[Federal Register: June 21, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 33226]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn01-28]
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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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[[Page 33226]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 01-024-1]
Availability of Environmental Assessment for Field Release of
Genetically Engineered Pink Bollworm
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment
has been prepared for a proposed confined release into the environment
of pink bollworm genetically engineered to express green fluorescence
as a marker. The purpose of the release is to develop a marked strain
of pink bollworm for performance studies in the pink bollworm sterile
insect program. This environmental assessment is available to the
public for review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive by July 23, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Please send four copies (an original and three copies) of
your comments to: Docket No. 01-024-1, Regulatory Analysis and
Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 01-024-1.
You may read a copy of the environmental assessment and any
comments we receive on this notice of availability 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. To be sure that someone is there to help you, please call
(202) 690-2817 before coming.
APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert I. Rose, Biotechnology
Assessments Section, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale,
MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8723. To obtain a copy of the environmental
assessment, contact Ms. Kay Peterson at (301) 734-4885; e-mail:
kay.peterson@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 (referred
to as the regulations) regulate the introduction (importation,
interstate movement, and release into the environment) of genetically
engineered organisms and products that are plant pests or that there is
reason to believe are plant pests (regulated articles). A permit must
be obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article
may be introduced into the United States. The regulations set forth the
permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the
importation, interstate movement, and release into the environment of a
regulated article.
On January 29, 2001, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 01-029-01r) from
APHIS' Plant Protection Center in Phoenix, AZ, for a permit to release
the plant pest pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora
gossypiella(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The subject PBW has been
genetically engineered to express an enhanced green fluorescent protein
(EGFP) derived from the jellyfish Aequora victoria. The PBW expressing
EGFP fluoreses when viewed under an ultraviolet light source. A
piggyBac transposable element derived from the plant pest cabbage
looper (Trichoplusia ni) was used to transform the subject PBW, and
expression of the EGFP is controlled through use of the Drosophila
melanogaster hsp70 and Bombyx mori actin A3 promoters. The subject
transgenic PBW is considered a regulated article under the regulations
in 7 CFR part 340 because the recipient organism is a plant pest and
because it contains gene sequences from a plant pest. The proposed
field test will be conducted under carefully controlled and confined
conditions.
The transgenic PBW with EGFP as a marker has been developed for use
in confined on site experimentation and field performance studies in
the PBW sterile insect program, which is designed to depress PBW
populations. The transgenic PBW will be reared in the Phoenix PBW
genetic rearing facility, sterilized with radiation, and placed in
escape-proof screen field cages near the facility, where they will
undergo a series of fitness and related tests.
To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk
associated with the proposed release of the transgenicEGFP PBW, an
environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared. The EA was 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
ImplementingProcedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of June 2001.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-15604 Filed 6-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U