Monsanto Co.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Herbicide Resistant Soybeans and Cotton, and Notice of Virtual Public Meetings, 34638-34639 [2013-13691]

Download as PDF 34638 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 111 / Monday, June 10, 2013 / Notices of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3882, email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2013–0043] Background On May 16, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register (78 FR 28798–28800, Docket No. APHIS– 2013–0042) a notice stating our decision to complete an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the potential determinations of nonregulated status of cultivars of corn and soybeans produced by Dow AgroSciences LLC that are resistant to certain broadleaf herbicides in the auxin growth regulator group (particularly the herbicide 2,4-D). The EIS will perform a comprehensive environmental analysis of the potential selection of 2,4-D resistant weeds and other potential environmental impacts that may occur as a result of making determinations of nonregulated status of these events. Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before June 17, 2013. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS– 2013–0042 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also providing an opportunity to comment at two virtual public meetings during the comment period. Information on the virtual public meetings is available under DATES and ADDRESSES. All comments received during the scoping period will be carefully considered in developing the final scope of the EIS. Upon completion of the draft EIS, a notice announcing its availability and an opportunity to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– 7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of June 2013. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–13685 Filed 6–7–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:56 Jun 07, 2013 Jkt 229001 Monsanto Co.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Herbicide Resistant Soybeans and Cotton, and Notice of Virtual Public Meetings Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; extension of comment period and notice of virtual public meetings. AGENCY: We are extending the comment period for our notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on environmental impacts that may result from the potential approval of petitions seeking a determination of nonregulated status of cultivars of dicamba herbicide resistant soybeans and cotton produced by the Monsanto Company. During the comment period, we are requesting public comments to further delineate the scope of the alternatives and environmental impacts and issues to be included in the EIS. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also announcing the dates of two virtual public meetings that we will be hosting to provide the public with additional opportunities to comment during the scoping period. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 17, 2013. Online virtual public meetings will be held June 26, 2013, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST and June 27, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-00430001. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2013–0043, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0043 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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) 799–7039 before coming. Other Information: Details regarding the virtual public meetings, including how to participate, will be posted as they become available at https:// www.aphisvirtualmeetings.com. Dr. Rebecca Stankiewicz Gabel, Branch Chief, Biotechnology Environmental Analysis Branch, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1238; (301) 851–3954. To obtain copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3882, email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On May 16, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register (78 FR 28796–28798, Docket No. APHIS– 2013–0043) a notice stating our decision to complete an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the potential determinations of nonregulated status of cultivars of dicamba herbicide resistant soybeans and cotton produced by the Monsanto Company in order to perform a comprehensive environmental analysis of the potential selection of dicamba resistant weeds and other potential environmental impacts that may occur as a result of making determinations of nonregulated status of these events. Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before June 17, 2013. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS– 2013–0043 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also providing an opportunity to comment at two virtual public meetings during the comment period. Information on the virtual public meetings is available under DATES and ADDRESSES. All comments received during the scoping period will be carefully considered in developing the final scope of the EIS. Upon completion of the draft EIS, a notice announcing its availability and an opportunity to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register. 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\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 111 / Monday, June 10, 2013 / Notices Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of June 2013. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–13691 Filed 6–7–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Restart of Healy Power Plant Unit #2 Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of Availability of a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS), has issued a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) for the restart of Healy Power Plant’s Unit #2 in Healy, Alaska. The (SFEIS) supplements a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), completed by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 1993 to evaluate potential impacts to the human environment from DOE’s proposal to partially fund construction of Unit #2 of the Healy Power Plant to demonstrate emissions control technologies. In 1994, the DOE published a Record of Decision (ROD) for their FEIS in the Federal Register, Volume 59, Issue 54 (March 21, 1994). In 1997, Healy Unit #2 was constructed as a major modification to the existing Healy Power Plant’s Unit #1, using funding from DOE and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Healy Unit #1 is a 25 megawatt (MW) coal-fired boiler that has been owned and operated by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) since 1967. Healy Unit #2 is a 50 MW coal-fired steam generator owned by AIDEA, which underwent test operation for two years as part of DOE’s project. Unit #2 has been in warm layup since late 1999. The SFEIS updates information in DOE’s FEIS and considers impacts of restarting Unit #2 for commercial operation. The SFEIS is available for a 30-day public review and comment period. Subsequent to the comment period RUS may issue a ROD. DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before July 10, 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deirdre M. Remley, Environmental Protection Specialist, RUS, Water and Environmental Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:56 Jun 07, 2013 Jkt 229001 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250–1571, Telephone: (202) 720–9640 or email: deirdre.remley@wdc.usda.gov. The SFEIS is available online at https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm or you may contact Ms. Remley for a hard copy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS makes loans and loan guarantees to finance new infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities in the areas of electricity, telecommunications, and water and wastewater in rural areas that qualify for federal assistance. During the 1994 USDA reorganization, the former Rural Electrification Administration (REA) utility programs were consolidated under RUS. The RUS Electric Program is authorized to make loans and loan guarantees that finance electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including construction, system improvements, and replacements required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas. RUS’s predecessor, REA, was a cooperating agency on DOE’s FEIS, because it had administrative actions related to its lien interests in GVEA holdings. GVEA is a not-for-profit cooperative formed in 1946 with financing from REA to provide electric service to rural communities in interior Alaska. Because GVEA is an RUS borrower, RUS holds liens on GVEA assets, and GVEA is eligible for RUS financing to construct or improve its distribution, transmission, and generation facilities. AIDEA provides support for the Alaska Energy Authority whose mission is to reduce the cost of energy in Alaska. AIDEA partially funded construction of Unit #2, and currently owns this power generation facility that is built adjacent to and interconnected with GVEA’s Unit #1 at the Healy Power Plant. Unit #2 has been costly for both AIDEA and GVEA to maintain without income from commercial generation to offset the costs of keeping the facility in warm layup. AIDEA wishes to sell Unit #2 to GVEA, and GVEA wishes to purchase the facility and bring it into commercial production to reduce GVEA’s reliance on oil-fired generation by providing a lower cost option for meeting power demand within its service territory. As part of the restart of Unit #2, GVEA proposes to install additional emission controls to both Unit #1 and Unit #2 and to operate Unit #2 for the remainder of the plant’s operational life. GVEA plans to request administrative and financial assistance from RUS to facilitate its purchase of Unit #2 and improvements PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34639 to the Healy Power Plant, which include the installation of additional emission control equipment. The SFEIS updated the DOE FEIS by documenting changes in the affected environment, regulatory requirements, and environmental consequences related to the commercial operation of Unit #2, which have occurred since the FEIS was published in 1993. RUS’s SFEIS incorporates the DOE FEIS by reference. Both the FEIS and the SFEIS are available at https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm. Dated: April 25, 2013. Nivin Elgohary, Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, USDA, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2013–13694 Filed 6–7–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B–57–2013] Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 21— Dorchester County, South Carolina; Notification of Proposed Production Activity; AGFA Materials Corporation (Photographic Film Cutting); Goose Creek, South Carolina The South Carolina State Ports Authority, grantee of FTZ 21, submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board on behalf of AGFA Materials Corporation (AGFA), located in Goose Creek, South Carolina. The notification conforming to the requirements of the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was received on May 17, 2013. The AGFA facility is located within Site 16 of FTZ 21. The facility is used for the cutting of photographic film to specific sizes or master rolls for medical images, aerial photography, and nondestructive testing. Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status materials and components and specific finished products listed in the submitted notification (as described below) and subsequently authorized by the FTZ Board. Production under FTZ procedures could exempt AGFA from customs duty payments on the foreign status film used in export production. On its domestic sales, AGFA would be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to its finished cut film (3.7%) and associated scrap and waste (free) for the foreign-status film (3.7%). Customs duties also could E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34638-34639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13691]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0043]


Monsanto Co.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Herbicide 
Resistant Soybeans and Cotton, and Notice of Virtual Public Meetings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
extension of comment period and notice of virtual public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on environmental 
impacts that may result from the potential approval of petitions 
seeking a determination of nonregulated status of cultivars of dicamba 
herbicide resistant soybeans and cotton produced by the Monsanto 
Company. During the comment period, we are requesting public comments 
to further delineate the scope of the alternatives and environmental 
impacts and issues to be included in the EIS. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We 
are also announcing the dates of two virtual public meetings that we 
will be hosting to provide the public with additional opportunities to 
comment during the scoping period.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
17, 2013. Online virtual public meetings will be held June 26, 2013, 
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST and June 27, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0043-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0043, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-
0043 or 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) 799-7039 before coming.
    Other Information: Details regarding the virtual public meetings, 
including how to participate, will be posted as they become available 
at https://www.aphisvirtualmeetings.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Stankiewicz Gabel, Branch 
Chief, Biotechnology Environmental Analysis Branch, Environmental Risk 
Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; (301) 851-3954. To obtain 
copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851-3882, email: 
cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 16, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
published in the Federal Register (78 FR 28796-28798, Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0043) a notice stating our decision to complete an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for the potential determinations of nonregulated 
status of cultivars of dicamba herbicide resistant soybeans and cotton 
produced by the Monsanto Company in order to perform a comprehensive 
environmental analysis of the potential selection of dicamba resistant 
weeds and other potential environmental impacts that may occur as a 
result of making determinations of nonregulated status of these events.
    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
June 17, 2013. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0043 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also 
providing an opportunity to comment at two virtual public meetings 
during the comment period. Information on the virtual public meetings 
is available under DATES and ADDRESSES.
    All comments received during the scoping period will be carefully 
considered in developing the final scope of the EIS. Upon completion of 
the draft EIS, a notice announcing its availability and an opportunity 
to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register.

    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 34639]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of June 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13691 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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