82 FR 21790 - Bayer CropScience LP.; Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment, Plant Pest Risk Similarity Assessment, Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, and Preliminary Decision for an Extension of a Determination of Nonregulated Status of Canola Genetically Engineered for Male Sterility and Glufosinate-Ammonium Resistance

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 89 (May 10, 2017)

We are extending the comment period for our notice advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reached a preliminary decision to extend our determination of nonregulated status of InVigor[supreg] MS8 canola (hereinafter MS8 canola) to Bayer's canola event MS11 in response to a request from Bayer CropScience LP. MS11 canola has been genetically engineered for male sterility and resistance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium using the same mechanism of action as MS8 canola. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on our draft environmental assessment, preliminary regulatory determination, preliminary finding of no significant impact, and plant pest risk similarity assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21790-21791]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09499]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0015]


Bayer CropScience LP.; Availability of Draft Environmental 
Assessment, Plant Pest Risk Similarity Assessment, Preliminary Finding 
of No Significant Impact, and Preliminary Decision for an Extension of 
a Determination of Nonregulated Status of Canola Genetically Engineered 
for Male Sterility and Glufosinate-Ammonium Resistance

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice advising 
the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has 
reached a preliminary decision to extend our determination of 
nonregulated status of InVigor[supreg] MS8 canola (hereinafter MS8 
canola) to Bayer's canola event MS11 in response to a request from 
Bayer CropScience LP. MS11 canola has been genetically engineered for 
male sterility and resistance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium 
using the same mechanism of action as MS8 canola. This action will 
allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments 
on our draft environmental assessment, preliminary regulatory 
determination, preliminary finding of no significant impact, and plant 
pest risk similarity assessment for the proposed determination of 
nonregulated status.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published on April 12, 2017 
(82 FR 17625) is extended. We will consider all comments that we 
receive on or before May 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0015.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0015, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    The Bayer CropScience LP. extension request, our draft 
environmental assessment, plant pest risk similarity assessment, our 
preliminary finding of no significant impact, our preliminary 
determination, and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed 
at

[[Page 21791]]

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0015 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.
    Supporting documents and any comments we received regarding our 
determination of nonregulated status of the antecedent organism, MS8 
canola, may be inspected in our reading room. Supporting documents may 
also be found on the APHIS Web site for MS11 canola (the organism under 
evaluation) under APHIS Petition Number 16-235-01p.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Document Control 
Officer/Team Leader, Policy Coordination Programs, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (301) 851-3954, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 12, 2017, we published in the 
Federal Register (82 FR 17625-17626, Docket No. APHIS-2017-0015) a 
notice advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service has reached a preliminary decision to extend our determination 
of nonregulated status of InVigor[supreg] MS8 canola (hereinafter MS8 
canola) to Bayer's canola event MS11 in response to a request from 
Bayer CropScience LP. MS11 canola has been genetically engineered for 
male sterility and resistance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium 
using the same mechanism of action as MS8 canola. The notice also made 
available for public comment our draft environmental assessment, 
preliminary regulatory determination, preliminary finding of no 
significant impact, and plant pest risk similarity assessment for the 
proposed determination of nonregulated status.
    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
May 12, 2017. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-
2017-0015 for an additional 15 days. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    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 5th day of May 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09499 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P