9156 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / Notices

Docket No. 96–098–1, Regulatory

Analysis and Development, PPD,

APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road

Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.

Please state that your comments refer to

Docket No. 96–098–1. A copy of the

petition and any comments received

may be inspected at USDA, room 1141,

South Building, 14th Street and

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and

4:30p.m., Monday through Friday,

except holidays. Persons wishing access

to that room to inspect the petition or

comments are asked to call in advance

of visiting at (202) 690–2817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Ved Malik, BSS, PPQ, APHIS, Suite

5B05, 4700 River Road Unit 147,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 734–

7612. To obtain a copy of the petition,

contact Ms. Kay Peterson at (301) 734–

7612; e-mail:

mkpeterson@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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

determination of nonregulated status

must take and the information that must

be included in the petition.

On January 8, 1997, APHIS received

a petition (APHIS Petition No. 97–008–

01p) from Dupont Agricultural Products

(Dupont) of Wilmington, DE, requesting

a determination of nonregulated status

under 7 CFR part 340 for high oleic acid

soybean sublines G94–1, G94–19, and

G168 (sublines G94–1, G94–19, and

G168) derived from transformation

event 260–05. The Dupont petition

states that the subject soybean sublines

should not be regulated by APHIS

because they do not present a plant pest

risk.

As described in the petition, sublines

G94–1, G94–19, and G168 have been

genetically engineered to contain the

GmFad 2–1 gene, which causes a

coordinate silencing of itself and the

endogenous GmFad 2–1 gene.

Suppression of the GmFad 2–1 gene in

developing soybeans prevents the

addition of a second double bond to

oleic acid, resulting in a greatly

increased oleic acid content only in the

seed. The resulting oil contains an

abundance of monosaturated oleic acid

(82–85%), a reduced concentration of

polysaturated fatty acids, and lower

palmitic acid content. While the subject

soybean sublines also contain the GUS

and Amp marker genes, tests indicate

that these genes are not expressed in the

transgenic soybean plants. The added

genes were introduced into meristems of

the elite soybean line A2396 by the

particle bombardment method, and their

expression is controlled in part by gene

sequences derived from the plant

pathogens Agrobacterium tumefaciens

and cauliflower mosaic virus.

Dupont’s soybean sublines G94–1,

G94–19, and G168 are currently

considered regulated articles under the

regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because

they contain gene sequences derived

from plant pathogenic sources. The

subject soybean sublines have been

evaluated in field trials conducted since

1995 under APHIS notifications. In the

process of reviewing these notifications

for field trials, APHIS determined that

the vectors and other elements were

disarmed and that the trials, which were

conducted under conditions of

reproductive and physical containment

or isolation, would not present a risk of

plant pest introduction or

dissemination.

In the Federal Plant Pest Act, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 150aa et seq.), ‘‘plant

pest’’ is defined as ‘‘any living stage of:

Any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs,

snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate

animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic

plants or reproductive parts thereof,

viruses, or any organisms similar to or

allied with any of the foregoing, or any

infectious substances, which can

directly or indirectly injure or cause

disease or damage in any plants or parts

thereof, or any processed, manufactured

or other products of plants.’’ APHIS

views this definition very broadly. The

definition covers direct or indirect

injury, disease, or damage not just to

agricultural crops, but also to plants in

general, for example, native species, as

well as to organisms that may be

beneficial to plants, for example,

honeybees, rhizobia, etc.

The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) published a statement of policy

on foods derived from new plant

varieties in the Federal Register on May

29, 1992 (57 FR 22984–23005). The FDA

statement of policy includes a

discussion of the FDA’s authority for

ensuring food safety under the Federal

Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.

201 et seq.), and provides guidance to

industry on the scientific considerations

associated with the development of

foods derived from new plant varieties,

including those plants developed

through the techniques of genetic

engineering. Dupont has begun the

consultative process with FDA on the

subject soybean sublines.

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 Determination of

Nonregulated Status from any interested

person for a period of 60 days from the

date of this notice. The petition and any

comments received are available for

public review, and copies of the petition

may be ordered (see the ADDRESSES

section of this notice).

After the comment period closes,

APHIS will review the data submitted

by the petitioner, all written comments

received during the comment period,

and any other relevant information.

Based on the available information,

APHIS will furnish a response to the

petitioner, either approving the petition

in whole or in part, or denying the

petition. APHIS will then publish a

notice in the Federal Register

announcing the regulatory status of

Dupont’s high oleic acid soybean

sublines G94–1, G94–19, and G168

derived from transformation event 260–

05 and the availability of APHIS’

written decision.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150aa–150jj, 151–167,

and 1622n; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80,

and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of

February 1997.

