Louisiana State University; Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Field Test of Two Non-Pathogenic, Genetically Engineered Strains of Burkholderia glumae, 45413-45414 [E7-15932]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 14, 2007 / Notices Description of Respondents: Farms; Farms; Business or other for-profit; Notfor-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 3,953. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly. Total Burden Hours: 8,066. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7–15931 Filed 8–13–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary Notice of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Meeting and Executive Committee Meeting Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee and Executive Committee. The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee will meet on August 29, 2007 and the Executive Committee will hold a meeting on August 29–30, 2007 at the Double Tree Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto, California. ADDRESSES: The public may file written comments before or up to two weeks after the meeting with the contact person. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: E-mail: smorgan@csrees.usda.gov; Fax: (202) 720–6199; Mail/Hand-Delivery or Courier: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board; Research, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Office, Room 344–A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 2255, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–2255. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirley Morgan-Jordan, Program Support Coordinator, National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board; telephone: (202) 720–8408. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Aug 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Specialty Crop Committee will hold a listening session to study the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. The purpose of this Specialty Crop meeting is to obtain regional input on research and education issues of high priority focusing on ‘‘Measures to Improve the Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of Specialty Crop Production in the United States’’ and ‘‘Measures Designed to Improve Competitiveness to Research, Extension, and Economics Programs Affecting the Specialty Crop Industry.’’ Particular emphasis will be placed on further elaborating on the committee’s last report entitled ‘‘U.S. Specialty Crops: An Update on Opportunities and Challenges’’, which was released May 9, 2007. On Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 9 a.m., the general meeting will begin with introductory remarks provided by the Chair of the Specialty Crop Committee. The REE Under Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Gale Buchanan, has been invited to provide opening remarks. Distinguished leaders and experts, organizations or institutions, local producers, or other groups interested in the issues with which the Specialty Crop Committee is charged are invited to provide comments on two or three of the most important recommendations from their perspective by which USDA can enhance its research, extension, education, and economic programs to address needs of our nation’s specialty crop sector. Following the adjournment of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee Listening Session on August 29, 2007, the Executive Committee will hold their meeting on Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto, California. On Thursday, August 30, 2007, the Executive Committee will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. and complete all discussions to adjourn by 9:30 a.m. The Executive Committee will be discussing a number of issues relating to the Specialty Crop Committee and other forthcoming National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board concerns. Written comments by attendees or other interested stakeholders will be welcomed for the public record before and up to two weeks following the Board meeting (by close of business Wednesday, September 12, 2007). The findings of the Specialty Crop SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45413 Committee and Executive Committee will be based on input from speakers, other stakeholders, the general public, and Board discussions. These findings will be forwarded to the Advisory Board, which in turn will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the House and Senate agriculture-related committee/ subcommittees of the U.S. Congress, as well as the land-grant colleges and universities, as mandated. All statements will become a part of the official record of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and will be kept on file for public review in the Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Office. Done at Washington, DC this 7th day of August, 2007. Merle Pierson, Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics. [FR Doc. E7–15918 Filed 8–13–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–22–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0021] Louisiana State University; Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Field Test of Two Non-Pathogenic, Genetically Engineered Strains of Burkholderia glumae. 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 proposed field test involving two genetically engineered strains of the bacteria, Burkholderia glumae. Burkholderia glumae is a plant pathogen that causes panicle blight in rice (Oryza sativa). The purpose of this field test is to conduct experiments that will provide information on the pathogenicity of Burkholderia glumae and will assist in the development of control methods to reduce yield loss caused by panicle blight. After assessing the application, reviewing pertinent scientific information, and considering public comment, we have concluded that this field test will not present a plant pest risk, nor will it have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on its E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 45414 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 14, 2007 / Notices finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field test. DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may read the environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and our response to the one the comment we received on the EA in our reading room, which 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 our response to the public comment are available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/ aphisdocs/06_11101r_ea.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Huberty, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1236; (301) 734–0659. To obtain copies of the EA, FONSI and decision notice, and our response to the public comment, 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 April 21, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 06–111–01r) from Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, LA for a field test using strains of the bacterium Burkholderia glumae. Permit application 06–111–01r describes four Burkholderia glumae strains—two wild- VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Aug 13, 2007 Jkt 211001 type strains, one of which is diseasecausing and the other naturally nonpathogenic, endemic to the United States, and two genetically engineered, non-pathogenic strains that share the same avirulent phenotype. The transgenic strains were created by placing base pairs of a methyltransferase gene into the cloning vector. The introduced vector, along with the methyltransferase gene, will integrate into the bacterial chromosome by homologous recombination. The subject Burkholderia glumae is considered a regulated article under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because it is the causal pathological agent of panicle blight in rice, a plant disease occurring in the United States. On June 19, 2007, APHIS published a notice 1 in the Federal Register (72 FR 33735–33736, Docket No. APHIS–2007– 0021) announcing the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for a field test of two non-pathogenic, genetically engineered strains of Burkholderia glumae. During the 30-day comment period, which ended on June 19, 2007, APHIS received one comment, from an academic professional who opposed APHIS granting the permit. APHIS has addressed the issues raised in the comment and has provided a response 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 this field test 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 C 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 1 To view the notice, the EA, and the comment we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ fdmspublic/component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0021. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 8th day of August 2007. Cindy Smith, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–15932 Filed 8–13–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Foreign Agricultural Service Assessment of Fees for Dairy Import Licenses for the 2008 Tariff-Rate Import Quota Year Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces that the fee to be charged for the 2008 tariffrate quota (TRQ) year for each license issued to a person or firm by the Department of Agriculture authorizing the importation of certain dairy articles, which are subject to tariff-rate quotas set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), will be $150.00 per license. DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jorge Martinez, Dairy Import Licensing Program, Import and Trade Support Programs Division, STOP 1021, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–1021 or telephone at (202) 720–9439 or e-mail at Jorge.Martinez@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dairy Tarrif-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and codified at 7 CFR 6.20–6.37 provides for the issuance of licenses to import certain dairy articles that are subject to TRQs set forth in the HTS. Those dairy articles may only be entered into the United States at the in-quota TRQ tariff-rates by or the account of a person or firm to whom such licenses have been issued and only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the regulation. Licenses are issued on a calendar year basis, and each license authorizes the license holder to import a specified quantity and type of dairy article from a specified country of origin. The use of licenses by the license holder to import dairy articles is monitored by the Import and Trade Support Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45413-45414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15932]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0021]


