scott County, MO. The subject rice
plants have been genetically engineered,
using micro-projectile bombardment, to
express human lactoferrin protein.
Expression of the gene is controlled by
the rice glutelin 1 promoter, the rice
glutelin 1 signal peptide, and the NOS,
(nopaline synthase) terminator sequence
from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The
gene is expressed only in the
endosperm. In addition, the plants
contain the coding sequence for the
gene hygromycin phosphotransferase
(hpt), an enzyme which confers
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8763
tolerance to the antibiotic hygromycin.
This gene is a selectable marker that is
only expressed during plant cell culture
and is not expressed in any tissues of
the mature plant. Expression of the gene
is controlled by the rice glucanase 9
(Gns 9) promoter and the Rice Alpha
Amylase 1A (RAmy1A) terminator. The
genetically engineered rice plants are
considered regulated articles under the
regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because
they contain gene sequences from plant
pathogens.
The purpose of the field planting is
for pure seed production and for the
extraction of lactoferrin for a variety of
research and commercial products. The
planting will be conducted using
physical confinement measures. In
addition, the experimental protocols
and field plot design, as well as the
procedures for termination of the field
planting, are designed to ensure that
none of the subject rice plants persist in
the environment beyond the termination
of the experiments.
To provide the public with
documentation of APHIS’ review and
analysis of any potential environmental
impacts and plant pest risk associated
with the proposed confined field
planting of the subject rice plants, an
environment 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). Copies of the EA are available
from the individual listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of
February 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5–703 Filed 2–22–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Rehabilitation of Floodwater Retarding
Structure No. 4 of the Martinez Creek
Watershed, Bexar County, TX
AGENCY: Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8762-8763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-701]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 23, 2005 /
Notices
[[Page 8762]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 05-007-1]
Ventria Bioscience; Availability of Environmental Assessment for
Field Test of Genetically Engineered Rice Expressing Lysozyme
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a
confined field planting of rice plants genetically engineered to
express the protein lysozyme. This environmental assessment is
available for public review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments we receive on or before March 25,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
EDOCKET: Go to https://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this
document.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-007-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. 05-007-1.
Reading Room: You may read the environmental assessment and any
comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The
reading room 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)
690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register and related information on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Levis Handley, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 734-5721. To obtain copies of the environmental
assessment, contact Ms. Ingrid Berlanger, at (301) 734-4885; e-mail
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The environmental assessment is also
available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/
04_30901r_ea.pdf.
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 organisms and
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may
be introduced into the United States. The regulations set forth the
permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the
importation, interstate movement, and release into the environment of a
regulated article.
On November 4, 2004,the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS permit number 04-309-01r)
from Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for a permit for a confined
field planting of rice (Oryza sativa) line LZ159-53, which is
genetically engineered to express a gene coding for the protein
lysozyme. The field planting is to be conducted in Scott County, MO.
The subject rice plants have been genetically engineered, using micro-
projectile bombardment, to express human lysozyme protein. Expression
of the gene is controlled by the rice glutelin 1 promoter, the rice
glutelin 1 signal peptide, and the NOS, (nopaline synthase) terminator
sequence from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The gene is expressed only in
the endosperm. In addition, the plants contain the coding sequence for
the gene hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt), an enzyme which confers
tolerance to the antibiotic hygromycin. This gene is a selectable
marker that is only expressed during plant cell culture and is not
expressed in any tissues of the mature plant. Expression of the gene is
controlled by the rice glucanase 9 (Gns 9) promoter and the Rice Alpha
Amylase 1A (RAmy1A) terminator. The genetically engineered rice plants
are considered regulated articles under the regulations in 7 CFR part
340 because they contain gene sequences from plant pathogens.
The purpose of the field planting is for pure seed production and
for the extraction of lysozyme for a variety of research and commercial
products. The planting will be conducted using physical confinement
measures. In addition, the experimental protocols and field plot
design, as well as the procedures for termination of the field
planting, are designed to ensure that none of the subject rice plants
persist in the environment beyond the termination of the experiments.
To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk
associated with the proposed confined field planting of the subject
rice plants, an environment 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). Copies of the EA are
available from the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
[[Page 8763]]
Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of February, 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-701 Filed 2-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
