Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Proposed Field Release of Rice Genetically Engineered To Express Lactoferrin, Lysozyme, or Serum Albumin, 27539-27540 [E7-9432]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 16, 2007 / Notices
deems necessary to protect surface
resources. If FS did not collect this
information, a self-policing situation
would exist.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 8,400.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 21,000.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7–9387 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
May 11, 2007.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB),
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured
of having their full effect if received
within 30 days of this notification.
Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 720–8681.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:27 May 15, 2007
Jkt 211001
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Onions Grown in Certain
Designated Counties in Idaho, and
Malheur County, Oregon.
OMB Control Number: 0581–0241.
Summary of Collection: Marketing
Order No. 958 regulates the handling of
onions grown in certain designated
counties in Idaho, and Malheur County,
Oregon. The Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, Secs. 1–19, 48
Stat. 31, as amended, (7U.S.C. 601–674)
authorizes the promulgation of
marketing orders for certain agricultural
commodities and the issuance of
regulations thereof for the purpose of
providing orderly marketing conditions
in interstate and intrastate commerce
and for improving returns to producers.
Need and Use of the Information: The
Idaho-Eastern Onion Committee will
use forms to collect information about
the issuance of grade, size, quality,
maturity, pack, container markings,
shipping holidays, inspection and
reporting requirements from individuals
and firms who are involved in the
production, handling and processing of
onions grown in the production area.
This information is necessary to
effectively carry out the requirements of
the Order, and fulfill the intent of the
Act as expressed in the Order.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 55.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 359.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7–9457 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2007–0006]
Availability of an Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Proposed Field
Release of Rice Genetically
Engineered To Express Lactoferrin,
Lysozyme, or Serum Albumin
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27539
Inspection Service has prepared an
environmental assessment for confined
field release of rice plants genetically
engineered to express the human
proteins lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum
albumin. After assessment of the
application, review of pertinent
scientific information, and
consideration of comments provided by
the public, we have concluded that
these field releases will not present a
risk of introducing or disseminating a
plant pest. We have completed the
environmental assessment and
concluded that this field release will not
have a significant impact on the quality
of the human environment. Based on its
finding of no significant impact, the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need
not be prepared for these field releases.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may read the
environmental assessment (EA), the
finding of no significant impact
(FONSI), and any comments we
received 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, FONSI and
decision notice, and responses to
comments are available on the Internet
at the following links:
• https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
aphisdocs/06_27801r_ea.pdf
• https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
aphisdocs/06_27802r_ea.pdf
• https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
aphisdocs/06_28502r_ea.pdf
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
John Cordts, Biotechnology Regulatory
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301)
734–5531. To obtain copies of the EA,
FONSI and decision notice, and
response to comments, 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
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
27540
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 16, 2007 / Notices
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 October 5, 2006, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received two permit applications (06–
278–01r and 06–278–02r) followed by a
third permit application (06–285–02r)
received on October 12, 2006, from
Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for
confined field release of rice (Oryza
sativa) plants genetically engineered to
express genes coding for the proteins
lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin,
respectively. The proposed field
releases are to be conducted in Geary
County, KS. The subject plants have
been genetically engineered, using
techniques of micro-projectile
bombardment or disarmed
Agrobacterium-mediated
transformation, to express proteins for
recombinant human lactoferrin,
lysozyme, or serum albumin. Expression
of the genes is controlled by the rice
glutelin 1 promoter (GT1), the rice
glutelin 1 signal peptide (gt1), and the
nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator
sequence from Agrobacterium
tumefaciens. The genes are expressed
only in the seed. In addition, the plants
may contain either or both of the coding
sequences for the genes hygromycin
phosphotransferase (hpt) or
phosphinothricin acetyltransferase
(pat), which are marker genes that allow
for the selection of transgenic tissues in
the laboratory using the antibiotic
hygromycin and/or the herbicide
bialaphos. Neither selectable marker
gene is expressed in mature rice tissues,
nor do they have any inherent plant pest
characteristics or enhance gene transfer
from plants to other organisms. 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 these field releases is
for pure seed production and for the
extraction of lactoferrin, lysozyme, and
serum albumin for a variety of research
and commercial products. There is
currently no commercial rice
production in Geary County or in any
other location in the State of Kansas.
The planting will be conducted using
physical confinement measures. In
addition, the protocols and field plot
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:27 May 15, 2007
Jkt 211001
design, as well as the procedures for
termination of the field plantings, are
designed to ensure that none of the
subject rice plants persist in the
environment after the crop is harvested.
On February 28, 2007, APHIS
published a notice 1 in the Federal
Register (72 FR 8959–8960, Docket No.
APHIS–2007–0006) announcing the
availability of an environmental
assessment (EA) for the proposed field
release of rice genetically engineered to
express lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum
albumin. During the designated 30-day
comment period, which ended March
30, 2007, APHIS received 20,034
comments. Of the 20,034 comments
received, 20,005 were opposed to
APHIS’ approval of these permits.
Respondents opposing APHIS’ approval
of these permits were four public
interest groups, academic professionals,
organic food producers, rice growers,
millers (or from related industries), and
individuals. One public interest group
submitted 13,289 nearly identical
comments, and 5,621 nearly identical
comments were submitted by another
public interest group. There were 29
comments supporting APHIS’ approval
of these permits. Respondents
supporting the approval of these permits
were from academia, a farm bureau, a
corn and grain sorghum growers
association, a corporation, a State
government agency, and individuals.
APHIS has addressed the issues raised
during the comment period and has
provided responses to these comments
as an attachment to the finding of no
significant impact (FONSI).
Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR
part 340 promulgated under the Plant
Protection Act, APHIS has determined
that these field releases will not pose a
risk of introducing or disseminating a
plant pest. Additionally, based upon
analysis described in the EA, APHIS has
determined that the action proposed in
Alternative 3 of the EA, issue the permit
with supplemental permit conditions,
will not have a significant impact on the
quality of the human environment. You
may read the FONSI and decision notice
on the Internet or in the APHIS reading
room (see ADDRESSES above). Copies
may also be obtained from the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
The EA and FONSI were prepared in
accordance with (1) The National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
1 To view the notice, EA, and the comments we
received, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on
the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ tab, and select ‘‘Docket
Search.’’ In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS–2007–
0006, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ Clicking on the
Docket ID link in the search results page will
produce a list of all documents in the docket.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(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).
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 9th day of
May, 2007.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7–9432 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Beaver Creek Allotment Management
Plan on the Medicine Wheel/Paintrock
Ranger Districts, Bighorn National
Forest, Big Horn County, WY
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) to update range
management planning on fourteen (14)
cattle/horse and sheep/goat grazing
allotments in the Beaver Creek area,
which will result in development of
new allotment management plans
(AMPs). The agency gives notice of the
full environmental analysis and
decision-making process that will occur
on the proposal so that interested and
affected people may become aware of
how they may participate in the process
and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments and input regarding
the proposal were requested from the
public, other groups and agencies, via a
legal notice published in the Casper
Star-Tribune on March 4, 2007.
Additional comments may be made at
the addresses below, and would be most
helpful if submitted within thirty days
of the publication of this notice. Based
on the comments received and
preliminary analysis, the Responsible
Official has determined that an
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for this project. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in December, 2007 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected April, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and
suggestions concerning this proposal to
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27539-27540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9432]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0006]
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Proposed Field Release of Rice Genetically
Engineered To Express Lactoferrin, Lysozyme, or Serum Albumin
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
confined field release of rice plants genetically engineered to express
the human proteins lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin. After
assessment of the application, review of pertinent scientific
information, and consideration of comments provided by the public, we
have concluded that these field releases will not present a risk of
introducing or disseminating a plant pest. We have completed the
environmental assessment and concluded that this field release will not
have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact
statement need not be prepared for these field releases.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may read the environmental assessment (EA), the finding
of no significant impact (FONSI), and any comments we received 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, FONSI and
decision notice, and responses to comments are available on the
Internet at the following links:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_27801r_ea.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_27802r_ea.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_28502r_ea.pdf
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Cordts, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 734-5531. To obtain copies of the EA, FONSI and
decision notice, and response to comments, 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
[[Page 27540]]
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 October 5, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received two permit applications (06-278-01r and 06-278-02r)
followed by a third permit application (06-285-02r) received on October
12, 2006, from Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for confined field
release of rice (Oryza sativa) plants genetically engineered to express
genes coding for the proteins lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin,
respectively. The proposed field releases are to be conducted in Geary
County, KS. The subject plants have been genetically engineered, using
techniques of micro-projectile bombardment or disarmed Agrobacterium-
mediated transformation, to express proteins for recombinant human
lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin. Expression of the genes is
controlled by the rice glutelin 1 promoter (GT1), the rice glutelin 1
signal peptide (gt1), and the nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator
sequence from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The genes are expressed only
in the seed. In addition, the plants may contain either or both of the
coding sequences for the genes hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) or
phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (pat), which are marker genes that
allow for the selection of transgenic tissues in the laboratory using
the antibiotic hygromycin and/or the herbicide bialaphos. Neither
selectable marker gene is expressed in mature rice tissues, nor do they
have any inherent plant pest characteristics or enhance gene transfer
from plants to other organisms. 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 these field releases is for pure seed production and
for the extraction of lactoferrin, lysozyme, and serum albumin for a
variety of research and commercial products. There is currently no
commercial rice production in Geary County or in any other location in
the State of Kansas. The planting will be conducted using physical
confinement measures. In addition, the protocols and field plot design,
as well as the procedures for termination of the field plantings, are
designed to ensure that none of the subject rice plants persist in the
environment after the crop is harvested.
On February 28, 2007, APHIS published a notice \1\ in the Federal
Register (72 FR 8959-8960, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0006) announcing the
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed field
release of rice genetically engineered to express lactoferrin,
lysozyme, or serum albumin. During the designated 30-day comment
period, which ended March 30, 2007, APHIS received 20,034 comments. Of
the 20,034 comments received, 20,005 were opposed to APHIS' approval of
these permits. Respondents opposing APHIS' approval of these permits
were four public interest groups, academic professionals, organic food
producers, rice growers, millers (or from related industries), and
individuals. One public interest group submitted 13,289 nearly
identical comments, and 5,621 nearly identical comments were submitted
by another public interest group. There were 29 comments supporting
APHIS' approval of these permits. Respondents supporting the approval
of these permits were from academia, a farm bureau, a corn and grain
sorghum growers association, a corporation, a State government agency,
and individuals. APHIS has addressed the issues raised during the
comment period and has provided responses to these comments as an
attachment to the finding of no significant impact (FONSI).
Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 promulgated under the
Plant Protection Act, APHIS has determined that these field releases
will not pose a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest.
Additionally, based upon analysis described in the EA, APHIS has
determined that the action proposed in Alternative 3 of the EA, issue
the permit with supplemental permit conditions, will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. You may
read the FONSI and decision notice on the Internet or in the APHIS
reading room (see ADDRESSES above). Copies may also be obtained from
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The EA and FONSI were 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).
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 9th day of May, 2007.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, EA, and the comments we received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``Advanced Search'' tab,
and select ``Docket Search.'' In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS-
2007-0006, then click on ``Submit.'' Clicking on the Docket ID link
in the search results page will produce a list of all documents in
the docket.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. E7-9432 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
