Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2012 / Notices 7123 

These conditions will be listed in the 

Fruits and Vegetables Import 

Requirements database (available at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir). In 

addition to these specific measures, 

fresh pomegranate fruit from India will 

be subject to the general requirements 

listed in § 319.56–3 that are applicable 

to the importation of all fruits and 

vegetables. Further, for fruits and 

vegetables requiring treatment as a 

condition of entry, the phytosanitary 

treatments regulations in 7 CFR part 305 

contain administrative and procedural 

requirements that must be observed in 

connection with the application and 

certification of specific treatments. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and 

7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 

2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of 

February 2012. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3191 Filed 2–9–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2011–0130] 

ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an 

Environmental Assessment for 

Controlled Release of a Genetically 

Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid 

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 prepared an 

environmental assessment for a 

proposed controlled field release of a 

genetically engineered clone of a 

Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of the 

field release is to assess the 

effectiveness of gene constructs 

intended to confer cold tolerance, to test 

the efficacy of genes introduced to alter 

lignin biosynthesis, to test the efficacy 

of genes designed to alter growth, and 

to test the efficacy of genes designed to 

alter flowering. We are making the 

environmental assessment available to 

the public for review and comment. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before March 12, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/ 

#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0130- 

0001. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 

APHIS–2011–0130, 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-2011-0130 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) 690–2817 before 

coming. 

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. To obtain copies of the 

environmental assessment, contact Ms. 

Cynthia Eck at (301) 734–0667; email: 

cynthia.a.eck@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.’’ A permit must be obtained or 

a notification acknowledged before a 

regulated article may be introduced. The 

regulations set forth the permit 

application requirements and the 

notification procedures for the 

importation, interstate movement, or 

release in the environment of a 

regulated article. 

On February 21, 2011, the Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

received a permit application (APHIS 

No. 11–052–101rm) from ArborGen, 

LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a 

controlled field release of genetically 

engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in six 

locations encompassing a total of 14.7 

acres in the States of Alabama, Florida, 

Mississippi, and South Carolina. Five of 

these locations currently have active 

APHIS permits (08–011–106rm, 08– 

014–101rm, 09–070–10rm, 10–112– 

101r, and 11–041–101rm) for 

environmental release of genetically 

engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 

Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and 

South Carolina. The sixth site in South 

Carolina has been listed as a holding 

site for genetically engineered trees in 

previous APHIS permits and 

notifications and is a new location for 

the release of genetically engineered 

Eucalyptus. ArborGen is requesting that 

trees be allowed to flower at four 

locations in Alabama, Florida and 

Mississippi. At two locations in South 

Carolina, ArborGen has requested to 

release trees in containers and have 

indicated they will not allow these trees 

to flower at these locations. 

Permit application 11–052–101rm 

describes Eucalyptus trees derived from 

a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis × 

Eucalyptus urophylla. The purpose of 

the field tests is to assess the 

effectiveness of gene constructs 

intended to confer cold tolerance; to test 

the efficacy of genes introduced to alter 

lignin biosynthesis; to test the efficacy 

of genes designed to alter growth; and 

to test the efficacy of genes designed to 

alter flowering. In addition, the trees 

have been engineered with a selectable 

marker that confers resistance to the 

antibiotic kanamycin. These DNA 

sequences were introduced into 

Eucalyptus trees using disarmed 

Agrobacterium tumefaciens. 

The subject Eucalyptus trees are 

considered regulated articles under 7 

CFR part 340 because they were created 

using donor sequences from plant pests. 

To provide the public with 

documentation of APHIS’ review and 

analysis of any potential environmental 

impacts and plant pest risks associated 

with the proposed release under permit 

of these genetically engineered 

Eucalyptus trees, APHIS has prepared 

an environmental assessment (EA). 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). 

The EA may be viewed on the 

Regulations.gov Web site or in our 

reading room. (Instructions for accessing 

Regulations.gov and information on the 

location and hours of the reading room 

are provided under the heading 

ADDRESSES at the beginning of this 

notice.) In addition, copies may be 

obtained by calling or writing to the 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
7124 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2012 / Notices 

individual listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of 

February 2012. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3189 Filed 2–9–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0010] 

Information Sharing With Agency 

Stakeholders; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Request for information and 

notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: We are informing the public 

that the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) is soliciting 

feedback from our stakeholders in 

several areas having to do with our 

partnerships with businesses, academia, 

and other levels of government. We are 

also announcing that APHIS is hosting 

a public meeting to share information 

about the Agency’s budget, process 

improvement efforts, and modernization 

initiatives and to provide an 

opportunity for stakeholders to share 

their thoughts on partnerships and the 

Agency’s critical services. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

February 27, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

We will accept stakeholder feedback on 

the specific topics raised in this notice 

until March 23, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 

the Jefferson Auditorium at the USDA 

South Building, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Hallie Zimmers, Stakeholder Liaison, 

Legislative and Public Affairs, APHIS, 

Room 1153, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20250; phone 

(202) 720–0378. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 

currently undertaking a variety of efforts 

to transform itself into a customerfocused, high-performing organization. 

