Bayer/Monsanto; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Maize Genetically Engineered for Dicamba, Glufosinate, Quizalofop, and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Tolerance With Tissue-Specific Glyphosate Tolerance Facilitating the Production of Hybrid Maize Seed, 27354-27355 [2020-09834]

Download as PDF 27354 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 90 / Friday, May 8, 2020 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2020–0021] Bayer/Monsanto; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Maize Genetically Engineered for Dicamba, Glufosinate, Quizalofop, and 2,4Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Tolerance With Tissue-Specific Glyphosate Tolerance Facilitating the Production of Hybrid Maize Seed 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 Bayer/Monsanto seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize genetically engineered for dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid tolerance with tissue-specific glyphosate tolerance facilitating the production of hybrid maize 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 petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 7, 2020. DATES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0021. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2020–0021, 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-2020-0021 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 ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 07, 2020 Jkt 250001 help you, please call (202) 7997039 before coming. The petition is also available on the APHIS website at: https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/ biotechnology/permits-notificationspetitions/petitions/petition-status under APHIS petition 19–316–01p. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–3892; email: cynthia.a.eck@ 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 19–316–01p) from Bayer/Monsanto, seeking a determination of nonregulated status maize genetically engineered for dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid tolerance with tissue-specific glyphosate tolerance facilitating the production of hybrid maize seed. The Bayer/Monsanto petition states that the 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. Data were 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 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 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 1 To view the notice, go to https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129. E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM 08MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 90 / Friday, May 8, 2020 / Notices 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 4th day of May 2020. Michael Watson, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2020–09834 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 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 Petersburg Ranger District Office or the Wrangell Ranger District Office, Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call ahead to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Slaght, RAC Coordinator, by phone at 907–772–5948 or via email at linda.slaght@usda.gov. 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: Forest Service Wrangell-Petersburg Resource Advisory Committee; Meeting Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Wrangell-Petersburg Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Petersburg, Alaska and Wrangell, Alaska. 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. RAC information can be found at the following website: WrangellPetersburg RAC. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 27 and 28, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each night, or until business is concluded. All RAC meetings are subject to cancellation. For status of the meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually and by teleconference. Interested persons may attend by teleconference. For anyone who would like to attend by teleconference, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 07, 2020 Jkt 250001 The purpose of the meeting is to: 1. Review progress of previously funded projects; 2. Review new project proposals; and 3. Make recommendations for allocation of Title II funding to projects. 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 in writing by Friday, May 22, 2020 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 may be sent to Linda Slaght, RAC Coordinator, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, Alaska 99833; by email to linda.slaght@usda.gov or via facsimile to 907–772–5995. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodation. For access to the facility or proceedings, please contact the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: March 4, 2020. Cikena Reid, USDA Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–09851 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27355 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Agricultural Statistics Service Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Livestock Slaughter Survey. Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length. SUMMARY: Comments on this notice must be received by July 7, 2020 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535–0005, by any of the following methods: • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Include docket number above in the subject line of the message. • Efax: (855) 838–6382. • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– ROM submissions to: David Hancock NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, Mail Stop 2024, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–2024. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720–2707. Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS— OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690– 2388 or at ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Livestock Slaughter Survey. OMB Control Number: 0535–0005. Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2020. Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved information collection for a period of three years. Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service DATES: E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM 08MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 90 (Friday, May 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27354-27355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09834]



[[Page 27354]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021]


Bayer/Monsanto; Availability of Petition for Determination of 
Nonregulated Status of Maize Genetically Engineered for Dicamba, 
Glufosinate, Quizalofop, and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Tolerance 
With Tissue-Specific Glyphosate Tolerance Facilitating the Production 
of Hybrid Maize Seed

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 Bayer/Monsanto 
seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize genetically 
engineered for dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, and 2,4-
dichlorophenoxyacetic acid tolerance with tissue-specific glyphosate 
tolerance facilitating the production of hybrid maize 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 petition available for review and 
comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated 
economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be 
considered in our evaluation of the petition.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
7, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0021.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021, 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-2020-0021 
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) 7997039 before coming.
    The petition is also available on the APHIS website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/permits-notifications-petitions/petitions/petition-status under APHIS petition 19-316-01p.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (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 19-316-01p) 
from Bayer/Monsanto, seeking a determination of nonregulated status 
maize genetically engineered for dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, and 
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid tolerance with tissue-specific 
glyphosate tolerance facilitating the production of hybrid maize seed. 
The Bayer/Monsanto petition states that the 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.
    Data were 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 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

[[Page 27355]]

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 4th day of May 2020.
Michael Watson,
 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-09834 Filed 5-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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