ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Controlled Release of Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrids, 19876-19877 [E7-7637]

Download as PDF 19876 Notices Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 76 Friday, April 20, 2007 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. APHIS–2007–0027] ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Controlled Release of Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrids Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a proposed controlled field release of genetically engineered clones of Eucalyptus hybrids. The purpose of this release is to continue research on two constructs that confer cold-tolerance from a previously approved notification and test the efficacy of a third, claimed as confidential business information. We are making the environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment. DATES: We will consider all comments received on or before May 21, 2007. 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, and then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select APHIS–2007– 0027 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instruction 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:52 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0027, 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– 2007–0027. Reading Room: You may read the environmental assessment (EA) and any comments 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. The EA is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ brs/aphisdocs/06_325111r_ea.pdf. 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. 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. Cynthia Eck at (301) 734– 0667; e-mail: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. 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 in the environment of a regulated article. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 On November 21, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 06–325–111r) from ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release of genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids. Under this permit, trees planted under a previously approved notification (05– 256–03n) would be allowed to flower. Permit application 06–325–111r describes Eucalyptus trees engineered with three constructs. Two of these constructs are intended to confer cold tolerance and the third genetic construct is claimed as confidential business information (CBI). In addition, the trees have been engineered with a selectable marker gene, also claimed as CBI. These DNA sequences were introduced into Eucalyptus trees using disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The subject Eucalyptus trees are considered regulated articles under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because they were created using donor sequences from plant pests. To provide the public with documentation of APHIS’ review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks associated with the proposed release of these Eucalyptus trees, 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). The EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.) In addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the individuals listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / Notices Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of April 2007. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–7637 Filed 4–19–07; 8:45 am] Service, at https://www.reserveusa.com or by calling 1–877–444–6777. The National Recreation Reservation Service charges a $9 fee for reservations. BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Dated: April 12, 2007. Kniffy Hamilton, Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 07–1971 Filed 4–19–07; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BILLING CODE 3410–11–M Forest Service Notice of New Fee Site; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108–447) Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service. ACTION: Notice of new fee site. AGENCY: The Bridger-Teton National Forest is planning to charge an $80 fee for the overnight rental of Green River Lakes Lodge. This facility has not been available for recreation use prior to this date. Rentals of other historic guard stations on the Bridger-Teton National Forest have shown that people appreciate and enjoy the availability of historic rental cabins. Funds from the rental will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of Green River Lakes Lodge. DATES: Green River Lakes Lodge will become available for recreation rental October 2007. ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, BridgerTeton National Forest, P.O. Box 1888/ 340 N. Cache, Jackson, WY 83001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Stein, Natural Resources Specialist, 307–367–5717. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act (Title VII, Pub. L. 108–447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to publish a six month advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are established. This new fee will be reviewed by a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee prior to a final decision and implementation. The Bridger-Teton National Forest currently has numerous other cabin rentals. These rentals are often fully booked throughout their rental season. A business analysis of the Green River Lakes Lodge has shown that people desire having this sort of recreation experience on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. A market analysis indicates that the $80/per night fee is both reasonable and acceptable for this sort of unique recreation experience. People wanting to rent Green River Lakes Lodge will need to do so through the National Recreation Reservation sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:52 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List Additions and Deletions Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from Procurement List. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products and services previously furnished by such agencies. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 20, 2007. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly M. Zeich, Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@jwod.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additions On February 2 and February 9, 2007, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (72 FR 5001, 6198) of proposed additions to the Procurement List. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the services and impact of the additions on the current or most recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the services listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19877 1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the services to the Government. 2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the services to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in connection with the services proposed for addition to the Procurement List. End of Certification Accordingly, the following services are added to the Procurement List: Services Service Type/Location: Full Food Service, Ft. Indiantown Gap (USPFO of PA), Annville, PA. NPA: Opportunity Center, Incorporated, Wilmington, DE. Contracting Activity: Pennsylvania Army National Guard Bureau, Annville, PA. Service Type/Location: Mailroom Operation, Food and Drug Administration, (White Oak including College Park Drops), 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD. NPA: Sheltered Occupational Center of Northern Virginia, Inc., Arlington, VA. Contracting Activity: Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. Deletions On February 23, 2007, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (70 FR 8149) of proposed deletions to the Procurement List. After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the Committee has determined that the products and services listed below are no longer suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action may result in additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities. 2. The action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish the products and services to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in connection with the products and E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19876-19877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7637]


========================================================================
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. 72, No. 76 / Friday, April 20, 2007 / 
Notices

[[Page 19876]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0027]


ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for 
Controlled Release of Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrids

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 
proposed controlled field release of genetically engineered clones of 
Eucalyptus hybrids. The purpose of this release is to continue research 
on two constructs that confer cold-tolerance from a previously approved 
notification and test the efficacy of a third, claimed as confidential 
business information. We are making the environmental assessment 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments received on or before May 21, 
2007.

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, and then click ``Submit.'' In 
the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2007-0027 to submit or view public 
comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instruction 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-
2007-0027, 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-2007-0027.
    Reading Room: You may read the environmental assessment (EA) and 
any comments 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. The EA is available on the Internet at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_325111r_ea.pdf.
    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. 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. Cynthia Eck at (301) 734-0667; e-mail: 
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 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 in the environment of a regulated 
article.
    On November 21, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 06-325-111r) 
from ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release 
of genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids. Under this permit, trees 
planted under a previously approved notification (05-256-03n) would be 
allowed to flower.
    Permit application 06-325-111r describes Eucalyptus trees 
engineered with three constructs. Two of these constructs are intended 
to confer cold tolerance and the third genetic construct is claimed as 
confidential business information (CBI). In addition, the trees have 
been engineered with a selectable marker gene, also claimed as CBI. 
These DNA sequences were introduced into Eucalyptus trees using 
disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The subject Eucalyptus trees are 
considered regulated articles under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 
because they were created using donor sequences from plant pests.
    To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks 
associated with the proposed release of these Eucalyptus trees, 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).
    The EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our 
reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and 
information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided 
under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.) In 
addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the 
individuals listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    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 19877]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of April 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-7637 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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