82 FR 57426 - Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Cotton Genetically Engineered for Ultra-Low Gossypol Levels in the Cottonseed
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 232 (December 5, 2017)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 232 (December 5, 2017)
| Page Range | 57426-57427 | |
| FR Document | 2017-26155 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 57426-57427] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-26155] [[Page 57426]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS-2017-0097] Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Availability of Petition for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Cotton Genetically Engineered for Ultra-Low Gossypol Levels in the Cottonseed AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeking a determination of nonregulated status of cotton designated as event TAM66274, which has been genetically engineered for ultra-low gossypol levels in the cottonseed. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are making the Texas A&M AgriLife Research petition available for review and comment to help us identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 5, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0097. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2017-0097, 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-2017- 0097 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. The petition is also available on the APHIS Web site at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/petitions_table_pending.shtml under APHIS petition 17-292-01p. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Turner, Director, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3954, email: [email protected]. To obtain copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851-3892, email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the plant pest provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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 (GE) organisms and products are considered ``regulated articles.'' The regulations in Sec. 340.6(a) provide that any person may submit a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of Sec. 340.6 describe the form that a petition for a determination of nonregulated status must take and the information that must be included in the petition. APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 17-292-01p) from Texas A&M AgriLife Research of College Station, TX (Texas A&M), seeking a determination of nonregulated status of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) designated as event TAM66274, which has been genetically engineered for ultra-low gossypol levels in the cottonseed. The Texas A&M petition states that information collected during field trials and laboratory analyses indicates that TAM66274 cotton is not likely to be a plant pest and therefore should not be a regulated article under APHIS' regulations in 7 CFR part 340. As described in the petition, TAM66274 cotton was developed through agrobacterium-mediated transformation of G. hirsutum cotton tissues from non-transgenic cultivar (cv.) Coker 312 using plasmid pART27- LCT66. TAM66274 cotton is currently regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Interstate movements and field tests of TAM66274 cotton have been conducted under notifications acknowledged by APHIS. Field tests conducted under APHIS oversight allowed for evaluation in a natural agricultural setting while imposing measures to minimize the likelihood of persistence in the environment after completion of the tests. Data are gathered on multiple parameters and used by the applicant to evaluate agronomic characteristics and product performance. These and other data are used by APHIS to determine if the new variety poses a plant pest risk. Paragraph (d) of Sec. 340.6 provides that APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register providing 60 days for public comment for petitions for a determination of nonregulated status. On March 6, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 13258-13260, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0129) a notice \1\ describing our process for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms. In that notice we indicated that APHIS would accept written comments regarding a petition once APHIS deemed it complete. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ To view the notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0129. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with Sec. 340.6(d) of the regulations and our process for soliciting public input when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms, we are publishing this notice to inform the public that APHIS will accept written comments regarding the petition for a determination of nonregulated status from interested or affected persons for a period of 60 days from the date of this notice. The petition is available for public review and comment, and copies are available as indicated under ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above. We are interested in receiving comments regarding potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. We are particularly interested in receiving comments regarding biological, cultural, or ecological issues, and we encourage the submission of scientific data, studies, or research to support your comments. After the comment period closes, APHIS will review all written comments received during the comment period and any other relevant information. Any substantive issues identified by APHIS based on our review of the petition and [[Page 57427]] our evaluation and analysis of comments will be considered in the development of our decisionmaking documents. As part of our decisionmaking process regarding a GE organism's regulatory status, APHIS prepares a plant pest risk assessment to assess its plant pest risk and the appropriate environmental documentation--either an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS)--in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to provide the Agency with a review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the petition request. For petitions for which APHIS prepares an EA, APHIS will follow our published process for soliciting public comment (see footnote 1) and publish a separate notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of APHIS' EA and plant pest risk assessment. Should APHIS determine that an EIS is necessary, APHIS will complete the NEPA EIS process in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508) and APHIS' NEPA implementing regulations (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 29th day of November 2017. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2017-26155 Filed 12-4-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
![57426 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/ TAM66274 cotton have been conducted
petitions_table_pending.shtml under under notifications acknowledged by
Animal and Plant Health Inspection APHIS petition 17–292–01p. APHIS.
Service FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Field tests conducted under APHIS
[Docket No. APHIS–2017–0097] John Turner, Director, Environmental oversight allowed for evaluation in a
Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology natural agricultural setting while
Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River imposing measures to minimize the
Availability of Petition for Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737– likelihood of persistence in the
Determination of Nonregulated Status 1236; (301) 851–3954, email: environment after completion of the
of Cotton Genetically Engineered for john.t.turner@aphis.usda.gov. To obtain tests. Data are gathered on multiple
Ultra-Low Gossypol Levels in the copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy parameters and used by the applicant to
Cottonseed Eck at (301) 851–3892, email: evaluate agronomic characteristics and
cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. product performance. These and other
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health data are used by APHIS to determine if
Inspection Service, USDA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the authority of the plant pest the new variety poses a plant pest risk.
