82 FR 31548 - Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 129 (July 7, 2017)

Page Range		31548-31548
FR Document		2017-14345

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact and will issue a permit for the field release of diamondback moths that have been genetically engineered for repressible female lethality, also known as female autocide. Based on its finding of no significant impact, APHIS has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 31548]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14345]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056]


Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered 
Diamondback Moths

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental 
assessment and finding of no significant impact and will issue a permit 
for the field release of diamondback moths that have been genetically 
engineered for repressible female lethality, also known as female 
autocide. Based on its finding of no significant impact, APHIS has 
determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chessa Huff-Woodard, Esq., Policy, 
Program and International Collaboration Chief, Biotechnology Regulatory 
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; 
(301) 851-3943, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 19, 2017, we published in the 
Federal Register (82 FR 18416-18417, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056) a 
notice \1\ in which we announced the availability, for public review 
and comment, of an environmental assessment (EA) that examined the 
potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed field 
release of diamondback moths that have been genetically engineered for 
repressible female lethality, also known as female autocide.
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    \1\ To view the notice, environmental assessment, finding of no 
significant impact, and the comments we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2014-0056.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending May 19, 2017. We 
received 670 comments by that date. Written responses to the comments 
we received on the EA can be found in the finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI).
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact regarding the field release of genetically 
engineered diamondback moths into the continental United States. The 
finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our determination that 
release of the genetically engineered diamondback moths will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Concurrent 
with this announcement, APHIS will issue a permit for the field release 
of the genetically engineered diamondback moth.
    The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public 
inspection at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect 
copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 799-7039 to facilitate 
entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by 
calling or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The EA and FONSI have 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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of June 2017.
Jere L. Dick,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14345 Filed 7-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

31548

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 129

Friday, July 7, 2017

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: repressible female lethality, also known
contains documents other than rules or Jessica Klein, acvfa@usaid.gov. as female autocide.
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Jessica Klein, We solicited comments on the EA for
committee meetings, agency decisions and Acting Executive Director, U.S. Agency for 30 days ending May 19, 2017. We
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of International Development. received 670 comments by that date.
petitions and applications and agency [FR Doc. 2017–14288 Filed 7–6–17; 8:45 am] Written responses to the comments we
statements of organization and functions are BILLING CODE P received on the EA can be found in the
examples of documents appearing in this finding of no significant impact
section.
(FONSI).
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE In this document, we are advising the
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL public of our finding of no significant
DEVELOPMENT Animal and Plant Health Inspection impact regarding the field release of
Service genetically engineered diamondback
Notice of July 19, 2017 Advisory [Docket No. APHIS–2014–0056] moths into the continental United
Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid States. The finding, which is based on
Meeting Availability of a Final Environmental the EA, reflects our determination that
Assessment and Finding of No release of the genetically engineered
AGENCY: United States Agency for Significant Impact for the Field Release
International Development. diamondback moths will not have a
of Genetically Engineered
significant impact on the quality of the
ACTION: Notice of meeting. Diamondback Moths
human environment. Concurrent with
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health this announcement, APHIS will issue a
Advisory Committee Act, notice is Inspection Service, USDA. permit for the field release of the
hereby given of a meeting of the ACTION: Notice of availability. genetically engineered diamondback
Advisory Committee on Voluntary moth.
Foreign Aid (ACVFA). SUMMARY: We are advising the public
The EA and FONSI may be viewed on
that the Animal and Plant Health
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Inspection Service (APHIS) has the Regulations.gov Web site (see
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m. prepared a final environmental footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI
Location: Horizon Ballroom, The Ronald assessment and finding of no significant are also available for public inspection
Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania impact and will issue a permit for the at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004. field release of diamondback moths that 14th Street and Independence Avenue
have been genetically engineered for SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m.
Purpose
repressible female lethality, also known and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
The Advisory Committee on as female autocide. Based on its finding except holidays. Persons wishing to
Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) brings of no significant impact, APHIS has inspect copies are requested to call
together USAID and private voluntary determined that an environmental ahead on (202) 799–7039 to facilitate
organization officials, representatives impact statement need not be prepared. entry into the reading room. In addition,
from universities, international FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. copies may be obtained by calling or
nongovernment organizations, U.S. Chessa Huff-Woodard, Esq., Policy, writing to the individual listed under
businesses, and government, Program and International Collaboration FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
multilateral, and private organizations Chief, Biotechnology Regulatory
to foster understanding, The EA and FONSI have been
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit prepared in accordance with: (1) The
communication, and cooperation in the 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301)
area of foreign aid. National Environmental Policy Act of
851–3943, email: chessa.d.huff- 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
Agenda woodard@aphis.usda.gov. 4321 et seq.); (2) regulations of the
USAID leadership will make opening SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April Council on Environmental Quality for
remarks, followed by a panel discussion 19, 2017, we published in the Federal implementing the procedural provisions
to explore possible approaches to Register (82 FR 18416–18417, Docket of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3)
reforming U.S. foreign assistance. The No. APHIS–2014–0056) a notice 1 in USDA regulations implementing NEPA
full meeting agenda will be forthcoming which we announced the availability, (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
on the ACVFA Web site at http:// for public review and comment, of an Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
environmental assessment (EA) that
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ 372).
organization/advisory-committee. examined the potential environmental
impacts associated with the proposed Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of
Stakeholders field release of diamondback moths that June 2017.
The meeting is free and open to the have been genetically engineered for Jere L. Dick,
public. Persons wishing to attend Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
1 To view the notice, environmental assessment,
should register online at http:// Health Inspection Service.
finding of no significant impact, and the comments
www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ [FR Doc. 2017–14345 Filed 7–6–17; 8:45 am]
we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
organization/advisory-committee. docket?D=APHIS-2014-0056. BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

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Document Created: 2017-07-07 02:20:19
Document Modified: 2017-07-07 02:20:19

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 availability.
Contact		Ms. Chessa Huff-Woodard, Esq., Policy, Program and International Collaboration Chief, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3943, email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 31548

82 FR 31548 - Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Field Release of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 129 (July 7, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service