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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34637-34638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13685]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0042]

Dow AgroSciences LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for Determination of Nonregulated Status 
of Herbicide Resistant Corn and Soybeans, and Notice of Virtual Public 
Meetings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
extension of comment period and notice of virtual public meetings.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on environmental 
impacts that may result from the potential approval of petitions 
seeking a determination of nonregulated status of three cultivars of 
herbicide resistant corn and soybeans produced by Dow AgroSciences LLC. 
During the comment period, we are requesting public comments to further 
delineate the scope of the alternatives and environmental impacts and 
issues to be included in the EIS. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also 
announcing the dates of two virtual public meetings that we will be 
hosting to provide the public with additional opportunities to comment 
during the scoping period.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
17, 2013. Online virtual public meetings will be held June 26, 2013, 
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST and June 27, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0042-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0042, 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-2013-
0042 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) 7997039 before coming.
    Other Information: Details regarding the virtual public meetings, 
including how to participate, will be posted as they become available 
at http://www.aphisvirtualmeetings.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Stankiewicz Gabel, Branch 
Chief, Biotechnology Environmental Analysis Branch, Environmental Risk 
Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; (301) 851-3954. To obtain 
copies

[[Page 34638]]

of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851-3882, email: 
cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 16, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
published in the Federal Register (78 FR 28798-28800, Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0042) a notice stating our decision to complete an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for the potential determinations of nonregulated 
status of cultivars of corn and soybeans produced by Dow AgroSciences 
LLC that are resistant to certain broadleaf herbicides in the auxin 
growth regulator group (particularly the herbicide 2,4-D). The EIS will 
perform a comprehensive environmental analysis of the potential 
selection of 2,4-D resistant weeds and other potential environmental 
impacts that may occur as a result of making determinations of 
nonregulated status of these events.
    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
June 17, 2013. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0042 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also 
providing an opportunity to comment at two virtual public meetings 
during the comment period. Information on the virtual public meetings 
is available under DATES and ADDRESSES.
    All comments received during the scoping period will be carefully 
considered in developing the final scope of the EIS. Upon completion of 
the draft EIS, a notice announcing its availability and an opportunity 
to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register.

    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 5th day of June 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13685 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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