University of Wisconsin-Madison; Availability of Environmental Assessment for Field Tests of Genetically Engineered Erwinia carotovora, 47170-47171 [E5-4382]
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47170
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 155 / Friday, August 12, 2005 / Notices
Please state that your comment refers to
Docket No. 05–062–1.
• EDOCKET: Go to https://
www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments. Once you have
entered EDOCKET, click on the ‘‘View
Open APHIS Dockets’’ link to locate
Docket No. 05–062–1.
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: Mr.
Michael Blanchette, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1236; (301) 734–5141. To obtain copies
of the petition or the environmental
assessment (EA), contact Ms. Ingrid
Berlanger at (301) 734–4885; e-mail:
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The
EA is also available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
aphisdocs/05_15201r_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. 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 June 1, 2005, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received a permit application (APHIS
permit number 05–152–01r) from the
VerDate jul<14>2003
17:14 Aug 11, 2005
Jkt 205001
University of Kentucky, Department of
Plant Pathology, for a confined field
release of two mutant strains of
Neotyphodium sp isolate LP1, which is
an endophytic fungus of Lolium perenne
(perennial ryegrass). These two mutants
were generated by inserting a gene
construct containing a hygromycin
phosphotransferase gene (hph) into
specific genes in the ergovaline
synthesis pathway. The literature is
obscure regarding the specific donor of
the hph gene to the plasmid that was
used to create this construct. The
identical hph gene has been identified
in three bacterial species, Klebsiella sp.,
Streptomyces hygroscopicus and
Escherichia coli. Expression of the hph
gene is regulated by the Neurospora
crassa cross-pathway control gene (cpc1) promoter and a transcription
termination sequence from the trpC
gene of Aspergillus nidulans.
Strain Lp1–4175 results from an
insertion of the hph construct in the
dimethylallyltryptophan synthase
(dmaW) gene. This strain does not
produce ergot alkaloids or clavine
mycotoxins that are believed to cause
toxicoses to grazing livestock and
wildlife. Strain Lp1–981 was generated
by an insertion of the hph construct in
lysergyl peptide synthetase subunit 1
(lpsA). This line lacks the ability to
produce ergovaline and other amides of
lysergic acid, but retains the ability to
produce clavines and lysergic acid.
Perennial ryegrass plants that have
been inoculated with either mutant
strain will be planted in the trial for the
purpose of increasing seed. The
endophyte is only transmitted vertically
through seed. Therefore this trial will
result in an increase in inoculated seed
for future experiments.
The genetically engineered
Neotyphodium are considered regulated
articles under the regulations in 7 CFR
part 340 because they may be plant
pests. To provide the public with
documentation of APHIS’ review and
analysis of any potential environmental
impacts and plant pest risk associated
with the proposed field trial of theses
strains of genetically engineered
Neotyphodium, 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). Copies of the EA are available as
indicated in the FOR FURTHER
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this
notice.
Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of
August 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5–4381 Filed 8–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal And Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. 05–053–1]
University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Availability of Environmental
Assessment for Field Tests of
Genetically Engineered Erwinia
carotovora
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an
environmental assessment for a field
trial of genetically engineered strains of
a bacterium, Erwinia carotovora, the
causal agent of tuber soft rot disease in
potato. The bacteria have been
genetically engineered to disrupt the
disease causing pathway. This field trial
will allow researchers to better
understand the function of each
mutated gene under field conditions.
This environmental assessment is
available for public review and
comment.
We will consider all comments
we receive on or before September 12,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. 05–053–1, 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. 05–053–1.
• EDOCKET: Go to https://
www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments. Once you have
entered EDOCKET, click on the ‘‘View
Open APHIS Dockets’’ link to locate
Docket No. 05–053–1.
Reading Room: You may read the
environmental assessment and any
comments that we receive in our
reading room. The reading room is
located in room 1141 of the USDA
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
12AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 155 / Friday, August 12, 2005 / Notices
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.
