Bayer; Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and a Draft Plant Risk Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Maize Developed Using Genetic Engineering for Dicamba, Glufosinate, Quizalofop, and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Resistance, With Tissue-Specific Glyphosate Resistance Facilitating the Production of Hybrid Maize Seed, 20424-20425 [2024-06050]
Download as PDF
20424
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 2024 / Notices
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2020–0021]
Bayer; Availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement and a
Draft Plant Risk Assessment for
Determination of Nonregulated Status
for Maize Developed Using Genetic
Engineering for Dicamba, Glufosinate,
Quizalofop, and 2,4Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
Resistance, With Tissue-Specific
Glyphosate Resistance Facilitating the
Production of Hybrid Maize Seed
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) has
prepared a draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) and draft plant pest risk
assessment (PPRA) evaluating the
potential environmental impacts and
plant pest risk that may result from the
approval of a petition for nonregulated
status for maize developed using genetic
engineering for dicamba, glufosinate,
quizalofop, and 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic resistance with
tissue-specific glyphosate resistance
facilitating the production of hybrid
maize seed. We are making the draft EIS
and draft PPRA available for public
review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before May 6,
2024.
SUMMARY:
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–
2020–0021 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select the
Comment button in the list of
documents.
• 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
Regulations.gov or in our reading room,
which is located in room 1620 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.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:15 Mar 21, 2024
Jkt 262001
Mr.
Joseph Tangredi, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1236; phone (301) 851–4061; email:
joseph.tangredi@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Background
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, ‘‘Movement of
Organisms Modified or Produced
Through Genetic Engineering,’’ regulate,
among other things, the importation,
interstate movement, or release into the
environment of organisms modified or
produced through genetic engineering
that are plant pests or pose a plausible
plant pest risk.
The petition for nonregulated status
described in this notice is being
evaluated under the version of the
regulations effective at the time that it
was received. The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
issued a final rule, published in the
Federal Register on May 18, 2020 (85
FR 29790–29838, Docket No. APHIS–
2018–0034),1 revising 7 CFR part 340.
However, the final rule was
implemented in phases. The new
Regulatory Status Review (RSR) process,
which replaces the petition for
determination of nonregulated status
process, became effective on April 5,
2021, for corn, soybean, cotton, potato,
tomato, and alfalfa. The RSR process
became effective for all crops as of
October 1, 2021. However, ‘‘[u]ntil RSR
is available for a particular crop . . .
APHIS will continue to receive petitions
for determination of nonregulated status
for the crop in accordance with the
[legacy] regulations at 7 CFR 340.6’’ (85
FR 29815). This petition for a
determination of nonregulated status is
being evaluated in accordance with the
regulations at 7 CFR 340.6 (2020) as it
was received by APHIS on June 27,
2019.
Bayer submitted a petition (APHIS
Petition Number 19–316–01p) to APHIS
seeking a determination of nonregulated
status for a maize 2 (identified as MON
87429) that has been developed using
genetic engineering for dicamba,
glufosinate, quizalofop, and 2,41 To view the final rule, go to
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2018–0034
in the Search field.
2 Maize is the common botanical term used
globally for the cereal plant Zea mays. In the United
States, maize is also referred to as corn. Both terms
are used interchangeably in this document. For
consistency with the common plant name and
petition, APHIS uses the term maize, but also refers
to corn in certain instances, such as in reference to
food products.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
resistance with tissue-specific
glyphosate resistance facilitating the
production of hybrid maize seed. The
Bayer petition stated that MON 87429
maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest
risk and, therefore, should not be
regulated under APHIS’ regulations at 7
CFR part 340.
According to our process 3 for
soliciting public comment when
considering petitions for determination
of nonregulated status of regulated
organisms, APHIS accepts written
comments regarding a petition once
APHIS deems it complete. On May 8,
2020, APHIS announced the availability
of the Bayer petition for public
comment in the Federal Register 4 (85
FR 27354–27355, Docket No. APHIS–
2020–0021). APHIS solicited comments
on the petition for 60 days ending July
7, 2020, in order to help identify
potential environmental and
interrelated economic issues and
impacts that APHIS may determine
should be considered in our evaluation
of the petition. We received 4,112
comments by the close of the comment
period.