Louisiana State University; Availability of an Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Field Test of Two 
Non-Pathogenic, Genetically Engineered Strains of Burkholderia glumae.

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 field test involving two genetically engineered strains of the 
bacteria, Burkholderia glumae. Burkholderia glumae is a plant pathogen 
that causes panicle blight in rice (Oryza sativa). The purpose of this 
field test is to conduct experiments that will provide information on 
the pathogenicity of Burkholderia glumae and will assist in the 
development of control methods to reduce yield loss caused by panicle 
blight. After assessing the application, reviewing pertinent scientific 
information, and considering public comment, we have concluded that 
this field test will not present a plant pest risk, nor will it have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on 
its

[[Page 45414]]

finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared for this field test.

DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may read the environmental assessment (EA), finding of 
no significant impact (FONSI), and our response to the one the comment 
we received on the EA in our reading room, which 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 our response to the public comment are available 
on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_11101r_
ea.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Huberty, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (301) 734-0659. To obtain copies of the EA, FONSI and 
decision notice, and our response to the public comment, 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 April 21, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 06-111-01r) from 
Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, LA for a field test using 
strains of the bacterium Burkholderia glumae. Permit application 06-
111-01r describes four Burkholderia glumae strains--two wild-type 
strains, one of which is disease-causing and the other naturally non-
pathogenic, endemic to the United States, and two genetically 
engineered, non-pathogenic strains that share the same avirulent 
phenotype. The transgenic strains were created by placing base pairs of 
a methyltransferase gene into the cloning vector. The introduced 
vector, along with the methyltransferase gene, will integrate into the 
bacterial chromosome by homologous recombination.
    The subject Burkholderia glumae is considered a regulated article 
under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because it is the causal 
pathological agent of panicle blight in rice, a plant disease occurring 
in the United States.
    On June 19, 2007, APHIS published a notice \1\ in the Federal 
Register (72 FR 33735-33736, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0021) announcing the 
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for a field test of 
two non-pathogenic, genetically engineered strains of Burkholderia 
glumae. During the 30-day comment period, which ended on June 19, 2007, 
APHIS received one comment, from an academic professional who opposed 
APHIS granting the permit. APHIS has addressed the issues raised in the 
comment and has provided a response as an attachment to the finding of 
no significant impact (FONSI).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice, the EA, and the comment we received, go 
to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 promulgated under the 
Plant Protection Act, APHIS has determined that this field test 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 C 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 8th day of August 2007.
Cindy Smith,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-15932 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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