Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 21, 2000 / Notices 38495

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.

Further, the regulations in § 340.6(e)(2)

provide that a person may request that

APHIS extend a determination of

nonregulated status to other organisms.

Such a request must include

information to establish the similarity of

the antecedent organism and the

regulated article in question.

Background

On January 11, 2000, APHIS received

a request for an extension of a

determination of nonregulated status

(APHIS No. 00–11–01p) from Monsanto

Company (Monsanto) of St. Louis, MO,

for a corn line designated as Roundup

Ready corn line NK603 (NK603),

which has been genetically engineered

for tolerance to the herbicide

glyphosate. The Monsanto request seeks

an extension of a determination of

nonregulated status issued for Roundup

Ready corn line GA21 (GA21) in

response to APHIS petition number 97–

099–01p (62 FR 64350–64351,

December 5, 1997, Docket No. 97–052–

2). Based on the similarity of NK603 to

GA21, the antecedent organism,

Monsanto requests a determination that

glyphosate-tolerant corn line NK603

does not present a plant pest risk and,

therefore, is not a regulated article

under APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part

340.

Analysis

Like the antecedent organism, corn

line NK603 has been genetically

engineered to contain an enzyme, 5-

enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate

synthase (EPSPS), that imparts tolerance

to the herbicide glyphosate. However,

corn was the source of the EPSPS

enzyme in the antecedent organism,

while the EPSPS enzyme in NK603 was

derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain

CP4. The subject corn line and the

antecedent organism were developed

through use of the particle acceleration

method, and expression of the added

genes in NK603 and the antecedent

organism is controlled in part by gene

sequences derived from the plant

pathogen A. tumefaciens.

Corn line NK603 and the antecedent

organism were genetically engineered

using the same transformation method

and contain a functionally equivalent

enzyme that makes the plants tolerant to

the herbicide glyphosate. Accordingly,

we have determined that corn line

NK603 is similar to the antecedent

organism in APHIS petition number 97–

099–01p, and we are proposing that this

line should no longer be regulated

under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340.

The subject corn line has been

considered a regulated article under

APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340

because it contains gene sequences

derived from plant pathogens. However,

evaluation of field data reports from

field tests of NK603 conducted under

APHIS notifications since 1997

indicates that there were no deleterious

effects on plants, nontarget organisms,

or the environment as a result of its

environmental release.

Should APHIS approve Monsanto’s

request for an extension of a

determination of nonregulated status,

corn line NK603 would no longer be

considered a regulated article under

APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340.

Therefore, the requirements pertaining

to regulated articles under those

regulations would no longer apply to

the field testing, importation, or

interstate movement of the subject corn

line or its progeny.

National Environmental Policy Act

An environmental assessment (EA)

has been prepared to examine any

potential environmental impacts

associated with this proposed extension

of a determination of nonregulated

status. 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

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part

372). Copies of Monsanto’s extension

request and the EA are available upon

request from the individual listed under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of

June 2000.

Craig A. Reed,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15622 Filed 6–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–U

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Notice of Request for Extension of a

Currently Approved Information

Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with

Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice

announces the Foreign Agricultural

Service’s intention to request an

extension for a currently approved

information collection in support of the

regulations governing the entry of rawcane sugar under the tariff rate quota

(TRQ) into the United States.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by August 21, 2000 to be

assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Mail or deliver comments to James D.

Grueff, Assistant Deputy Administrator,

International Trade Policy and Acting

Division Director, Import Policies and

Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Stop 1021, Washington, DC 20250–

1021. For further information, contact

Mr. Grueff at telephone number (202)

720–4055.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Certificate of Quota Eligibility

OMB NUMBER: 0551–0014.

Expiration date of approval:

November 30, 2000.

Type of Request: Extension and

revision of a currently approved

information collection.

Abstract: The Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States (HTS)

authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture

to establish the quantity of raw-cane

sugar which may be entered at the inquota duty rates of the TRQ. The terms

under which Certificates of Quota

Eligibility will be issued to foreign

countries that have been allocated a

share of the TRQ are set forth in 15 CFR

part 2011, Subpart A, Allocation of

Tariff-rate Quota on Imported Sugars,

Syrups, and Molasses. The authority for

Certificates of Quota Eligibility is

additional U.S. note 5(b)(iv) to chapter

17 of the HTS.

The regulation, promulgated by the

U.S. Trade Representative, provides for

the issuance of Certificates of Quota

Eligibility by the Secretary of

Agriculture, and in general prohibits

sugar subject to the TRQ from being

imported into the United States or

withdrawn from a warehouse for

consumption at the in-quota rates unless

38496 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 21, 2000 / Notices

such sugar is accompanied by a

Certificate of Quota Eligibility.

