Environmental Impact Statement; Genetically Engineered Fruit Fly and Pink Bollworm, 75933-75934 [E6-21612]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 243 / Tuesday, December 19, 2006 / Notices Tuesday, January 23, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, January 24, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. DATES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Central, 1501 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal Official, USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202) 690–0182. Facsimile: (202) 720–0016. Email: andrew.hatch@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. The Committee was re-chartered in July 2003 and again in June 2005 with new members appointed by USDA from industry nominations. AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee’s Executive Secretary. Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to participate in the Committee’s meetings as determined by the Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. Reference the date and address section of this announcement for the time and place of the meeting. Topics of discussion at the advisory committee meeting will include: Invasive pests and disease initiatives; an update on U.S. produce industry labor and immigration issues; Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) program budget and fees; and food safety initiatives. Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should register on or before January 15, 2007. To register as a speaker, please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov or facsimile to (202) 720–0016. Speakers who have registered in advance will be given priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the Committee’s consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will be recorded, and information about obtaining a hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:07 Dec 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 transcript will be provided at the meeting. The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. Equal opportunity practices were considered in all appointments to the Committee in accordance with USDA policies. If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, please use either contact name listed above. Dated: December 13, 2006. Lloyd Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E6–21567 Filed 12–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2006–0166] Environmental Impact Statement; Genetically Engineered Fruit Fly and Pink Bollworm Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and proposed scope of study. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to prepare an environmental impact statement relative to the proposed use of genetically engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm in certain plant pest control programs. This notice identifies potential issues and alternatives that will be studied in the environmental impact statement, requests public comment to further delineate the scope of the issues and alternatives, and provides notice of public meetings. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 20, 2007. We will also consider comments made at public meetings to be held in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2007; in Ontario, CA, on January 23, 2007; in Tempe, AZ, on January 25, 2007; in Weslaco, TX, on January 30, 2007; and in Tampa, FL, on February 1, 2007. Each meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., local time. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 75933 https://www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select APHIS–2006– 0166 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’ link. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS–2006–0166, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2006–0166. Public Meetings: For the locations of the public meetings regarding this notice, see the Supplementary Information section of this notice. Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive 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: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David A. Bergsten, Biological Scientist, Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 734–4883. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is considering using genetically engineered fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in our ongoing plant pest control programs for fruit flies and pink bollworm. Currently, these programs use a sterile insect technique that involves mass-rearing plant pests in a special facility, sterilizing the insects by irradiation, and releasing the insects to mate with wild plant pests. The release of sterile insects reduces the pest population through E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES 75934 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 243 / Tuesday, December 19, 2006 / Notices associated decreases in the potential reproduction rate. Genetically engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm could augment the sterile insect technique by producing only male insects, insects with a genetic identification marker, insects that compete more effectively for mates, and/or insects that produce no viable offspring. Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), agencies must examine the potential environmental effects of proposed Federal actions and alternatives. We intend to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) relative to the proposed use of genetically engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm in the plant pest control programs for fruit flies and pink bollworm. The EIS will examine the range of potential effects that the proposed applications could pose to the human environment. This notice identifies potential issues and alternatives that we will study in the EIS and requests public comment to further delineate the issues and the scope of the alternatives. We have identified three broad alternatives for study in the EIS. Take no action. This alternative contemplates no change to the plant pest control programs that use sterile insect technique. It represents a baseline against which proposed revisions may be compared. Expansion of existing plant pest control programs. This alternative contemplates improving the current plant pest control programs by expanding rearing operations, irradiation treatment capacity, classical genetic selection methods for separation of insect sexes, and the plant pest species used in these programs. Integrate genetically engineered insects into existing plant pest control programs. This alternative contemplates integrating genetically engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm into the current plant pest control programs. We welcome comments on these alternatives and on other issues or alternatives that should be examined in the EIS. In addition, we invite responses to the following questions: Are there any new or greater risks or apparent benefits associated with the strategy of using genetic engineering instead of classical genetic techniques to develop new insect strains to improve ongoing APHIS plant pest control programs? If so, please explain. The proposed EIS focuses on the development and use of genetic engineering to improve specific APHIS plant pest control programs. Are there VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:07 Dec 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 any unique risks that APHIS should consider in detail for genetic engineering of pink bollworm and fruit fly species? What are the potential risks of nontarget effects associated with this technology? All comments will be considered fully in developing a final scope of study. When the draft EIS is completed, a notice announcing its availability and an invitation to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register. Public Meetings We are advising the public that we are hosting five public meetings on this notice of intent to prepare an EIS. The public meetings will be held as follows: Wednesday, January 17, 2007, in the USDA Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 107–A, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Tuesday, January 23, 2007, in the Marriott Hotel, 2200 East Holt Boulevard, Ontario, CA. Thursday, January 25, 2007, in the Holiday Inn, 915 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, AZ. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, in the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center, 2413 East Highway 83, Bldg. 213, Bill Wilson Conference Room, Weslaco, TX. Thursday, February 1, 2007, in the Embassy Suites Hotel Tampa-Airport/ Westshore, 555 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL. All of the public meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, local time. A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will preside at the public meetings. Any interested person may appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or by other representative. Written statements may be submitted and will be made part of the meeting record. Registration for each meeting will take place 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Persons who wish to speak at a meeting will be asked to sign in with their name and organization to establish a record for the meeting. We ask that anyone who reads a statement provide two copies to the presiding officer at the meeting. The presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so that all interested persons appearing at each meeting have an opportunity to participate. Each meeting may be terminated at any time if all persons desiring to speak and that are present in the meeting room have been heard. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of December 2006. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E6–21612 Filed 12–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Amendment 2 of the Cotton Storage Agreement Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces Amendment 2 to the Commodity Credit Corporation’s (CCC’s) Cotton Storage Agreement. This amendment alters the agreement that regulates the storage of CCC interest and commercial cotton in warehouses throughout the United States. DATES: Effective Date: December 19, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy R. Murray, Cotton Program Manager, Warehouse and Inventory Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0553, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250– 0553. Telephone: (202) 720–6125. Email: tim.murray@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2006 (71 FR 51422) amended the regulations at 7 CFR 1423.11 regarding delivery and shipping standards for CCC-approved cotton warehouses. Amendment 2 to the CCC Cotton Storage Agreement updates Part III, S., Delivery and Shipping Standard, to reflect the changes in 7 CFR 1423.11. The new Section S redefines the minimum weekly delivery and shipping standard to 4.5 percent of the CSAapproved storage capacity or the maximum number of bales on hand at any time during the crop year. A new mandatory reporting requirement is also included. This provision applies to all cotton shipped from the warehouse. Questions regarding Amendment 2, or any other aspects of the CCC Cotton Storage Agreement, should be addressed to Paul Rodriguez at the Kansas City Commodity Office (816) 929–6662 or email Paul.Rodriguez@kcc.usda.gov. E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75933-75934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21612]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0166]