ACTION: Notice. Paragraph (d) of § 340.6 provides that
provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7
APHIS will publish a notice in the
SUMMARY: We are advising the public U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the regulations in
Federal Register providing 60 days for
that the Animal and Plant Health 7 CFR part 340, ‘‘Introduction of
public comment for petitions for a
Inspection Service has received a Organisms and Products Altered or
determination of nonregulated status.
petition from Texas A&M AgriLife Produced Through Genetic Engineering
On March 6, 2012, we published in the
Research seeking a determination of Which Are Plant Pests or Which There
Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260,
nonregulated status of cotton designated Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests,’’
Docket No. APHIS–2011–0129) a
as event TAM66274, which has been regulate, among other things, the
notice 1 describing our process for
genetically engineered for ultra-low introduction (importation, interstate
soliciting public comment when
gossypol levels in the cottonseed. The movement, or release into the
considering petitions for determinations
petition has been submitted in environment) of organisms and products
of nonregulated status for GE organisms.
accordance with our regulations altered or produced through genetic
In that notice we indicated that APHIS
concerning the introduction of certain engineering that are plant pests or that
would accept written comments
genetically engineered organisms and there is reason to believe are plant pests.
regarding a petition once APHIS
products. We are making the Texas Such genetically engineered (GE)
deemed it complete.
A&M AgriLife Research petition organisms and products are considered In accordance with § 340.6(d) of the
available for review and comment to ‘‘regulated articles.’’ regulations and our process for
help us identify potential environmental The regulations in § 340.6(a) provide
soliciting public input when
and interrelated economic issues and that any person may submit a petition
considering petitions for determinations
impacts that the Animal and Plant to the Animal and Plant Health
of nonregulated status for GE organisms,
Health Inspection Service may Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a
we are publishing this notice to inform
determine should be considered in our determination that an article should not
the public that APHIS will accept
evaluation of the petition. be regulated under 7 CFR part 340.
written comments regarding the petition
DATES: We will consider all comments Paragraphs (b) and (c) of § 340.6
for a determination of nonregulated
that we receive on or before February 5, describe the form that a petition for a
status from interested or affected
2018. determination of nonregulated status
persons for a period of 60 days from the
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments must take and the information that must
date of this notice. The petition is
by either of the following methods: be included in the petition.
available for public review and
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to APHIS has received a petition (APHIS
comment, and copies are available as
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Petition Number 17–292–01p) from
indicated under ADDRESSES and FOR
Detail;D=APHIS-2017-0097. Texas A&M AgriLife Research of College
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Station, TX (Texas A&M), seeking a
We are interested in receiving
Send your comment to Docket No. determination of nonregulated status of
comments regarding potential
APHIS–2017–0097, Regulatory Analysis cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) designated
environmental and interrelated
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station as event TAM66274, which has been
economic issues and impacts that
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, genetically engineered for ultra-low
APHIS may determine should be
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. gossypol levels in the cottonseed. The
considered in our evaluation of the
Supporting documents and any Texas A&M petition states that
petition. We are particularly interested
comments we receive on this docket information collected during field trials
in receiving comments regarding
may be viewed at http:// and laboratory analyses indicates that
biological, cultural, or ecological issues,
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= TAM66274 cotton is not likely to be a
and we encourage the submission of
APHIS-2017-0097 or in our reading plant pest and therefore should not be
scientific data, studies, or research to
room, which is located in Room 1141 of a regulated article under APHIS’
support your comments.
the USDA South Building, 14th Street regulations in 7 CFR part 340. After the comment period closes,
and Independence Avenue SW., As described in the petition,
APHIS will review all written comments
TAM66274 cotton was developed
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Washington, DC. Normal reading room received during the comment period
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through agrobacterium-mediated
and any other relevant information. Any
through Friday, except holidays. To be transformation of G. hirsutum cotton
substantive issues identified by APHIS
sure someone is there to help you, tissues from non-transgenic cultivar
based on our review of the petition and
please call (202) 799–7039 before (cv.) Coker 312 using plasmid pART27–
coming. LCT66. TAM66274 cotton is currently 1 To view the notice, go to http://
The petition is also available on the regulated under 7 CFR part 340. www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
APHIS Web site at: http:// Interstate movements and field tests of 2011-0129.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices 57427
our evaluation and analysis of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Work on Advisory Memorandum
comments will be considered in the Barbara Delaviez, at ero@usccr.gov or by • Vote on Memorandum, if ready
development of our decisionmaking phone at 202–376–7533. • Open Comment
documents. As part of our SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested • Adjourn
decisionmaking process regarding a GE members of the public may listen to the Dated: November 30, 2017.
organism’s regulatory status, APHIS discussion by calling the following toll- David Mussatt,
prepares a plant pest risk assessment to free conference call-in number: 1–888– Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
assess its plant pest risk and the 438–5448 and conference call 3640132.
