Monsanto Company; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Maize Genetically Engineered for Resistance to Dicamba and Glufosinate, 48489-48490 [2015-19925]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 156 / Thursday, August 13, 2015 / Notices Colorado 80225 [FR Doc. 2015–19854 Filed 8–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–23–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2015–0048] Monsanto Company; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Maize Genetically Engineered for Resistance to Dicamba and Glufosinate Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) seeking a determination of nonregulated status for maize designated as MON 87419, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to the herbicides dicamba and glufosinate. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the Monsanto petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential issues and impacts that APHIS should be considering in our evaluation of the petition. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 13, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0048. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2015–0048, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. The petition and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0048 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. The petition is also available on the APHIS Web site at: https:// tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:56 Aug 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/ petitions_table_pending.shtml under APHIS petition number 15–113–01p, or by contacting Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3892; email: cynthia.a.eck@ aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Turner, Director, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1236; (301) 851–3954, email: john.t.turner@aphis.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the plant pest provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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 (GE) organisms and products are considered ‘‘regulated articles.’’ The regulations in § 340.6(a) provide that any person may submit a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of § 340.6 describe the form that a petition for a determination of nonregulated status must take and the information that must be included in the petition. APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 15–113–01p) from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) of St. Louis, MO, seeking a determination of nonregulated status for maize (Zea mays) designated as event MON 87419 which has been genetically engineered for resistance to the herbicides dicamba and glufosinate. The Monsanto petition states that information collected during field trials and laboratory analyses indicates that MON 87419 maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be a regulated article under APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340. MON 87419 maize is currently regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Interstate movements and field tests of MON 87419 maize have been authorized by APHIS. Field tests conducted under APHIS oversight allowed for evaluation in a natural agricultural setting while imposing measures to minimize the risk of persistence in the environment after PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48489 completion of the tests. Data are gathered on multiple parameters and used by the applicant to evaluate agronomic characteristics and product performance. These and other data are used by APHIS to determine if the new variety poses a plant pest risk. Paragraph (d) of § 340.6 provides that APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register providing 60 days for public comment for petitions for a determination of nonregulated status. On March 6, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. APHIS–2011–0129) a notice 1 describing our process for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms. In that notice we indicated that APHIS would accept written comments regarding a petition once APHIS deemed it complete. In accordance with § 340.6(d) of the regulations and our process for soliciting public input when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms, we are publishing this notice to inform the public that APHIS will accept written comments regarding the petition for a determination of nonregulated status from interested or affected persons for a period of 60 days from the date of this notice. The petition is available for public review and comment, and copies are available as indicated under ADDRESSES above. We are interested in receiving comments regarding potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. We are particularly interested in receiving comments regarding biological, cultural, or ecological issues, and we encourage the submission of scientific data, studies, or research to support your comments. We also request that, when possible, commenters provide relevant information regarding specific localities or regions as maize growth, crop management, and crop utilization may vary considerably by geographic region. After the comment period closes, APHIS will review all written comments received during the comment period and any other relevant information. Any substantive issues identified by APHIS based on our review of the petition and our evaluation and analysis of comments will be considered in the development of our decisionmaking documents. 1 To view the notice, go to https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129. E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM 13AUN1 48490 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 156 / Thursday, August 13, 2015 / Notices As part of our decisionmaking process regarding a GE organism’s regulatory status, APHIS prepares a plant pest risk assessment to assess its plant pest risk and the appropriate environmental documentation—either an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS)— in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to provide the Agency with a review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the petition request. For petitions for which APHIS prepares an EA, APHIS will follow our published process for soliciting public comment (see footnote 1) and publish a separate notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of APHIS’ EA and plant pest risk assessment. Should APHIS determine that an EIS is necessary, APHIS will complete the NEPA EIS process in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and APHIS’ NEPA implementing regulations (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 10th day of August 2015. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2015–19925 Filed 8–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee Meeting AGENCY: ACTION: Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. The Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Corvallis, Oregon. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. Additional RAC information, including the meeting agenda and the meeting summary/minutes can be found at the following Web site: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/siuslaw/ workingtogether/advisorycommittees. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:56 Aug 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 The meeting will be held on September 25, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All RAC meetings are subject to cancellation. For status of meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Corvallis Forestry Sciences Lab and Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 3200 SW. Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331. Members of the public may attend in person or join by video-teleconference from Forest Service facilities in Hebo, Waldport, or Reedsport, Oregon. Written comments may be submitted as described under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Corvallis, Oregon. Please call ahead to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Romano, Public Affairs Staff Officer, by phone at 541–750–7075 or via email at lmromano@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting is: 1. To conduct RAC business, elect a RAC chairperson, set the 2015 fiscal year overhead rate, share information, provide a public forum, and review and select Secure Rural Schools Title II projects for funding. The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should request to do so in writing by September 5, 2015, to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Lisa Romano, Public Affairs Staff Officer, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331; or by email to lmromano@fs.fed.us. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or other reasonable accommodation for access to the facility or proceedings by contacting the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: August 4, 2015. Jeremiah C. Ingersoll, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2015–19663 Filed 8–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), 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: International Trade Administration. Title: Interim Procedures for Considering Requests under the Commercial Availability Provision of the United States–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. Form Number(s): N/A. OMB Control Number: 0625–0272. Type of Request: Regular submission. Burden Hours: 89. Number of Respondents: 16 (10 for Requests; 3 for Responses; 3 for Rebuttals). Average Hours per Response: 8 hours per Request; 2 hours per Response; and 1 hour per Rebuttal. Needs and Uses: Title II, Section 203(o) of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ‘‘Act’’) [Public Law 112–42] implements the commercial availability provision provided for in Article 3.3 of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). The Agreement entered into force on May 15, 2012. Subject to the rules of origin in Annex 4.1 of the Agreement, and pursuant to the textile provisions of the Agreement, a fabric, yarn, or fiber produced in Colombia or the United States and traded between the two countries is entitled to duty-free tariff treatment. Annex 3–B of the Agreement also lists specific fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the two countries agreed are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner from producers in Colombia or the United States. The E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM 13AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48489-48490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19925]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0048]


Monsanto Company; Availability of Petition for Determination of 
Nonregulated Status for Maize Genetically Engineered for Resistance to 
Dicamba and Glufosinate

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from the Monsanto 
Company (Monsanto) seeking a determination of nonregulated status for 
maize designated as MON 87419, which has been genetically engineered 
for resistance to the herbicides dicamba and glufosinate. The petition 
has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the 
introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. 
We are making the Monsanto petition available for review and comment to 
help us identify potential issues and impacts that APHIS should be 
considering in our evaluation of the petition.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0048.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0048, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    The petition and any comments we receive on this docket may be 
viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0048 
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.
    The petition is also available on the APHIS Web site at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/petitions_table_pending.shtml under 
APHIS petition number 15-113-01p, or by contacting Ms. Cindy Eck at 
(301) 851-3892; email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Turner, Director, 
Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory 
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; 
(301) 851-3954, email: john.t.turner@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the plant pest 
provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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 (GE) 
organisms and products are considered ``regulated articles.''
    The regulations in Sec.  340.6(a) provide that any person may 
submit a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated 
under 7 CFR part 340. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of Sec.  340.6 describe 
the form that a petition for a determination of nonregulated status 
must take and the information that must be included in the petition.
    APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 15-113-01p) 
from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) of St. Louis, MO, seeking a 
determination of nonregulated status for maize (Zea mays) designated as 
event MON 87419 which has been genetically engineered for resistance to 
the herbicides dicamba and glufosinate. The Monsanto petition states 
that information collected during field trials and laboratory analyses 
indicates that MON 87419 maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk 
and, therefore, should not be a regulated article under APHIS' 
regulations in 7 CFR part 340.
    MON 87419 maize is currently regulated under 7 CFR part 340. 
Interstate movements and field tests of MON 87419 maize have been 
authorized by APHIS. Field tests conducted under APHIS oversight 
allowed for evaluation in a natural agricultural setting while imposing 
measures to minimize the risk of persistence in the environment after 
completion of the tests. Data are gathered on multiple parameters and 
used by the applicant to evaluate agronomic characteristics and product 
performance. These and other data are used by APHIS to determine if the 
new variety poses a plant pest risk.
    Paragraph (d) of Sec.  340.6 provides that APHIS will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register providing 60 days for public comment for 
petitions for a determination of nonregulated status. On March 6, 2012, 
we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 13258-13260, Docket No. 
APHIS-2011-0129) a notice \1\ describing our process for soliciting 
public comment when considering petitions for determinations of 
nonregulated status for GE organisms. In that notice we indicated that 
APHIS would accept written comments regarding a petition once APHIS 
deemed it complete.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice, go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0129.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with Sec.  340.6(d) of the regulations and our 
process for soliciting public input when considering petitions for 
determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms, we are 
publishing this notice to inform the public that APHIS will accept 
written comments regarding the petition for a determination of 
nonregulated status from interested or affected persons for a period of 
60 days from the date of this notice. The petition is available for 
public review and comment, and copies are available as indicated under 
ADDRESSES above. We are interested in receiving comments regarding 
potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts 
that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the 
petition. We are particularly interested in receiving comments 
regarding biological, cultural, or ecological issues, and we encourage 
the submission of scientific data, studies, or research to support your 
comments. We also request that, when possible, commenters provide 
relevant information regarding specific localities or regions as maize 
growth, crop management, and crop utilization may vary considerably by 
geographic region.
    After the comment period closes, APHIS will review all written 
comments received during the comment period and any other relevant 
information. Any substantive issues identified by APHIS based on our 
review of the petition and our evaluation and analysis of comments will 
be considered in the development of our decisionmaking documents.

[[Page 48490]]

    As part of our decisionmaking process regarding a GE organism's 
regulatory status, APHIS prepares a plant pest risk assessment to 
assess its plant pest risk and the appropriate environmental 
documentation--either an environmental assessment (EA) or an 
environmental impact statement (EIS)--in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to provide the Agency with a review 
and analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the 
petition request. For petitions for which APHIS prepares an EA, APHIS 
will follow our published process for soliciting public comment (see 
footnote 1) and publish a separate notice in the Federal Register 
announcing the availability of APHIS' EA and plant pest risk 
assessment. Should APHIS determine that an EIS is necessary, APHIS will 
complete the NEPA EIS process in accordance with Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and 
APHIS' NEPA implementing regulations (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 10th day of August 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19925 Filed 8-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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