Nuseed Americas Inc.; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Canola Genetically Engineered for Altered Oil Profile, 58167-58168 [2017-26584]

Download as PDF 58167 Notices Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 236 Monday, December 11, 2017 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–2017–0096] Nuseed Americas Inc.; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Canola Genetically Engineered for Altered Oil Profile Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Nuseed Americas Inc. (Nuseed) seeking a determination of nonregulated status of canola designated as event B0050–027, which has been genetically engineered to accumulate the long chain omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid in seed. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the Nuseed petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 9, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0096. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2017–0096, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Dec 08, 2017 Jkt 244001 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/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2017-0096 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 17–236–01p. 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. To obtain copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@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. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 17–236–01p) from Nuseed Americas Inc. (Nuseed), seeking a determination of nonregulated status of canola (Brassica spp.) designated as event B0050–027, which has been genetically engineered to accumulate the long chain omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in seed. The Nuseed petition states that information collected during field trials and laboratory analyses indicates that B0050–027 canola 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, B0050– 027 canola was developed through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of canola cultivar AV Jade with binary vector pJP3416_GA7– ModB. Characterization of the DHA canola event revealed two DNA inserts which matched the reference of the vector. The expressed DHA pathway enzymes are very low in concentration and are only expressed in the seed, and the agronomic properties of the event are no different than AV Jade. B0050– 027 canola is currently regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Interstate movements and field tests of B0050–027 canola 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 likelihood 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 § 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 1 To view the notice, go to https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129. E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 58168 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2017 / Notices 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 decision-making 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 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). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Dec 08, 2017 Jkt 244001 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 5th day of December 2017. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2017–26584 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the Arizona Advisory Committee U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Announcement of meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that a meetings of the Arizona Advisory Committee (Committee) to the Commission will be held at 12:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Monday, December 18, 2017, and 12:00 p.m. (Mountain Time), Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The purpose of the meetings is for the Committee to discuss logistics for March 9, 2018 briefing on voting rights. DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, December 18, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. MT, and on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. MT. ADDRESSES: Public call information: Dial: 866–290–0883. Conference ID: 2510813. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana Victoria Fortes (DFO) at afortes@ usccr.gov or (213) 894–3437. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This meetings are available to the public through the following toll-free call-in number: 866–290–0883, conference ID number: 2510813. Any interested member of the public may call this number and listen to the meetings. Callers can expect to incur charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, and the Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free telephone number. Persons with hearing impairments may also follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and providing the Service with the conference call number and conference ID number. Members of the public are entitled to make comments during the open period at the end of the meetings. Members of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 the public may also submit written comments; the comments must be received in the Regional Programs Unit within 30 days following the meeting. Written comments may be mailed to the Western Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 300 North Los Angeles Street, Suite 2010, Los Angeles, CA 90012. They may be faxed to the Commission at (213) 894–0508, or emailed Ana Victoria Fortes at afortes@ usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Regional Programs Unit at (213) 894– 3437. Records and documents discussed during the meeting will be available for public viewing prior to and after the meetings at https://facadatabase.gov/ committee/meetings.aspx?cid=235. Please click on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated from these meetings may also be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Unit, as they become available, both before and after the meetings. Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission’s Web site, https:// www.usccr.gov, or may contact the Regional Programs Unit at the above email or street address. Agenda I. Welcome II. Approval of minutes from previous meeting III. Discuss Potential Speakers IV. Next Steps V. Adjournment Exceptional Circumstance: Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150, the notice for the December 18, 2017, meeting is given less than 15 calendar days prior to the meeting because of the exceptional circumstance of the committee needing to plan a briefing on voting rights to satisfy the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ 2018 Statutory Enforcement report timeline. Dated: December 6, 2017. David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. [FR Doc. 2017–26581 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6335–01–P E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58167-58168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26584]


========================================================================
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. 82, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 58167]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0096]


Nuseed Americas Inc.; Availability of Petition for Determination 
of Nonregulated Status of Canola Genetically Engineered for Altered Oil 
Profile

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 received a petition from Nuseed Americas Inc. 
(Nuseed) seeking a determination of nonregulated status of canola 
designated as event B0050-027, which has been genetically engineered to 
accumulate the long chain omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic 
acid in seed. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our 
regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically 
engineered organisms and products. We are making the Nuseed petition 
available for review and comment to help us identify potential 
environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may determine should be 
considered in our evaluation of the petition.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0096.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0096, 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 Detail;D=APHIS-2017-
0096 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 17-236-01p.

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: [email protected]. To obtain copies 
of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851-3892, email: 
[email protected].

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 17-236-01p) 
from Nuseed Americas Inc. (Nuseed), seeking a determination of 
nonregulated status of canola (Brassica spp.) designated as event 
B0050-027, which has been genetically engineered to accumulate the long 
chain omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in seed. 
The Nuseed petition states that information collected during field 
trials and laboratory analyses indicates that B0050-027 canola 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, B0050-027 canola was developed 
through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of canola 
cultivar AV Jade with binary vector pJP3416_GA7-ModB. Characterization 
of the DHA canola event revealed two DNA inserts which matched the 
reference of the vector. The expressed DHA pathway enzymes are very low 
in concentration and are only expressed in the seed, and the agronomic 
properties of the event are no different than AV Jade. B0050-027 canola 
is currently regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Interstate movements and 
field tests of B0050-027 canola 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 likelihood 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

[[Page 58168]]

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 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 decision-making documents. As 
part of our decision-making 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 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 5th day of December 2017.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26584 Filed 12-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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