appropriate environmental [FR Doc. 2017–26134 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am]
Please be advised that before placing
documentation—either an them into the conference call, the BILLING CODE P
environmental assessment (EA) or an conference call operator will ask callers
environmental impact statement (EIS)— to provide their names, their
in accordance with the National organizational affiliations (if any), and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to email addresses (so that callers may be
provide the Agency with a review and notified of future meetings). Callers can Foreign-Trade Zones Board
analysis of any potential environmental expect to incur charges for calls they [S–152–2017]
impacts associated with the petition initiate over wireless lines, and the
request. For petitions for which APHIS Commission will not refund any Approval of Expansion of Subzone
prepares an EA, APHIS will follow our incurred charges. Callers will incur no 214A; Consolidated Diesel Company,
published process for soliciting public charge for calls they initiate over land- Enfield, North Carolina
comment (see footnote 1) and publish a line connections to the toll-free
separate notice in the Federal Register conference call-in number. On September 26, 2017, the Executive
announcing the availability of APHIS’ Persons with hearing impairments Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones
EA and plant pest risk assessment. may also follow the discussion by first (FTZ) Board docketed an application
Should APHIS determine that an EIS calling the Federal Relay Service at 1– submitted by the North Carolina
is necessary, APHIS will complete the 800–977–8339 and providing the Department of Transportation, grantee
NEPA EIS process in accordance with operator with the toll-free conference of FTZ 214, requesting the expansion of
Council on Environmental Quality call-in number: 1–888–438–5448 and Subzone 214A subject to the existing
regulations (40 CFR part 1500–1508) conference call 3640132. activation limit of FTZ 214, on behalf of
and APHIS’ NEPA implementing Members of the public are invited to Consolidated Diesel Company, in
regulations (7 CFR part 372). make statements during the open Enfield, North Carolina.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– comment period of the meeting or The application was processed in
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and submit written comments. The accordance with the FTZ Act and
371.3. comments must be received in the Regulations, including notice in the
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of regional office approximately 30 days Federal Register inviting public
November 2017. after each scheduled meeting. Written comment (82 FR 46036, October 3,
Kevin Shea, comments may be mailed to the Eastern 2017). The FTZ staff examiner reviewed
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Regional Office, U.S. Commission on the application and determined that it
Inspection Service. Civil Rights, 1331 Pennsylvania meets the criteria for approval. Pursuant
[FR Doc. 2017–26155 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am] Avenue, Suite 1150, Washington, DC to the authority delegated to the FTZ
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 20425, faxed to (202) 376–7548, or Board Executive Secretary (15 CFR Sec.
emailed to Evelyn Bohor at ero@ 400.36(f)), the application to expand
usccr.gov. Persons who desire Subzone 214A and to remove existing
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS additional information may contact the Site 3 was approved on November 28,
Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376– 2017, subject to the FTZ Act and the
Notice of Public Meeting of the 7533. Board’s regulations, including Section
Connecticut Advisory Committee Records and documents discussed 400.13, and further subject to FTZ 214’s
during the meeting will be available for 2,000-acre activation limit.
AGENCY: Commission on Civil Rights. public viewing as they become available Dated: November 29, 2017.
ACTION: Announcement of meeting. at https://database.faca.gov/committee/
Andrew McGilvray,
meetings.aspx?cid=239; click the
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, Executive Secretary.
pursuant to the provisions of the rules ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’
links. Records generated from this [FR Doc. 2017–26166 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am]
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission), and the meeting may also be inspected and BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
Federal Advisory Committee Act reproduced at the Eastern Regional
(FACA), that a meeting of the Office, as they become available, both
before and after the meetings. Persons DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Connecticut Advisory Committee to the
Commission will convene by conference interested in the work of this advisory International Trade Administration
call at 12:00 p.m. (EST) on: Wednesday, committee are advised to go to the
December 20, 2017. The purpose of the Commission’s Web site, www.usccr.gov, [A–570–977, C–570–978]
meeting is to review and approve (vote) or to contact the Eastern Regional Office
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
at the above phone numbers, email or High Pressure Steel Cylinders From
on the Advisory Memorandum on the People’s Republic of China:
Solitary Confinement. street address.
Continuation of Antidumping Duty and
DATES: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Agenda Countervailing Duty Orders
at 12:00 p.m. (EST).
Public call-in information: Conference Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 12 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance,
call-in number: 1–888–438–5448 and p.m. (EST) International Trade Administration,
conference call 3640132. • Open—Roll Call Department of Commerce.
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Document Created: 2017-12-04 23:44:40
Document Modified: 2017-12-04 23:44:40
| 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. | |
| Dates | We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 5, 2018. | |
| Contact | Dr. John Turner, Director, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3954, email: [email protected] To obtain copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851-3892, email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 57426 |
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