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.

Notices Federal Register

20623 

Vol. 76, No. 71 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2010–0040] 

Florigene Pty., Ltd.; Availability of 

Petition and Environmental 

Assessment for Determination of 

Nonregulated Status for Altered Color 

Roses 

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 Florigene Pty., Ltd., 

seeking a determination of nonregulated 

status for roses designated as IFD– 

524;1–4 and IFD–529;1–9, which have 

been genetically engineered to produce 

novel flower color. The petition has 

been submitted in accordance with our 

regulations concerning the introduction 

of certain genetically engineered 

organisms and products. In accordance 

with those regulations, we are soliciting 

comments on whether these genetically 

engineered roses are likely to pose a 

plant pest risk. We are also making 

available for public comment an 

environmental assessment for the 

proposed determination of nonregulated 

status. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before June 13, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/

component/main?main=DocketDetail&

d=APHIS–2010–0040 to submit or view 

comments and to view supporting and 

related materials available 

electronically. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Please send one copy of your comment 

to Docket No. APHIS–2010–0040, 

Regulatory Analysis and Development, 

PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 

River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 

20737–1238. Please state that your 

comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 

2010–0040. 

Reading Room: You may read any 

comments that we receive on this 

docket in our reading room. The reading 

room 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) 690–2817 before 

coming. 

Availability of Documents: The 

petition, draft environmental 

assessment, and plant pest risk 

assessment are on available on the 

Regulations.gov Web site (see link 

above) or on the APHIS Web site at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/

aphisdocs/08_31501p.pdf, http://www.

aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/08_

31501p_ea.pdf, and http://www.aphis.

usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/08_31501p_

pra.pdf. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Evan Chestnut, Policy Analyst, 

Biotechnology Regulatory Services, 

APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, 

Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 734– 

0942, e-mail: 

evan.a.chestnut@aphis.usda.gov. To 

obtain copies of the petition, draft 

environmental assessment, or plant pest 

risk assessment, contact Ms. Cindy Eck 

at (301) 734–0667, e-mail: 

cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

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 organisms and 

products are considered ‘‘regulated 

articles.’’ 

The regulations in § 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 § 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 08–315–01p) from 

Florigene Pty., Ltd. of Victoria, 

Australia, seeking a determination of 

nonregulated status for two hybrid rose 

lines designated as IFD–524;1–4 and 

IFD–529;1–9, which have been 

genetically engineered to produce novel 

flower color, stating that these rose lines 

are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk 

and, therefore, should not be regulated 

articles under APHIS’ regulations in 7 

CFR part 340. 

As described in the petition, the 

addition of genes from pansy and 

wishbone flower produces blue 

pigments in the rose lines, altering the 

flower color. Hybrid rose lines IFD– 

524;1–4 and IFD–529;1–9 are 

currently regulated under 7 CFR part 

340. Importation and testing of hybrid 

rose lines IFD–524;1–4 and IFD– 

529;1–9 have been conducted under 

permits issued or notifications 

acknowledged by APHIS. 

Trials conducted under APHIS 

oversight allowed for evaluation in a 

typical horticultural setting while 

imposing measures to minimize the risk 

of persistence in the environment after 

completion of the test. Data were 

gathered on multiple parameters and 

used by the applicant to evaluate 

phenotypic characteristics and product 

performance. These data are used by 

APHIS to determine if the new variety 

poses a plant pest risk. Florigene has 

petitioned APHIS to make a 

determination that hybrid rose lines 

IFD–524–1–4 and IFD–529–1–9 shall no 

longer be considered regulated articles 

under 7 CFR part 340. 

In section 403 of the Plant Protection 

Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), ‘‘plant pest’’ 

is defined as any living stage of any of 

the following that can directly or 

indirectly injure, cause damage to, or 

cause disease in any plant or plant 

product: A protozoan, a nonhuman 

animal, a parasitic plant, a bacterium, a 

fungus, a virus or viroid, an infectious 

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20624 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2011 / Notices 

agent or other pathogen, or any article 

similar to or allied with any of the 

foregoing. APHIS has prepared a plant 

pest risk assessment to determine if 

hybrid rose lines IFD–524;1–4 and 

IFD–529;1–9 are unlikely to pose a 

plant pest risk. 

