ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Controlled Release of a Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid, 26648-26649 [E9-12928]
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26648
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 74, No. 105
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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–2008–0059]
ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an
Environmental Assessment for
Controlled Release of a Genetically
Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid
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 a
genetically engineered clone of a
Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of this
release is to continue research on the
effectiveness of gene constructs which
are intended to confer cold tolerance; to
test the efficacy of a gene introduced to
alter lignin biosynthesis; and to test the
efficacy of a gene designed to alter
fertility. We are making the
environmental assessment available to
the public for review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before July 6,
2009.
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/
component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS–
2008–0059 to submit or view comments
and to view supporting and related
materials available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send two copies of your comment
to Docket No. APHIS–2008–0059,
Regulatory Analysis and Development,
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD
20737–1238. Please state that your
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:08 Jun 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–
2008–0059.
Reading Room: You may read 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: Additional
information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Biotechnology Regulatory Services,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 734–
7324. 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 January 11, 2008, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received a permit application (APHIS
No. 08–011–106rm) from ArborGen,
LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a
controlled field release of genetically
engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 19
locations. On January 14, 2008, APHIS
received a second permit application
(APHIS No. 08–014–101rm) from
ArborGen for another controlled release
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of genetically engineered Eucalyptus
hybrids in 10 additional locations.
Under these permits for a total of 29
sites, trees planted under previously
approved permits (APHIS Nos. 06–325–
111r, 08–039–102rm, and 08–151–101r)
would be allowed to flower.
Permit applications 08–11–106rm and
08–014–101rm describe Eucalyptus
trees derived from a hybrid of
Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus
urophylla. The purpose of the field tests
is to assess the effectiveness of gene
constructs which are intended to confer
cold tolerance; to test the efficacy of a
gene introduced to alter lignin
biosynthesis; and to test the efficacy of
a gene designed to alter fertility. In
addition, the trees have been engineered
with the kanamycin resistance
selectable marker gene (nptII). 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 under permit
of these transgenic Eucalyptus trees,
APHIS has prepared an environmental
assessment (EA). 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
individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 3, 2009 / Notices
Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of
May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9–12928 Filed 6–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln
County, MT; Flower Creek Project
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Forest Service will
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to disclose the
environmental effects of fuel and
vegetation management through
commercial timber harvest,
precommercial thinning and fuel
grinding; road storage; temporary road
construction; and trail construction. The
project is located in the Flower Creek
Watershed on the Libby Ranger District,
Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln
County, Montana, and south of Libby,
Montana.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 45
days from the date of publication in the
Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected December 2009 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected March 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Malcolm R. Edwards, District Ranger,
Libby Ranger District, 12557 Hwy 37,
Libby, MT 59923. Comments may also
be sent via e-mail to commentsnorthern-kootenai-libby@fs.fed.us.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
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16:08 Jun 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
respondent with standing to participate
in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Denise Beck, Team Leader, Libby
Ranger District, 12557 Hwy 37, Libby,
MT 59923; phone: (406) 293–7773.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
project area is approximately 3 air miles
south of Libby, Montana, within all or
portions of T30N, R31W, Sections 3, 4,
5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29 and
30; T30N, R32W, Sections 3, 14, 15, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32,
33, 34, 35 and 36 PMM, Lincoln County,
Montana. The area contains the Flower
Creek Watershed.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for this project
is to: (1) Trend vegetation in the Flower
Creek Watershed towards conditions
that are resilient to fire thereby reducing
the risk of stand replacing wildfire and
associated post-fire effects to the
municipal watershed.
Proposed Action
To meet this purpose and need this
project proposes:
(1) Vegetation treatments, including
commercial timber harvest and
associated fuel reduction, fuel reduction
in stands that are not economically
viable for commercial harvest, precommercial thinning, yarding tops to
the landing in commercial harvest units,
grinding landing piles and spot fuel
grinding or mastication with and
without associated timber harvest.
Vegetation treatments total 990 acres of
treated area.
(2) Access management includes road
storage and construction of temporary
road. Approximately 1.81 miles of road
storage is proposed. Approximately 1
mile of temporary road construction to
access treatment units is proposed.
(3) Construction of a non-system trail
tread to form a walking loop in the
project area for a total of 0.23 miles.
Possible Alternatives
The Forest Service will consider a
range of alternatives. One of these will
be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which
none of the proposed activities will be
implemented. Additional alternatives
will examine varying levels and
locations for the proposed activities to
achieve the proposal’s purposes, as well
as to respond to the issues and other
resource values.
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26649
Responsible Official
Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai
National Forest, 31374 U.S. Highway 2
West, Libby, MT 59923. As the
Responsible Official, I will decide if the
proposed project will be implemented.
I will document the decision and
reasons for the decision in the Record of
Decision. I have delegated the
responsibility for preparing the DEIS
and FEIS to Malcolm R. Edwards,
District Ranger, Libby Ranger District.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. A public meeting will
be held June 16 in Libby, Montana
followed by a public field trip on June
18.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative appeal or
judicial review.
Dated: May 21, 2009.
Paul Bradford,
Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest.
[FR Doc. E9–12724 Filed 6–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Gulf of Mexico Electronic
Logbook.
Form Number(s): None.
OMB Approval Number: 0648–0543.
Type of Request: Regular submission.
Burden Hours: 300.
Number of Respondents: 500.
Average Hours per Response: 30
minutes for the initial installation and 1
minute × 6 for the removal/
reinstallation of the electronic logbook
(ELB).
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26648-26649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12928]
========================================================================
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. 74, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 3, 2009 /
Notices
[[Page 26648]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059]
ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for
Controlled Release of a Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid
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 a genetically engineered clone of
a Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of this release is to continue
research on the effectiveness of gene constructs which are intended to
confer cold tolerance; to test the efficacy of a gene introduced to
alter lignin biosynthesis; and to test the efficacy of a gene designed
to alter fertility. We are making the environmental assessment
available to the public for review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July
6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0059 to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059, 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-2008-0059.
Reading Room: You may read 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: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Biotechnology Regulatory Services,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-
7324. 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 January 11, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 08-011-106rm) from
ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release of
genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 19 locations. On January
14, 2008, APHIS received a second permit application (APHIS No. 08-014-
101rm) from ArborGen for another controlled release of genetically
engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 10 additional locations. Under these
permits for a total of 29 sites, trees planted under previously
approved permits (APHIS Nos. 06-325-111r, 08-039-102rm, and 08-151-
101r) would be allowed to flower.
Permit applications 08-11-106rm and 08-014-101rm describe
Eucalyptus trees derived from a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis X
Eucalyptus urophylla. The purpose of the field tests is to assess the
effectiveness of gene constructs which are intended to confer cold
tolerance; to test the efficacy of a gene introduced to alter lignin
biosynthesis; and to test the efficacy of a gene designed to alter
fertility. In addition, the trees have been engineered with the
kanamycin resistance selectable marker gene (nptII). 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 under permit of these transgenic
Eucalyptus trees, APHIS has prepared an environmental assessment (EA).
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
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
[[Page 26649]]
Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12928 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
