[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33389-33390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13760]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0130]
ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for
Controlled Release of a Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a
proposed controlled field release of a genetically engineered clone of
a Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of the field release is to assess the
effectiveness of gene constructs intended to confer cold tolerance, to
test the efficacy of genes introduced to alter lignin biosynthesis, to
test the efficacy of genes designed to alter growth, and to test the
efficacy of genes designed to alter flowering. After assessing the
application for a permit for the field release, reviewing pertinent
scientific information, and considering comments from the public, we
have concluded that the field release is unlikely to pose a plant pest
risk or to have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. Based on the finding of no significant impact, the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field
release.
DATES: Effective Date: June 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may read the documents referenced in this notice and the
comments we received on the Regulations.gov Web site at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0130. The documents are
also available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/biotech_ea_permits.html. You may also view the documents and comments
we received in our reading room. The reading room 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David S. Reinhold, Assistant
Director, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236;
(301) 851-3885. To obtain copies of the environmental assessment,
finding of no significant impact, and responses to comments, contact
Ms. Cynthia Eck at (301) 851-3892; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 organisms and
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may
be introduced. The regulations set forth the permit application
requirements and the notification procedures for the importation,
interstate movement, or release in the environment of a regulated
article.
On February 21, 2011, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 11-052-101rm)
from ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release
of genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in six locations
encompassing a total of 14.7 acres in the States of Alabama, Florida,
Mississippi, and South Carolina.
Permit application 11-052-101rm describes Eucalyptus trees derived
from a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla. The purpose
of the field tests is to assess the effectiveness of gene constructs
intended to confer cold tolerance; to test the efficacy of genes
introduced to alter lignin biosynthesis; to test the efficacy of genes
designed to alter growth; and to test the efficacy of genes designed to
alter flowering. In addition, the trees have been engineered with a
selectable marker that confers resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin.
These DNA sequences were introduced into Eucalyptus trees using
disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
The subject Eucalyptus trees are considered regulated articles
under 7 CFR part 340 because they were created using donor sequences
from plant pests.
To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks
associated with the proposed release under permit of these genetically
engineered Eucalyptus trees, APHIS prepared an environmental assessment
(EA). APHIS announced the availability of the EA for public comment in
a notice published in the Federal Register on February 10, 2012 (77 FR
7123-7124, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0130). Comments on the EA were
required to be received on or before March 12, 2012. We received 246
comments by the close of the comment period. All expressed concerns
about the permit or opposed granting the permit. APHIS reviewed all
comments to identify new issues, alternatives, or information.
Pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection
Act, APHIS has determined that this field release is unlikely to pose a
risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest. Additionally, based
upon analysis described in the EA, APHIS has determined that the action
proposed in Alternative B of the EA--issue the permit with supplemental
permit conditions--is unlikely to have a
[[Page 33390]]
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The EA and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) are available as indicated in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Responses to the comments
received on the EA are provided as an attachment to the FONSI.
The EA and FONSI were 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).
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 31st day of May 2012.
Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13760 Filed 6-5-12; 8:45 am]
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