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

5130 

Vol. 86, No. 11 

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 

1Although this final rule (termed the SECURE 

rule) published revisions to 7 CFR part 340 with 

phased effective dates beginning August 17, 2020 

(https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fedregister/BRS_

2020518.pdf), the SECURE rule stated that the 

petition evaluation process found in the previous 

regulations would continue to be used for a period 

of time following that August 17, 2020 effective 

date. This product was evaluated in accordance 

with that process. 

2On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the 

Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. 

APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our public 

review process for soliciting public comments and 

information when considering petitions for 

determinations of nonregulated status for organisms 

developed using genetic engineering. To view the 

notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket

Detail;D=APHIS-2011-0129. 3To view the notice, the petition, supporting 

documents, and the comments we received, go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D

=APHIS-2019-0050. 4See footnote 3. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2019–0050] 

Monsanto Company; Determination of 

Nonregulated Status for Insect 

Resistant Cotton 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public of 

our determination that the cotton event 

designated as MON 88702, which has 

been genetically engineered for 

resistance to certain insects, primarily 

Lygus spp., is no longer considered 

regulated under our regulations 

governing the introduction of certain 

genetically engineered organisms. Our 

determination is based on evaluation of 

information Monsanto Company 

submitted in its petition for a 

determination of nonregulated status, 

our analyses, and public comments 

received in response to previous notices 

announcing the availability of the 

petition for nonregulated status and our 

associated environmental assessment 

and plant pest risk assessment. This 

notice also announces the availability of 

our written determination and finding 

of no significant impact. 

DATES: This change in regulatory status 

will be recognized January 19, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may read the 

documents referenced in this notice and 

the comments we received at http://

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0050, or 

in our reading room 1620 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 are also 

available on the APHIS website at 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ 

ourfocus/biotechnology/permitsnotifications-petitions/petitions/ 

petition-status. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Cindy Eck, Biotechnology Regulatory 

Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 

147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 

851–3892; email: cynthia.a.eck@

usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

authority of the plant pest provisions of 

the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C. 

7701 et seq.), the regulations in 7 CFR 

part 340, regulate, among other things, 

the introduction (importation, interstate 

movement, or release into the 

environment) of organisms and products 

modified or produced through genetic 

engineering that are plant pests or that 

there is reason to believe are plant pests. 

Pursuant to the terms set forth in a 

final rule published in the Federal 

Register on May 18, 2020 (85 FR 29790– 

29838, Docket No. APHIS–2018–0034),1

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. 

APHIS received a petition (APHIS 

Petition Number 19–091–01p) from 

Monsanto Company (Monsanto) on May 

28, 2019, seeking a determination of 

nonregulated status for a cotton event 

designated as MON 88702, which has 

been genetically engineered for 

resistance to certain insects, primarily 

Lygus spp. The Monsanto petition stated 

that this cotton is unlikely to pose a 

plant pest risk and, therefore, should 

not be regulated under APHIS’ 

regulations in 7 CFR part 340. 

According to our process 2 for 

soliciting public comment when 

considering petitions for determination 

of nonregulated status of organisms 

developed using genetic engineering, 

APHIS accepts written comments 

regarding a petition once APHIS deems 

it complete. On September 26, 2019, 

APHIS published a notice 3 in the 

Federal Register (84 FR 50818–50819, 

Docket No. APHIS–2019–0050) 

announcing the availability of the 

Monsanto petition for public comment. 

Thirty-five comments were received. 

Fifteen comments from the agricultural, 

academic, and private sector were in 

support of Monsanto’s petition. 

Fourteen comments from individuals 

were opposed to approval of Monsanto’s 

petition. Six comments provided input 

on analyses to be considered in the 

environmental assessment (EA), or 

comments on insect-resistant crops in 

general. APHIS evaluated the issues 

raised during the initial comment 

period and, where appropriate, 

incorporated a discussion of them 

within a draft EA. 

A second opportunity for public 

involvement was provided on October 

16, 2020, with a notice 4 published in 

the Federal Register (85 FR 65789– 

65790, Docket No. APHIS–2019–0050) 

announcing the availability of the draft 

EA and draft plant pest risk assessment 

(PPRA) for public review and comment. 

That comment period closed November 

16, 2020. APHIS received 14 comments. 

Most were supportive of Monsanto’s 

petition request; three were opposed. 

None of the comments identified new 

information or data regarding the draft 

EA or draft PPRA. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

After reviewing and evaluating the 

comments received during the comment 

period on the draft EA, draft PPRA, and 

other information, APHIS has prepared 

a final EA, which provides the public 

with documentation of APHIS’ review 

and analysis of any potential 

environmental impacts associated with 

the determination of nonregulated status 

of MON 88702 cotton. The EA was 

prepared in accordance with: (1) the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices 5131 

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). Based on our EA, the response to 

public comments, and other pertinent 

scientific data, APHIS has reached a 

finding of no significant impact (FONSI) 

with regard to the preferred alternative 

identified in the EA (to make a 

determination of nonregulated status of 

MON 88702 cotton). 