Terry L. Medley,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 97–5023 Filed 2–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

Forest Service

Central Zone Noxious Weed Control

Project; Idaho Panhandle National

Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone

Counties, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement.

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will

prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to disclose the potential
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / Notices 9157

environmental effects of noxious weed

treatment on the Fernan and Wallace

Districts (Central Zone). Treatment sites

would be at various locations across the

zone and are within the Coeur d’ Alene

Basin Ecosystem, Wallace and Fernan

Ranger Districts, Idaho Panhandle

National Forests, Kootenai and

Shoshone Counties, Idaho.

The proposed action to control

populations of noxious and undesirable

weeds is designed to prevent the spread

of these weeds and promote the

retention and health of native and/or

desirable plants within this ecosystem.

The proposed action would use an

integrated pest management approach to

control weeds. This approach includes

mechanical, biological, cultural, and

chemical control. Most treatment sites

are located near or along forest roads,

trails, or recreation sites.

The major species considered for

control include spotted knapweed

(Centaurea maculosa), orange

hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum),

meadow hawkweed (Hieracium

pratense), dalmation toadflax (Linaria

dalmatica), Canada thistle (Cirsium

arvense), common St. Johnswort

(Hypercium perforatum), hound’s

tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), rush

skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea), leafy

spurge (Euphorbia esula) and purple

loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Other

species may include common tansy

(Tanacetum vulgare), diffuse knapweed

(Centaurea diffusa), yellow toadflax

(Linaria vulgaris), ox-eye daisy

(Chrysanthemum leucanthemum),

sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta),

Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare),

Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens),

musk thistle (Carduus nutans), and bull

thistle (Cirsium vulgare). New invader

species which are unknown at this time

to occur on the zone would be a high

priority for control.

This project-level EIS will tier to the

Idaho Panhandle National Forests Land

and Resource Management Plan (Forest

Plan) (USDA Forest Service, Idaho

Panhandle National Forests, September

1987), and references the Idaho

Panhandle National Forests Weed Pest

Management EIS, (USDA Forest Service,

Idaho Panhandle National Forests,

October 1989); the Bonners Ferry Ranger

District Noxious Weed Management

Project Final EIS (USDA Forest Service,

Idaho Panhandle National Forests,

September 1995), the Priest Lake

Noxious Weed Control Final EIS (USDA

Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle

National Forests, 1997) and the St. Joe

Noxious Weed Draft EIS (USDA Forest

Service, Idaho Panhandle National

Forests, 1996).

DATES: Written comments and

suggestions should be received no later

than April 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

and suggestions on the proposed

management activities or requests to be

placed on the project mailing list to

Kristen Philbrook, Project Leader,

Fernan Ranger District, 2502 E. Sherman

Ave., Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kristen Philbrook, EIS Team Leader,

Fernan Ranger Station, (208) 769–3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

primary purposes for weed control are

as follows:

(1) Prevent or limit the spread of

noxious weeds that displace native

vegetation in the Coeur d’ Alene

ecosystem;

(2) Eliminate new invaders before

they become established;

(3) Prevent or limit the spread of

weeds into areas containing little or no

infestation in order to promote the

retention and health of native and/or

desirable species;

(4) Reduce weed seed sources along

travel routes;

(5) Comply with Federal and State

laws regulating management of noxious

weeds.

Approximately 60 treatment sites

have been identified across the Wallace

and Fernan Ranger Districts. Infestations

that are discovered would be treated

within the scope of the Final EIS and

Record of Decision. The Forest Plan

provides guidance for management

activities within the potentially affected

areas through its goals, objectives,

standards and guidelines, and

management-area direction. The Forest

Plan directs that forest pests be managed

by an integrated pest management

approach. The decisions to be made are

what action, if any, should be taken to

control weeds in the Coeur d’ Alene

Ecosystem, where treatment should be

applied, and what types of treatment(s)

should be used.

The Forest Service will consider a

range of alternatives. One of these will

be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which

none of the proposed treatment

activities would be implemented.

Additional alternatives will represent

the range of control methods currently

available for treatment of weeds.

Public participation in an important

part of the analysis and will play an

important role in developing the

alternatives. The mailing list for public

scoping will be developed from

responses to this NOI, and to a Scoping

Notice sent out to interested

individuals, organizations and agencies.

In addition, the public is encouraged to

visit with Forest Service officials during

the analysis and prior to the decision.

The Forest Service will also be seeking

information, comments, and assistance

from Federal, State, and local agencies

and other individuals or organizations

who may be interested in or affected by

the proposed actions. Comments from

the public and other agencies will be

used in preparation of the Draft EIS.