Certificates of Quota Eligibility are

issued to foreign countries by the

Licensing Authority who is the

Assistant Deputy Administrator,

International Trade Policy, Foreign

Agricultural Service, United States

Department of Agriculture, or his or her

designee. The issuance of Certificates of

Quota Eligibility is in such amounts and

at such times as the Secretary

determines are appropriate to enable the

foreign country to fill its quota

allocation for such quota period in a

reasonable manner, taking into account

traditional shipping patterns, harvesting

period, U.S. import requirements, and

other relevant factors.

The information required to be

collected on the Certificate of Quota

Eligibility is used to monitor and

control the imports of sugar. Proper

completion of the Certificate of Quota

Eligibility is mandatory for those foreign

governments that are eligible and elect

to export raw sugar to the United States

under the provisions of the tariff-rate

quota.

Estimate of burden: The public

reporting burden for these collections

vary in direct relation to the number of

Certificates of Quota Eligibility issued.

Respondents: Foreign governments.

Estimated number of respondents: 40

per annum.

Estimated number of responses per

respondent: 30 per annum.

Estimated total annual burden of

respondents: 200 hours.

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Kimberly Chisley,

the Agency Information Collection

Coordinator, at (202) 720–2568.

Request for Comments: Send

comments regarding (a) Whether the

proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on those who are to respond, including

through the use of automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent to James D.

Grueff, Assistant Deputy Administrator,

International Trade Policy and Acting

Division Director, Import Policies

Division, Foreign Agricultural Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop

1021, Washington D.C. 20250–1021. All

responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments will

also become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, D.C. on June 14,

2000.

Timothy J. Galvin,

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15624 Filed 6–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Information Collection; Request for

Comments; Annual Wildfire Summary

Report

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the

Forest Service announces its intention

to reinstate a previously approved

information collection with a change.

Two forms are authorized under OMB

number 0596–0025: FS–3100–8, Annual

Wildfire Summary Report, for which

OMB authorization expired April 30,

1996, and FS–3200–6, Cooperative

Forestry Accomplishment Report, for

which authorization expired October 31,

1999. The agency requests reinstatement

of FS–3100–8 and will retire FS–3200–

6.

The information collected using FS–

3100–8, Annual Wildfire Summary

Report, will enable the Forest Service to

provide timely, substantive information

to Congress about the effectiveness of

State and local fire fighting agencies,

when the agency requests annual

funding for the Forest Service State and

Private Forestry Cooperative Fire

Program. This Program supplements the

funding of State and local fire fighting

efforts.

State fire marshals will use FS–3100–

8 to collect information from their State

and local fire agencies in response to a

request for this information from the

Forest Service.

DATES: Comments must be received in

writing on or before August 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be

addressed to Roger Condie, State and

Private Forestry Deputy Area, Forest

Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090,

Washington, D.C. 20090–6090.

Comments also may be submitted via

facsimile to (202) 205–1174 or by email

to: rcondie@fs.fed.us.

The public may inspect comments

received at the Office of the Deputy

Chief, State and Private Forestry, Forest

Service, USDA, 2nd Floor NW, Yates

Building, 201 14th Street S.W.,

Washington D.C. Visitors are urged to

call ahead to facilitate entrance into the

building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Roger Condie, State and Private

Forestry, 202–205–1037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Cooperative Forestry Assistance

Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 (note) Sec.

10) requires the Forest Service to collect

information about wildfire suppression

efforts by State and local fire fighting

agencies in order to support specific

congressional funding requests for the

Forest Service State and Private Forestry

Cooperative Fire Program. The Program

provides supplemental funding for State

and local fire fighting agencies. The

Forest Service works cooperatively with

State and local fire fighting agencies to

support their fire suppression efforts.

State and local fire agencies, such as

the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program,

are the first line of defense against fires

that might spread to National Forest

System lands.

State fire marshals use FS–3100–8,

Annual Wildfire Summary Report, to

collect this information for the Forest

Service. The Forest Service is requesting

authorization to reinstate this form

under OMB number 0596–0025. This

form expired April 30, 1996.

A second form was authorized under

OMB number 0596–0025; the form, FS–

3200–6, Cooperative Forestry and

Accomplishment Report, expired

October 31, 1999. This form is no longer

used and the Forest Service will retire

FS–3200–6.

The Forest Service would be unable to

assess the effectiveness of the State and

Private Forestry Cooperative Fire

Program if the information using FS–

3100–8 were not collected.

Description of Information Collection

The following describes the

information collection to be reinstated

with change:

Title: FS–3100–8, Annual Wildfire

Summary Report.

OMB Number: 0596–0025.

Date of Expiration: April 30, 1996.

Type of Request: Reinstatement of an

information collection, with change,

that was previously approved by the

Office of Management and Budget.

Abstract: Forest Service State and

Private Forestry Cooperative Fire

Program managers will evaluate the

collected information to determine if the

Cooperative Fire Program funds,