Determination 

Based on APHIS’ analysis of field and 

laboratory data submitted by Monsanto, 

references provided in the petition, 

peer-reviewed publications, information 

analyzed in the EA, the PPRA, the 

public comments, and information 

provided in APHIS’ response to those 

public comments, APHIS has 

determined that MON 88702 cotton is 

unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and 

therefore is no longer subject to our 

regulations governing the introduction 

of certain organisms developed using 

genetic engineering. 

Copies of the signed determination 

document, PPRA, final EA, and FONSI, 

as well as the previously published 

petition and supporting documents, are 

available as indicated under ADDRESSES

and from the person listed under the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section in this notice. 

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 12th day of 

January 2021. 

Michael Watson, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00956 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Agenda and Notice of Public Meetings 

of the Nebraska Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Commission on Civil Rights. 

ACTION: Announcement of public 

meetings. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 

and regulations of the U.S. Commission 

on Civil Rights (Commission), and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) that the Nebraska State 

Advisory Committee to the Commission 

will hold virtual meetings on Monday, 

February 22, 2021 from 10:00 a.m.– 

11:00 a.m. (CT); Monday, March 1, 2021 

from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. (CT); and 

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 from 10:00 

a.m.–11:00 a.m. (CT). The purpose of 

these meetings is to review and approve 

the Committee’s draft report to the 

Commission on the use of Native 

American symbols, names, and imagery 

in school mascots. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Melissa Wojnaroski at mwojnaroski@

usccr.gov, or by phone at (202) 618– 

4158. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Meeting Access: These meetings will 

be held on: 

• Monday, February 22, 2021, at 10:00 

a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CT) 

Æ Join online (audio/visual): https://

tinyurl.com/y3h8xdo3 

Æ Join by phone (audio only): 800– 

360–9505; Access code: 199 004 

6752 

• Monday, March 1, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. 

to 10:00 a.m. (CT) 

Æ Join online (audio/visual): https://

tinyurl.com/y6ctrto5 

Æ Join by phone (audio only): 800– 

360–9505; Access code: 199 073 

3890 

• Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 10:00 

a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CT) 

Æ Join online (audio/visual): https://

tinyurl.com/y6xucvps 

Æ Join by phone (audio only): 800– 

360–9505; Access code: 199 518 

6743 

These meetings are available to the 

public through the registration links 

above. If joining only via phone, callers 

can expect to incur charges for calls 

they initiate over wireless lines, 

according to their wireless plans. The 

Commission will not refund any 

incurred charges. Individuals who are 

deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing may 

also follow the proceedings by first 

calling the Federal Relay Service at 1– 

800–877–8339 and providing the 

Service with the call-in number found 

through registering at the web link 

provided for each meeting. 

Members of the public are entitled to 

make comments during the open period 

at the end of each meeting. Members of 

the public may also submit written 

comments; the comments must be 

received in the Regional Programs Unit 

within 30 days following the respective 

meeting. Written comments may be 

emailed to Melissa Wojnaroski at 

mojnaroski@usccr.gov. Persons who 

desire additional information may 

contact the Regional Programs Unit at 

(202) 618–4158. Records and documents 

discussed during the meeting will be 

available for public viewing as they 

become available at 

www.facadatabase.gov. Persons 

interested in the work of this advisory 

committee are advised to go to the 

Commission’s website, www.usccr.gov, 

or to contact the Regional Programs Unit 

at the above phone number or email 

address. 

Agenda: Monday, February 22, 2021 

from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (CT); 

Monday, March 1, 2021 from 9:00 a.m.– 

10:00 a.m.; (CT) and Wednesday, March 

10, 2021 from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. 

(CT). 

I. Welcome and Roll Call 

II. Announcements and Updates 

III. Approval of Minutes 

IV. Discussion of draft report 

V. Public Comment 

VI. Next Steps 

VII. Adjournment 

Dated: January 13, 2021. 

David Mussatt, 

Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01057 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6335–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Office of the Under Secretary for 

Economic Affairs 

Request for Comments for the 

Advisory Committee on Data for 

Evidence Building 

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary 

for Economic Affairs, Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Foundations for 

Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 

2018 requires federal agencies to 

modernize their data management 

practices to develop and support 

evidence-based policymaking. The Act 

requires the Director of the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), or the 

head of an agency designated by the 

Director, to establish the Advisory 

Committee on Data for Evidence 

Building (Advisory Committee). In a 

letter dated September 3, 2019, OMB 

delegated managerial and administrative 

responsibility for this Federal advisory 

committee to the Department of 

Commerce Office of Under Secretary for 

Economic Affairs (OUSEA). 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

Tuesday, February 9, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Docket ID—EAB– 

2021–0001–0001. 

• By email directly to Evidence@

bea.gov. Begin with the phrase 


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