APHIS has also prepared a draft 

environmental assessment (EA) in 

which it presents two alternatives based 

on its analyses of data submitted by 

Florigene, a review of other scientific 

data, and field tests conducted under 

APHIS oversight. APHIS is considering 

the following alternatives: (1) Take no 

action, i.e., APHIS would not change the 

regulatory status of hybrid rose lines 

IFD–524;1–4 and IFD–529;1–9 and 

they would continue to be regulated 

articles, or (2) grant nonregulated status 

to hybrid rose lines IFD–524;1–4 and 

IFD–529;1–9 in whole. 

The draft EA has been prepared to 

provide the APHIS decisionmaker with 

a review and analysis of any potential 

environmental impacts associated with 

the proposed determination of 

nonregulated status for hybrid rose lines 

IFD–524;1–4 and IFD–529;1–9. The 

draft 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 Implementing 

Procedures (7 CFR part 372). 

In accordance with § 340.6(d) of the 

regulations, 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. We are also 

soliciting written comments from 

interested or affected persons on the 

draft EA prepared to examine any 

potential environmental impacts of the 

proposed determination for the 

deregulation of the subject hybrid rose 

lines, and the plant pest risk 

assessment. The petition, draft EA, and 

plant pest risk assessment are available 

for public review, and copies of the 

petition, draft EA, and plant pest risk 

assessment are available as indicated 

under ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT above. 

After the comment period closes, 

APHIS will review all written comments 

received during the comment period 

and any other relevant information. All 

comments received regarding the 

petition, draft EA, and plant pest risk 

assessment will be available for public 

review. After reviewing and evaluating 

the comments on the petition, the draft 

EA, plant pest risk assessment, and 

other data, APHIS will furnish a 

response to the petitioner, either 

approving or denying the petition. 

APHIS will then publish a notice in the 

Federal Register announcing the 

regulatory status of hybrid rose lines 

IFD–524;1–4 and IFD–529;1–9 and the 

availability of APHIS’ written 

environmental decision and regulatory 

determination. 

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 7th day of 

April 2011. 

Gregory L. Parham, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–8775 Filed 4–12–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Central Montana Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Central Montana 

Resource Advisory Committee will meet 

in Stanford, Montana. The committee is 

meeting as authorized under the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community Self 

Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) 

and in compliance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act. The purpose 

is to hold the first meeting of the newly 

formed committee. 

DATES: The meeting will be held April 

29, 2011 and will begin at 7 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Judith Ranger District, located at 109 

Central Avenue, Stanford, MT. Written 

comments should be sent to Ron 

Wiseman, Lewis and Clark National 

Forest, 109 Central Avenue, Stanford, 

Montana 59479. Comments may also be 

sent via e-mail to rwiseman@fs.fed.us. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at Lewis and 

Clark National Forest, 109 Central 

Avenue, Stanford, Montana 59479. 

Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 

(406) 566–2292 to facilitate entry into 

the building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron 

Wiseman, Designated Federal Official, 

USDA, Lewis and Clark National Forest, 

109 Central Avenue, Stanford, MT 

59479; (406) 566–2292; E-mail 

rwiseman@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

(1) Introductions of all committee 

members, replacement members and 

Forest Service personnel; (2) Selection 

of a chairperson by the committee 

members; (3) Receive materials 

explaining the process for considering 

and recommending Title II projects; and 

(4) Public Comment. Persons who wish 

to bring related matters to the attention 

of the Committee may file written 

statements with the Committee staff 

before or after the meeting. 

Dated: April 7, 2011. 

Ronald B. Wiseman, 

Designated Federal Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2011–9006 Filed 4–12–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Oglethorpe Power Corporation: 

Proposed Biomass Power Plant 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement and 

Notice of Public Hearing. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), has 

prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) to meet its 

responsibilities under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 

CFR part 1794 related to possible 

financial assistance to Oglethorpe Power 

Corporation (Oglethorpe) for the 

construction of a 100 megawatt (MW) 

biomass plant and related facilities 

(Proposal) in Warren County, Georgia. 

The purpose of the Proposal is to 

provide a reliable, long-term supply of 

renewable and sustainable energy at a 

reasonable cost to meet part of the 

electric energy needs of Oglethorpe’s 

members. Oglethorpe may request 

financial assistance in the future from 

the RUS for the Proposal. 

DATES: Written comments on the Draft 

EIS must be received on or before May 

31, 2011. RUS will conduct a public 

meeting May 5, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

at the Warren County Community 

Service Building, located at: 48 Warren 

Street, Warrenton, Georgia 30828. The 

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