Environmental Impact Statement; Genetically Engineered Fruit Fly 
and Pink Bollworm

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
and proposed scope of study.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service intends to prepare an environmental impact statement 
relative to the proposed use of genetically engineered fruit flies and 
pink bollworm in certain plant pest control programs. This notice 
identifies potential issues and alternatives that will be studied in 
the environmental impact statement, requests public comment to further 
delineate the scope of the issues and alternatives, and provides notice 
of public meetings.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 20, 2007. We will also consider comments made at public 
meetings to be held in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2007; in Ontario, 
CA, on January 23, 2007; in Tempe, AZ, on January 25, 2007; in Weslaco, 
TX, on January 30, 2007; and in Tampa, FL, on February 1, 2007. Each 
meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., local time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov, select 
``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2006-0166 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your 
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0166, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0166.
    Public Meetings: For the locations of the public meetings regarding 
this notice, see the Supplementary Information section of this notice.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive 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: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David A. Bergsten, Biological 
Scientist, Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
149, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; (301) 734-4883.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
considering using genetically engineered fruit flies (Diptera: 
Tephritidae) and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in our 
ongoing plant pest control programs for fruit flies and pink bollworm. 
Currently, these programs use a sterile insect technique that involves 
mass-rearing plant pests in a special facility, sterilizing the insects 
by irradiation, and releasing the insects to mate with wild plant 
pests. The release of sterile insects reduces the pest population 
through