In this context, USDA’s Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

is focusing on ways to share timely 

information with its stakeholders and 

communicate the value APHIS places 

on our many and diverse stakeholder 

relationships. 

As part of a larger effort to enhance 

stakeholder communication, APHIS is 

hosting an open meeting with all 

interested stakeholders to talk about the 

Agency’s budget, process improvement 

efforts, and modernization initiatives 

and to provide stakeholders with an 

opportunity to share their thoughts on 

partnerships and the Agency’s critical 

services. While we welcome comments 

and feedback on all aspects of APHISstakeholder partnerships and the 

Agency’s critical services, we are 

particularly interested in our 

stakeholders’ thoughts on the topics 

discussed below. 

In this era of shrinking budgets, 

Federal Agencies are facing hard 

choices about the delivery of important 

services, and APHIS is no exception. 

Some decisions have already been made 

with respect to our programs, and we 

anticipate more difficult choices will be 

required in the future. This means that 

it will be more important than ever for 

APHIS to understand its stakeholders’ 

concerns and priorities. 

1. As we take stock of our current 

programs and services and consider 

where, if necessary, there should be 

strategic cuts or across-the-board 

reductions, we are interested in hearing 

from stakeholders about those APHIS 

activities you most value and where and 

how you think the Agency might make 

responsible changes. 

• In your opinion, what are the three 

to five most essential services APHIS 

provides and why? 

• Please share any feedback regarding 

how you feel we can best structure or 

provide these services. 

• When you or your members seek 

APHIS’ assistance, do you primarily rely 

on our local field offices, State offices, 

regional offices, research centers and 

field stations, or headquarters for 

support? Why? 

• As we continue to look at ways to 

improve our processes and enhance 

customer service, what 

recommendations do you have for 

specific efforts we could undertake in 

2012? 

2. Given limited resources, APHIS is 

seeking new ways to enhance existing 

partnerships and build new ones. 

• How might we strengthen current 

partnerships or collaborate in new ways 

to accomplish critical mission 

activities? 

• Do you see opportunities for 

APHIS, State governments, tribes, 

industry and academia to redefine 

traditional roles to find efficiencies or 

improvements in the way we 

collectively safeguard American 

agriculture? As best you can, please be 

specific or provide examples. 

3. Please provide any additional 

comments or feedback you would like to 

share with APHIS’ leadership, 

especially as it relates to how you like 

to see APHIS management communicate 

with you at the local, regional, and 

national level. Please be specific. 

You may submit your thoughts on 

these questions by sending them to the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT or by using the 

Web form provided on the APHIS 

stakeholder information Web site at 

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

stakeholders/. Responses may also be 

submitted via email to 

Partnerships@aphis.usda.gov. 

On-site registration will begin at noon 

on the day of the meeting. All 

participants must register. If you require 

special accommodations, such as a sign 

language interpreter, or if you have any 

questions regarding the meeting, please 

call or write the person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 

If you are unable to attend the 

meeting in person, it will be streamed 

on the Internet as a live Webcast. To 

view the Webcast, go to http:// 

www.aphis.usda.gov/stakeholders/ and 

follow the instructions to access the 

streaming video and audio in ‘‘listen 

only’’ mode. We recommend you 

connect at least 5 minutes prior to the 

start of the meeting. A recording of the 

Webcast will be posted to the APHIS 

stakeholder information page the 

following day, and a written transcript 

will be posted to the page as soon as it 

is available. 

Persons attending the February 27, 

2012, meeting in Washington, DC, will 

be required to sign in at the entrance to 

the USDA South Building located at 

14th Street and Independence Avenue, 

entering through Wing 7. Photo 

identification is required to gain access 

to the building. The nearest Metro 

station is the Smithsonian station on the 

Blue/Orange Lines, which is within easy 

walking distance. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of 

February 2012. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3186 Filed 2–9–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES