Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 49783-49784 [2017-23359]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices
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 17–138–01p) from
Bayer CropScience LP of Research
Triangle Park, NC (Bayer), seeking a
determination of nonregulated status of
cotton (Gossypium spp.) designated as
event GHB811, which has been
genetically engineered for dual
resistance to the herbicides glyphosate
and isoxaflutole. The Bayer petition
states that information collected during
field trials and laboratory analyses
indicates that GHB811 cotton is not
likely to be a plant pest and therefore
should not be a regulated article under
APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340.
As described in the petition, GHB811
cotton was developed through
agrobacterium-mediated transformation
using the vector pTSIH09 containing
hppdPfW336–1Pa and 2mepsps
expression cassettes. The regulatory
sequences used in this construct are
derived from common plants or plant
pathogens that are routinely used in
plant biotechnology and have a history
of safe use. GHB811 cotton is currently
regulated under 7 CFR part 340.
Interstate movements and field tests of
GHB811 cotton have been conducted
under notifications acknowledged 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
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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 and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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.
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. 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
1 To view the notice, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129.
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49783
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 part 1500–1508)
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 23rd day of
October 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–23401 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
comments on the following information
collection for which RUS intends to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by December 26, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522,
Room 5164, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–
1522.Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Fax:
(202) 720–8435 or email
Thomas.Dickson@wdc.usda.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
implementing provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
SUMMARY:
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49784
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices
L. 104–13) requires that interested
members of the public and affected
agencies have an opportunity to
comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
information collection that RUS is
submitting to OMB for revision.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed 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 the burden of
the collection of information including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. Comments may
be sent to: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting
Director, Program Development and
Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–1078, Fax: (202)
720–8435 or email: Thomas.Dickson@
wdc.usda.gov.
Title: Water and Waste Loan and
Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0121.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: USDA Rural Development,
through the Rural Utilities Service, is
authorized by Section 306 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to
make loans to public agencies, nonprofit
corporations, and Indian Tribes to fund
water and waste disposal projects
serving the most financially needy rural
communities through the Water and
Waste Disposal loan and grant program.
Financial assistance should result in
reasonable user costs for rural residents,
rural businesses, and other rural users.
The program is limited to rural areas
and small towns with a population of
10,000 or less. The Water and Waste
Loan and Grant Program is administered
through 7 CFR part 1780. The items
covered by this collection include forms
and related documentation to support a
loan application.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 2.5 hours per
response.
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Respondents: Not-for-profit
institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
789.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 44,323 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, at (202) 720–7853, Fax: (202)
720–8435 or email: MaryPat.Daskal@
wdc.usda.gov. All responses to this
notice will be summarized and included
in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: October 18, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–23359 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request; Complaint of
Employment Discrimination Based on
Sexual Orientation Against the
Department of Commerce
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: Office of the Secretary, Office
of Civil Rights, Commerce.
Title: Complaint of Employment
Discrimination Based on Sexual
Orientation against the Department of
Commerce.
OMB Control Number: 0690–0024.
Form Number(s): CD–545.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
information collection).
Burden Hours: 10.
Number of Respondents: 20.
Average Hours per Response: 30
minutes.
Needs and Use: Pursuant to Executive
Order 11478 and Department of
Commerce Administrative Order (DAO)
215–11, an employee or applicant for
employment with the Department of
Commerce who alleges that he or she
has been subjected to discriminatory
treatment based on sexual orientation by
the Department of Commerce or one of
its sub-agencies, must submit a signed
statement that is sufficiently precise to
identify the actions or practices that
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Sfmt 4703
form the basis of the complaint.
Through use of this standardized form,
the Office of Civil Rights proposes to
collect the information required by the
Executive Order and DAO in a uniform
manner that will increase the efficiency
of complaint processing and trend
analyses of complaint activity.
The DOC received no comments in
response to the 60-day notice published
in the Federal Register on April 14,
2017 (82 FR 17968).
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to OIRA Submission@
omb.emp.gov or faxed to (202) 395–
5806.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–23442 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–BP–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of the Secretary
Office of Civil Rights; Submission for
OMB Review; Comment Request;
Complaint of Employment
Discrimination Against the Department
of Commerce
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: Office of the Secretary, Office
of Civil Rights, Commerce.
Title: Complaint of Employment
Discrimination against the Department
of Commerce.
OMB Control Number: 0690–0015.
Form Number(s): CD–498, 498–A.
Type of Request: Regular (extension of
a currently approved information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 700.
Average Hours per Response: 350.
Burden Hours: 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $0.
Needs and Uses: This request is for an
extension of a currently approved
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49783-49784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23359]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
invites comments on the following information collection for which RUS
intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 26, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service,
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250-1522.Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: (202) 720-
8435 or email [email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
[[Page 49784]]
L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected
agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies
an information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB for revision.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 the burden of the
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on respondents, including through the
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078, Fax:
(202) 720-8435 or email: [email protected].
Title: Water and Waste Loan and Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0121.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: USDA Rural Development, through the Rural Utilities
Service, is authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies,
nonprofit corporations, and Indian Tribes to fund water and waste
disposal projects serving the most financially needy rural communities
through the Water and Waste Disposal loan and grant program. Financial
assistance should result in reasonable user costs for rural residents,
rural businesses, and other rural users. The program is limited to
rural areas and small towns with a population of 10,000 or less. The
Water and Waste Loan and Grant Program is administered through 7 CFR
part 1780. The items covered by this collection include forms and
related documentation to support a loan application.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 2.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 789.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 44,323 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853,
Fax: (202) 720-8435 or email: [email protected]. All
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public
record.
Dated: October 18, 2017.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23359 Filed 10-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