Based on comments received on the
petition and new information that
APHIS became aware of after our May
8, 2020, Federal Register publication,
we determined that an environmental
impact statement (EIS), as opposed to an
environmental assessment, was the
appropriate National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for the Bayer
petition. Specifically, APHIS became
aware of new information regarding
potential issues with dicamba spray
drift and volatilization and associated
potential economic impacts, and the
Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA) issuance of a cancellation order
on June 8, 2020, for three products
(Xtendimax with Vaporgrip Technology,
EPA Reg. No. 524–6 17, Engenia, EPA
Reg. No. 7969–345, and FeXapan, EPA
Reg. No. 352–9 13) that contain
dicamba. Additionally, on October 27,
2020, the EPA approved limited 5-year
registrations for two end-use dicamba
products and the extension of the
registration for one dicamba product
3 On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the
Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No.
APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our public
review process for soliciting public comments and
information when considering petitions for
determinations of nonregulated status for organisms
developed using genetic engineering. To view the
notice, go to www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–
2011–0129 in the Search field.
4 To view the notice, its supporting documents, or
the comments that we received, go to
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2020–0021
in the Search field.
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 2024 / Notices
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
(EPA Reg. Nos. 100–1623, 264–1210,
and 7969–472).
On April 28, 2021, APHIS published
a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal
Register (86 FR 22384–22386, Docket
No. APHIS–2020–0021), announcing
that as part of our evaluation of the
Bayer petition, we planned to prepare
an EIS to consider the potential impacts
of a determination of nonregulated
status for MON 87429 maize on the
human environment.5
APHIS solicited public comment for a
period of 30 days, ending May 28, 2021,
as part of its scoping process to identify
issues to address in the draft EIS. On
June 30, 2021, APHIS announced in the
Federal Register (86 FR 34714–34715,
Docket No. APHIS–2020–0021) that the
comment period was reopened for 30
days to allow interested persons
additional time to prepare and submit
comments until July 30, 2021. APHIS
received a total of 3,069 comments by
the end of the comment period.
Comments received were from the
agricultural industry, nongovernmental
organizations, Tribal governments, and
individuals. The most common topics
and issues of concern raised in the
comments received on the NOI for the
draft EIS included: The potential for
dicamba or 2,4–D drift to adversely
impact crops not resistant to these
herbicides, as well as adversely impact
wild plants and plants on residential
and commercial properties; the
potential economic impacts of herbicide
drift on crop and non-crop plants;
herbicide-resistant crops and their
influence on herbicide use; the potential
for development of weed resistance to
herbicides; potential effects of
pesticides on the soil microbiome,
pollinators, wildlife, biodiversity, and
endangered species; potential effects on
Tribal nations, including Tribal nation
corn production, indigenous corn
varieties, and food sovereignty; and
potential benefits of MON 87429 corn in
weed and herbicide resistant weed
management, and U.S. corn production.
APHIS evaluated all comments
received on the NOI in developing the
draft EIS. A summary of the comments
received and APHIS response to
5 The National Environmental Policy Act as
amended, and Council on Environmental Quality
NEPA implementing regulations at 40 CFR 1500–
1508 require Federal agencies to thoroughly assess
the potential environmental consequences of
federal actions on the ‘‘human environment’’.
Human environment means comprehensively the
natural and physical environment and the
relationship of present and future generations of
Americans with that environment. Impacts/effects
include ecological (such as effects on natural
resources, and on the components, structures, and
functioning of affected ecosystems), aesthetic,
historic, cultural, economic, social, or health effects
(see 40 CFR 1508.1).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:15 Mar 21, 2024
Jkt 262001
comments are provided in appendix 1 of
the draft EIS.
Because the introduced trait genes in
MON 87429 maize are involved in weed
management, and considering public
comments received on the NOI, the
primary topics of focus in the draft EIS,
in relation to potential impacts on the
human environment are: (1) Weed and
herbicide resistant weed management,
(2) herbicide use with MON 87429
maize, (3) the potential effects of
exposure to the introduced trait genes
and gene products on human health and
wildlife, (4) gene flow and potential
weediness of MON 87429 maize, and (5)
potential socioeconomic impacts.
The draft EIS has been prepared in
accordance with (1) The National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372). APHIS is making available the
draft EIS, as well as a draft plant pest
risk assessment (PPRA), for a 45-day
public review and comment period. The
draft EIS and draft PPRA are available
as indicated under ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
A notice of availability regarding the
draft EIS will also be published by the
Environmental Protection Agency in the
Federal Register.
Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of
March 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–06050 Filed 3–21–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Prince William Sound Resource
Advisory Committee
Forest Service, Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
The Prince William Sound
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)
will hold a public meeting according to
the details shown below. 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 (FACA). The
purpose of the committee is to improve
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20425
collaborative relationships and to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with Title II of
the Act as well as to make
recommendations on recreation fee
proposals for sites on the Chugach
National Forest within boroughs
associated with the Prince William
Sound RAC, consistent with the Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
DATES: An in person and virtual meeting
will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024,
at 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Alaska
daylight time (AKDT).
Written and Oral Comments: Anyone
wishing to provide in-person and/or
virtual oral comments must pre-register
by 5:00 p.m. AKDT on April 5, 2024.
Written public comments will be
accepted by 11:59 p.m. AKDT on April
6, 2024. Comments submitted after this
date will be provided to the Forest
Service, but the committee may not
have adequate time to consider those
comments prior to the meeting.
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: This meeting will be held
in-person and virtually at the Cordova
Ranger District, located at 612 Second
Street, Cordova, Alaska 99574. RAC
information and meeting details can be
found at the following website: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/
workingtogether/advisorycommittees/
?cid=fseprd1127267 or by contacting the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Written Comments: Written comments
must be sent by email to tanya.zastrow@
usda.gov or via mail (i.e., postmarked)
to Tanya Zastrow, P.O. Box 280,
Cordova, Alaska 99574. The Forest
Service strongly prefers comments be
submitted electronically.
Oral Comments: Persons or
organizations wishing to make oral
comments must pre-register by 11:59
p.m. AKDT, April 5, 2024, and speakers
can only register for one speaking slot.
Oral comments must be sent by email to
tanya.zastrow@usda.gov or via mail
(i.e., postmarked) to Tanya Zastrow,
P.O. Box 280, Cordova, Alaska 99574.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Namitz, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), by phone at 907–424–
4747 or email at steven.namitz@
usda.gov or Tanya Zastrow, RAC
Coordinator, at 907–424–4722 or email
at tanya.zastrow@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to:
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20424-20425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06050]
[[Page 20424]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021]
Bayer; Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and
a Draft Plant Risk Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status
for Maize Developed Using Genetic Engineering for Dicamba, Glufosinate,
Quizalofop, and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Resistance, With Tissue-
Specific Glyphosate Resistance Facilitating the Production of Hybrid
Maize Seed
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) and draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) evaluating
the potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk that may result
from the approval of a petition for nonregulated status for maize
developed using genetic engineering for dicamba, glufosinate,
quizalofop, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic resistance with tissue-
specific glyphosate resistance facilitating the production of hybrid
maize seed. We are making the draft EIS and draft PPRA available for
public review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May
6, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov.
Enter APHIS-2020-0021 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab,
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
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 Regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located in
room 1620 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Tangredi, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; phone (301) 851-4061; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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, ``Movement of Organisms Modified or Produced Through Genetic
Engineering,'' regulate, among other things, the importation,
interstate movement, or release into the environment of organisms
modified or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests
or pose a plausible plant pest risk.
The petition for nonregulated status described in this notice is
being evaluated under the version of the regulations effective at the
time that it was received. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) issued a final rule, published in the Federal Register
on May 18, 2020 (85 FR 29790-29838, Docket No. APHIS-2018-0034),\1\
revising 7 CFR part 340. However, the final rule was implemented in
phases. The new Regulatory Status Review (RSR) process, which replaces
the petition for determination of nonregulated status process, became
effective on April 5, 2021, for corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato,
and alfalfa. The RSR process became effective for all crops as of
October 1, 2021. However, ``[u]ntil RSR is available for a particular
crop . . . APHIS will continue to receive petitions for determination
of nonregulated status for the crop in accordance with the [legacy]
regulations at 7 CFR 340.6'' (85 FR 29815). This petition for a
determination of nonregulated status is being evaluated in accordance
with the regulations at 7 CFR 340.6 (2020) as it was received by APHIS
on June 27, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the final rule, go to www.regulations.gov and enter
APHIS-2018-0034 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bayer submitted a petition (APHIS Petition Number 19-316-01p) to
APHIS seeking a determination of nonregulated status for a maize \2\
(identified as MON 87429) that has been developed using genetic
engineering for dicamba, glufosinate, quizalofop, and 2,4-
dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) resistance with tissue-specific
glyphosate resistance facilitating the production of hybrid maize seed.
The Bayer petition stated that MON 87429 maize is unlikely to pose a
plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be regulated under APHIS'
regulations at 7 CFR part 340.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Maize is the common botanical term used globally for the
cereal plant Zea mays. In the United States, maize is also referred
to as corn. Both terms are used interchangeably in this document.
For consistency with the common plant name and petition, APHIS uses
the term maize, but also refers to corn in certain instances, such
as in reference to food products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to our process \3\ for soliciting public comment when
considering petitions for determination of nonregulated status of
regulated organisms, APHIS accepts written comments regarding a
petition once APHIS deems it complete. On May 8, 2020, APHIS announced
the availability of the Bayer petition for public comment in the
Federal Register \4\ (85 FR 27354-27355, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021).