Rudaina Alrefai, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1236; (301) 734–4866. To obtain copies
of the petition or the environmental
assessment (EA), contact Ms. Ingrid
Berlanger at (301) 734–4885; e-mail:
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The
EA is also available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
aphisdocs/05_09701r_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. 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 April 7, 2005, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received a permit application (APHIS
permit number 05–097–01r) from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison,
Department of Plant Pathology,
Madison, WI, for a permit for a field
trial of Erwinia carotovora. These
bacteria have been genetically
engineered not to express specific hrp/
hrc (hypersensitive reaction on non-host
plants and pathogenesis on host plants
or conserved among plant and animal
pathogens) genes resulting in the
disruption of the disease-causing
mechanism. These mutations are
expected to make the bacterial strains
VerDate jul<14>2003
17:14 Aug 11, 2005
Jkt 205001
avirulent or non-pathogenic. The
application describes four genetically
engineered strains to be used in this
field trial.
The E. carotovora ssp. carotovora
WPP14 strain was initially isolated from
a diseased potato plant obtained from a
commercial farm in Waushara County,
WI. This strain was used to create four
new genetically engineered strains by
inserting a marker gene into genes that
may be necessary for E. carotovora
infection of potatoes. The four strains
resulting from this mutatgenesis that are
proposed for use in this field trial are
described below.
• Strain WPP40 contains an insertion
of a kanamycin resistance gene (aph)
cassette into outD. The outD gene
encodes for an outer membrane porin
that is required for a functional type II
secretion system. This mutant is unable
to secrete plant cell wall degrading
enzymes and is avirulent. The
kanamycin resistance gene cassette
contains aph, which encodes neomycin
phosphotransferase which was
originally isolated from Tn5, and two
FRT sites derived from Saccharomyces
cerevisiae.
• Strain WPP60 has an insertion of a
spectromycin resistance gene (aadA
cassette into hrcC, an outer membrane
porin which is required for a functional
type III secretion system. This mutant is
unable to secrete harpins or effector
(Avr) proteins. It is hypersensitive
response minus and reduced in
virulence. The spectinomycin resistance
gene cassette is constructed from the
aadD gene which encodes
aminoglycoside-3 adenyltransferase,
originally derived from Shigella
flexneri, with termination sequences
derived from bacterophage T4.
• Strain Wpp195 has a deletion of
hrpN and an insertion of a
chloramphenicol resistance gene (cat)
cassette and a modified green
fluorescent protein (gfpmut2) into this
locus. This mutant is unable to produce
or secrete the harpin, HrpN. The
gfpmut2 gene was originally cloned
from Aequorea victoria and was
modified to be brighter. Its expression is
driven by the nptII kan promoter from
Tn5. The cat gene encodes
cholramphenicol acetyltransferase,
which was originally isolated from
Escherichia coli. This construct also
contains FRT sites.
• Strain Wpp198 is an insertion of a
similar chloramphenicol resistance
cassette into hrpL, which is a sigma
factor required for expression of the
type III secretion system and its secreted
substrates. The mutant is unable to
produce or secrete harpins or effector
(Avr) proteins. It is hypersensitive
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
47171
response minus and reduced in
virulence.
The genetically engineered E.
carotovora are considered regulated
articles under the regulations in 7 CFR
part 340 because they may be plant
pests. The purpose of the field trial is to
use genetically engineered E. carotovora
strains with mutations in homologs of
the well-characterized Pseudomonas
syringae hrp genes as tools to:
• Understand the effects of specific
genes on the fitness of E. carotovora,
• Use the results from these
experiments to better understand the
function of these genes in plantbacterial interactions, and
• Compare the results obtained with
E. carotovora mutants with those found
for P. syringae to determine if
homologous genes play similar roles in
fitness in different environments.
To provide the public with
documentation of APHIS’ review and
analysis of any potential environmental
impacts and plant pest risk associated
with the proposed field trial of theses
strains of genetically engineered E.
carotovora, 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). Copies of the EA are available as
indicated in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of
August 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5–4382 Filed 8–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Olympia National Forest, Jefferson
County, Oregon Dosewallips Road
Washout Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service,
will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) in accordance with
Section 102(2)(C) of the National
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
12AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47170-47171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4382]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 05-053-1]
University of Wisconsin-Madison; Availability of Environmental
Assessment for Field Tests of Genetically Engineered Erwinia carotovora
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 field
trial of genetically engineered strains of a bacterium, Erwinia
carotovora, the causal agent of tuber soft rot disease in potato. The
bacteria have been genetically engineered to disrupt the disease
causing pathway. This field trial will allow researchers to better
understand the function of each mutated gene under field conditions.