[[Page 75934]]

associated decreases in the potential reproduction rate. Genetically 
engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm could augment the sterile 
insect technique by producing only male insects, insects with a genetic 
identification marker, insects that compete more effectively for mates, 
and/or insects that produce no viable offspring.
    Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), agencies must examine the 
potential environmental effects of proposed Federal actions and 
alternatives. We intend to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) relative to the proposed use of genetically engineered fruit 
flies and pink bollworm in the plant pest control programs for fruit 
flies and pink bollworm. The EIS will examine the range of potential 
effects that the proposed applications could pose to the human 
environment.
    This notice identifies potential issues and alternatives that we 
will study in the EIS and requests public comment to further delineate 
the issues and the scope of the alternatives.
    We have identified three broad alternatives for study in the EIS.
    Take no action. This alternative contemplates no change to the 
plant pest control programs that use sterile insect technique. It 
represents a baseline against which proposed revisions may be compared.
    Expansion of existing plant pest control programs. This alternative 
contemplates improving the current plant pest control programs by 
expanding rearing operations, irradiation treatment capacity, classical 
genetic selection methods for separation of insect sexes, and the plant 
pest species used in these programs.
    Integrate genetically engineered insects into existing plant pest 
control programs. This alternative contemplates integrating genetically 
engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm into the current plant pest 
control programs.
    We welcome comments on these alternatives and on other issues or 
alternatives that should be examined in the EIS. In addition, we invite 
responses to the following questions:
    Are there any new or greater risks or apparent benefits associated 
with the strategy of using genetic engineering instead of classical 
genetic techniques to develop new insect strains to improve ongoing 
APHIS plant pest control programs? If so, please explain.
    The proposed EIS focuses on the development and use of genetic 
engineering to improve specific APHIS plant pest control programs. Are 
there any unique risks that APHIS should consider in detail for genetic 
engineering of pink bollworm and fruit fly species?
    What are the potential risks of non-target effects associated with 
this technology?
    All comments will be considered fully in developing a final scope 
of study. When the draft EIS is completed, a notice announcing its 
availability and an invitation to comment on it will be published in 
the Federal Register.

Public Meetings

    We are advising the public that we are hosting five public meetings 
on this notice of intent to prepare an EIS. The public meetings will be 
held as follows:

Wednesday, January 17, 2007, in the USDA Jamie L. Whitten Building, 
Room 107-A, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007, in the Marriott Hotel, 2200 East Holt 
Boulevard, Ontario, CA.
Thursday, January 25, 2007, in the Holiday Inn, 915 East Apache 
Boulevard, Tempe, AZ.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007, in the Kika de la Garza Subtropical 
Agricultural Research Center, 2413 East Highway 83, Bldg. 213, Bill 
Wilson Conference Room, Weslaco, TX.
Thursday, February 1, 2007, in the Embassy Suites Hotel Tampa-Airport/
Westshore, 555 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL.

All of the public meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, local 
time.
    A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
will preside at the public meetings. Any interested person may appear 
and be heard in person, by attorney, or by other representative. 
Written statements may be submitted and will be made part of the 
meeting record.
    Registration for each meeting will take place 30 minutes prior to 
the scheduled start of the meeting. Persons who wish to speak at a 
meeting will be asked to sign in with their name and organization to 
establish a record for the meeting. We ask that anyone who reads a 
statement provide two copies to the presiding officer at the meeting.
    The presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so 
that all interested persons appearing at each meeting have an 
opportunity to participate. Each meeting may be terminated at any time 
if all persons desiring to speak and that are present in the meeting 
room have been heard.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of December 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-21612 Filed 12-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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