APHIS solicited comments on the petition for 60 days ending July 7,
2020, in order to help identify potential environmental and
interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine
should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. We received
4,112 comments by the close of the comment period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the Federal Register
(77 FR 13258-13260, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0129) a notice describing
our public review process for soliciting public comments and
information when considering petitions for determinations of
nonregulated status for organisms developed using genetic
engineering. To view the notice, go to www.regulations.gov and enter
APHIS-2011-0129 in the Search field.
\4\ To view the notice, its supporting documents, or the
comments that we received, go to www.regulations.gov and enter
APHIS-2020-0021 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on comments received on the petition and new information that
APHIS became aware of after our May 8, 2020, Federal Register
publication, we determined that an environmental impact statement
(EIS), as opposed to an environmental assessment, was the appropriate
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for the Bayer
petition. Specifically, APHIS became aware of new information regarding
potential issues with dicamba spray drift and volatilization and
associated potential economic impacts, and the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) issuance of a cancellation order on June 8, 2020, for
three products (Xtendimax with Vaporgrip Technology, EPA Reg. No. 524-6
17, Engenia, EPA Reg. No. 7969-345, and FeXapan, EPA Reg. No. 352-9 13)
that contain dicamba. Additionally, on October 27, 2020, the EPA
approved limited 5-year registrations for two end-use dicamba products
and the extension of the registration for one dicamba product
[[Page 20425]]
(EPA Reg. Nos. 100-1623, 264-1210, and 7969-472).
On April 28, 2021, APHIS published a notice of intent (NOI) in the
Federal Register (86 FR 22384-22386, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021),
announcing that as part of our evaluation of the Bayer petition, we
planned to prepare an EIS to consider the potential impacts of a
determination of nonregulated status for MON 87429 maize on the human
environment.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The National Environmental Policy Act as amended, and
Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations at 40
CFR 1500-1508 require Federal agencies to thoroughly assess the
potential environmental consequences of federal actions on the
``human environment''. Human environment means comprehensively the
natural and physical environment and the relationship of present and
future generations of Americans with that environment. Impacts/
effects include ecological (such as effects on natural resources,
and on the components, structures, and functioning of affected
ecosystems), aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, or
health effects (see 40 CFR 1508.1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
APHIS solicited public comment for a period of 30 days, ending May
28, 2021, as part of its scoping process to identify issues to address
in the draft EIS. On June 30, 2021, APHIS announced in the Federal
Register (86 FR 34714-34715, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0021) that the
comment period was reopened for 30 days to allow interested persons
additional time to prepare and submit comments until July 30, 2021.
APHIS received a total of 3,069 comments by the end of the comment
period.
Comments received were from the agricultural industry,
nongovernmental organizations, Tribal governments, and individuals. The
most common topics and issues of concern raised in the comments
received on the NOI for the draft EIS included: The potential for
dicamba or 2,4-D drift to adversely impact crops not resistant to these
herbicides, as well as adversely impact wild plants and plants on
residential and commercial properties; the potential economic impacts
of herbicide drift on crop and non-crop plants; herbicide-resistant
crops and their influence on herbicide use; the potential for
development of weed resistance to herbicides; potential effects of
pesticides on the soil microbiome, pollinators, wildlife, biodiversity,
and endangered species; potential effects on Tribal nations, including
Tribal nation corn production, indigenous corn varieties, and food
sovereignty; and potential benefits of MON 87429 corn in weed and
herbicide resistant weed management, and U.S. corn production.
APHIS evaluated all comments received on the NOI in developing the
draft EIS. A summary of the comments received and APHIS response to
comments are provided in appendix 1 of the draft EIS.
Because the introduced trait genes in MON 87429 maize are involved
in weed management, and considering public comments received on the
NOI, the primary topics of focus in the draft EIS, in relation to
potential impacts on the human environment are: (1) Weed and herbicide
resistant weed management, (2) herbicide use with MON 87429 maize, (3)
the potential effects of exposure to the introduced trait genes and
gene products on human health and wildlife, (4) gene flow and potential
weediness of MON 87429 maize, and (5) potential socioeconomic impacts.
The draft EIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) The National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4)
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). APHIS is making
available the draft EIS, as well as a draft plant pest risk assessment
(PPRA), for a 45-day public review and comment period. The draft EIS
and draft PPRA are available as indicated under ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
A notice of availability regarding the draft EIS will also be
published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal
Register.
Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of March 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06050 Filed 3-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P