Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service August 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn designated as transformation event MON 88017, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to a corn rootworm complex and for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. In accordance with those regulations, we are soliciting public comments on whether this corn presents a plant pest risk. We are also making available for public comment an environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a field trial of genetically engineered strains of an endophytic fungus of perennial ryegrass, Neotyphodium sp. isolate Lp1. The fungi have been genetically engineered to disrupt the ergovaline synthesis pathway. This environmental assessment is available for public review and comment.

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of swine by adding Florida to the list of validated brucellosis-free States. The interim rule was based on our determination that Florida meets the criteria for classification as a validated brucellosis-free State. That action relieved certain restrictions on the interstate movement of breeding swine from Florida.