81 FR 11738 - Environmental Impact Statement; Introduction of the Products of Biotechnology

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 44 (March 7, 2016)

Page Range		11738-11738
FR Document		2016-04992

We are extending the comment period for our notice of intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement in connection with potential changes to the regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically engineered organisms. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 44 (Monday, March 7, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 11738]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04992]


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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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 11738]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0054]


Environmental Impact Statement; Introduction of the Products of 
Biotechnology

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice of intent 
to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement in connection 
with potential changes to the regulations regarding the importation, 
interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically 
engineered organisms. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published on February 5, 2016 
(81 FR 6225-6229) is extended. We will consider all comments that we 
receive on or before April 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0054.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comments to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0054, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-
0054 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Sidney W. Abel, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 5, 2016, we published in the 
Federal Register (81 FR 6225-6229, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0054) a notice 
stating our decision to complete a programmatic environmental impact 
statement (EIS) in connection with proposed revisions and amendments to 
our biotechnology regulations under consideration. These proposed 
revisions primarily consist of amendments to the regulations pertaining 
to introductions of certain genetically engineered organisms to address 
advances in biotechnology and issues raised by stakeholders.
    The notice described the range of proposed reasonable alternatives 
that are currently under consideration for evaluation in the EIS and 
the issues that will be evaluated in the EIS, and requested public 
comment to further define the issues and scope of the EIS' 
alternatives. We also requested public comment to help us identify 
other environmental issues that should be examined in the EIS.
    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
March 7, 2016. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-
2014-0054 for an additional 45 days. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of March 2016.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04992 Filed 3-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

11738

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 81, No. 44

Monday, March 7, 2016

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER and Independence Avenue SW., DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
contains documents other than rules or Washington, DC. Normal reading room
proposed rules that are applicable to the hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday Animal and Plant Health Inspection
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Service
through Friday, except holidays. To be
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 799–7039 before Submission for OMB Review;
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are coming. Comment Request
examples of documents appearing in this March 1, 2016.
section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Sidney W. Abel, Assistant Deputy The Department of Agriculture has
Administrator, Biotechnology submitted the following information
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River collection requirement(s) to OMB for
Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– review and clearance under the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection 1236; (301) 851–3896. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Service Public Law 104–13. Comments are
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On requested regarding (1) whether the
[Docket No. APHIS–2014–0054]
February 5, 2016, we published in the collection of information is necessary
Environmental Impact Statement; Federal Register (81 FR 6225–6229, for the proper performance of the
Introduction of the Products of Docket No. APHIS–2014–0054) a notice functions of the agency, including
Biotechnology stating our decision to complete a whether the information will have
programmatic environmental impact practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health statement (EIS) in connection with agency’s estimate of burden including
Inspection Service, USDA. proposed revisions and amendments to the validity of the methodology and
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an our biotechnology regulations under assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
environmental impact statement; consideration. These proposed revisions the quality, utility and clarity of the
extension of comment period. primarily consist of amendments to the information to be collected; and (4)
SUMMARY: We are extending the regulations pertaining to introductions ways to minimize the burden of the
comment period for our notice of intent of certain genetically engineered collection of information on those who
to prepare a programmatic organisms to address advances in are to respond, including through the
environmental impact statement in biotechnology and issues raised by use of appropriate automated,
connection with potential changes to stakeholders. electronic, mechanical, or other
the regulations regarding the The notice described the range of technological collection techniques or
importation, interstate movement, and proposed reasonable alternatives that other forms of information technology.
environmental release of certain are currently under consideration for Comments regarding this information
genetically engineered organisms. This evaluation in the EIS and the issues that collection received by April 6, 2016 will
action will allow interested persons will be evaluated in the EIS, and be considered. Written comments
additional time to prepare and submit requested public comment to further should be addressed to: Desk Officer for
comments. define the issues and scope of the EIS’ Agriculture, Office of Information and
DATES: The comment period for the alternatives. We also requested public Regulatory Affairs, Office of
notice published on February 5, 2016 comment to help us identify other Management and Budget (OMB), New
(81 FR 6225–6229) is extended. We will environmental issues that should be Executive Office Building, 725—17th
consider all comments that we receive examined in the EIS. Street NW., Washington, DC 20502.
on or before April 21, 2016. Commenters are encouraged to submit
Comments on the notice were their comments to OMB via email to:
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments required to be received on or before
by either of the following methods: OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
March 7, 2016. We are extending the fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to comment period on Docket No. APHIS–
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
2014–0054 for an additional 45 days. Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
Detail;D=APHIS-2014-0054.
This action will allow interested 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comments to Docket No. persons additional time to prepare and be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.
APHIS–2014–0054, Regulatory Analysis submit comments. An agency may not conduct or
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of sponsor a collection of information
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, March 2016. unless the collection of information
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Michael C. Gregoire, displays a currently valid OMB control
Supporting documents and any Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant number and the agency informs
comments we receive on this docket Health Inspection Service. potential persons who are to respond to
may be viewed at http://www. [FR Doc. 2016–04992 Filed 3–4–16; 8:45 am]
the collection of information that such
regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= persons are not required to respond to
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
APHIS-2014-0054 or in our reading the collection of information unless it
room, which is located in Room 1141 of displays a currently valid OMB control
the USDA South Building, 14th Street number.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:37 Mar 04, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM 07MRN1

Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:08:16
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:08:16

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; extension of comment period.
Dates		The comment period for the notice published on February 5, 2016 (81 FR 6225-6229) is extended. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 21, 2016.
Contact		Mr. Sidney W. Abel, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3896.
FR Citation		81 FR 11738

81 FR 11738 - Environmental Impact Statement; Introduction of the Products of Biotechnology

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 44 (March 7, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service