This environmental assessment is available for public review and
comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments we receive on or before September
12, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-053-1,
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. 05-053-1.
EDOCKET: Go to https://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments. Once you have entered EDOCKET, click on the
``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate Docket No. 05-053-1.
Reading Room: You may read the environmental assessment and any
comments that we receive in our reading room. The reading room is
located in room 1141 of the USDA
[[Page 47171]]
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. Rudaina Alrefai, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 734-4866. To obtain copies of the petition or the
environmental assessment (EA), contact Ms. Ingrid Berlanger at (301)
734-4885; e-mail: ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov. The EA is also
available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/
05_09701r_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. 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 April 7, 2005, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS permit number 05-097-01r)
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Plant
Pathology, Madison, WI, for a permit for a field trial of Erwinia
carotovora. These bacteria have been genetically engineered not to
express specific hrp/hrc (hypersensitive reaction on non-host plants
and pathogenesis on host plants or conserved among plant and animal
pathogens) genes resulting in the disruption of the disease-causing
mechanism. These mutations are expected to make the bacterial strains
avirulent or non-pathogenic. The application describes four genetically
engineered strains to be used in this field trial.
The E. carotovora ssp. carotovora WPP14 strain was initially
isolated from a diseased potato plant obtained from a commercial farm
in Waushara County, WI. This strain was used to create four new
genetically engineered strains by inserting a marker gene into genes
that may be necessary for E. carotovora infection of potatoes. The four
strains resulting from this mutatgenesis that are proposed for use in
this field trial are described below.
Strain WPP40 contains an insertion of a kanamycin
resistance gene (aph) cassette into outD. The outD gene encodes for an
outer membrane porin that is required for a functional type II
secretion system. This mutant is unable to secrete plant cell wall
degrading enzymes and is avirulent. The kanamycin resistance gene
cassette contains aph, which encodes neomycin phosphotransferase which
was originally isolated from Tn5, and two FRT sites derived from
Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Strain WPP60 has an insertion of a spectromycin resistance
gene (aadA cassette into hrcC, an outer membrane porin which is
required for a functional type III secretion system. This mutant is
unable to secrete harpins or effector (Avr) proteins. It is
hypersensitive response minus and reduced in virulence. The
spectinomycin resistance gene cassette is constructed from the aadD
gene which encodes aminoglycoside-3 adenyltransferase, originally
derived from Shigella flexneri, with termination sequences derived from
bacterophage T4.
Strain Wpp195 has a deletion of hrpN and an insertion of a
chloramphenicol resistance gene (cat) cassette and a modified green
fluorescent protein (gfpmut2) into this locus. This mutant is unable to
produce or secrete the harpin, HrpN. The gfpmut2 gene was originally
cloned from Aequorea victoria and was modified to be brighter. Its
expression is driven by the nptII kan promoter from Tn5. The cat gene
encodes cholramphenicol acetyltransferase, which was originally
isolated from Escherichia coli. This construct also contains FRT sites.
Strain Wpp198 is an insertion of a similar chloramphenicol
resistance cassette into hrpL, which is a sigma factor required for
expression of the type III secretion system and its secreted
substrates. The mutant is unable to produce or secrete harpins or
effector (Avr) proteins. It is hypersensitive response minus and
reduced in virulence.
The genetically engineered E. carotovora are considered regulated
articles under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because they may be
plant pests. The purpose of the field trial is to use genetically
engineered E. carotovora strains with mutations in homologs of the
well-characterized Pseudomonas syringae hrp genes as tools to:
Understand the effects of specific genes on the fitness of
E. carotovora,
Use the results from these experiments to better
understand the function of these genes in plant-bacterial interactions,
and
Compare the results obtained with E. carotovora mutants
with those found for P. syringae to determine if homologous genes play
similar roles in fitness in different environments.
To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk
associated with the proposed field trial of theses strains of
genetically engineered E. carotovora, 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). Copies of the EA
are available as indicated in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice.
Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of August 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-4382 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