The draft environmental impact

statement is expected to be filed with

the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) and available for public review in

June, 1997, At that time, the EPA will

publish a Notice of Availability of the

draft environmental impact statement in

the Federal Register. The comment

period on the draft environmental

impact statement will be 45 days from

the date the Environmental Protection

Agency publishes the notice of

availability in the Federal Register.

The Forest Service believes, at this

early stage, it is important to give

reviewers notice of several court rulings

related to public participation in the

environmental review process. First,

reviewers of draft environmental impact

statements must structure their

participation in the environmental

review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the

reviewer’s position and contentions

(Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.

v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)).

Also, environmental objections that

could be raised at the draft

environmental statement stage but that

are not raised until after completion of

the final environmental statement may

be waived or dismissed by the courts

(City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,

1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin

Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.

1334, 2338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important

that those interested in this proposed

action participate by the close of the 45-

day scoping comment period so that

substantive comments and objections

are made available to the Forest Service

at a time when it can meaningfully

consider them and respond to them in

the final environmental impact

statement.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns regarding the proposed action,

comments on the draft environmental

impact statement should be specific as

possible. It is also helpful if comments

refer to specific pages or chapters of the

draft statement. Comments may also

address the adequacy of the draft

environmental impact statement or the

merits of the alternatives formulated

and discussed in the statement.

Reviewers may wish to refer to the
9158 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / Notices

Council on Environmental Quality

Regulations for implementing the

procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR

1503.3 in addressing these points.

I am the responsible official for this

environmental impact statement. My

address is Fernan Ranger District, 2502

E. Sherman Ave. Coeur d’ Alene, ID

83814.

Dated: February 18, 1997.

Susan Matthews,

District Ranger.

[FR Doc. 97–4979 Filed 2–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List Additions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Additions to the Procurement

List.

SUMMARY: This action adds to the

Procurement List commodities and a

service to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403,

1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–3461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June

28, 1996 and January 7, 1997, the

Committee for Purchase From People

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

published notices (60 FR 33711 and 61

FR 964) of proposed additions to the

Procurement List.

After consideration of the material

presented to it concerning capability of

qualified nonprofit agencies to provide

the commodities and service and impact

of the addition on the current or most

recent contractors, the Committee has

determined that the commodities and

service listed below are suitable for

procurement by the Federal Government

under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–

2.4.

I certify that the following action will

not have a significant impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The major factors considered for this

certification were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

commodities and service to the

Government.

2. The action will not have a severe

economic impact on current contractors

for the commodities and service.

3. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

commodities and service to the

Government.

4. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the commodities and

service proposed for addition to the

Procurement List.

Accordingly, the following

commodities and service are hereby

added to the Procurement List:

Commodities

Stand, Office Machine

7110–01–136–1563

7110–00–601–9835

7110–00–601–9849

(Requirements for GSA Zone 1 only)

Service

Temporary Administrative/General Support

Services for GSA Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

8, 9, 10 and National Capitol Region

(Up to 50% of the Government’s

requirement)

This action does not affect current

contracts awarded prior to the effective

date of this addition or options that may

be exercised under those contracts.

Beverly L. Milkman,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 97–5044 Filed 2–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6353–01–P

Committee for Purchase From People

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Procurement List; Proposed Additions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed Additions to

Procurement List.

SUMMARY: The Committee has received

proposals to add to the Procurement List

services to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities.

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR

BEFORE: March 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403,

1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–3461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is published pursuant to 41

U.S.C. 47(a) (2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its

purpose is to provide interested persons

an opportunity to submit comments on

the possible impact of the proposed

actions.

If the Committee approves the

proposed additions, all entities of the

Federal Government (except as

otherwise indicated) will be required to

procure the services listed below from

nonprofit agencies employing persons

who are blind or have other severe

disabilities. I certify that the following

action will not have a significant impact

on a substantial number of small

entities. The major factors considered

for this certification were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

services to the Government.

2. The action does not appear to have

a severe economic impact on current

contractors for the services.

3. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

services to the Government.

4. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the services proposed

for addition to the Procurement List.

Comments on this certification are

invited. Commenters should identify the

statement(s) underlying the certification

on which they are providing additional

information.

The following services have been

proposed for addition to Procurement

List for production by the nonprofit

agencies listed:

Janitorial/Custodial, Buildings 2186, 5115

and 5324, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

NPA: Progressive Directions, Inc., Clarksville,

Tennessee

Library Services

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota

NPA: Minot Vocational Adjustment

Workshop, Inc., Minot, North Dakota

Mail and Messenger Service

Naval Facilities Engineering Command,

Southern Division, Charleston, South

Carolina

NPA: Goodwill Industries of Lower South

Carolina, Inc., Charleston, South

Carolina

Mailroom Operation

U.S. Customs Indianapolis Center, 6026

Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis,

Indiana

NPA: Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana,

Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana