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[Federal Register: February 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 36)]
[Notices]               
[Page 8299-8300]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe10-29]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044]

 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Determination of Regulated 
Status of Alfalfa Genetically Engineered for Tolerance to the Herbicide 
Glyphosate

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period and rescheduled public 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice of 
availability of a draft environmental impact statement in connection 
with making a determination on the status of the Monsanto Company and 
Forage Genetics International alfalfa lines designated as events J101 
and J163 as regulated articles. This notice also provides notice that a 
public meeting scheduled for February 9, 2010, has been rescheduled for 
February 24, 2010.

[[Page 8300]]


DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
3, 2010. We will also consider comments made at the rescheduled public 
meeting to be held on February 24, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., local 
time.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the USDA Center at 
Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD, 20737. You may also submit 
written comments on the draft environmental impact statement by either 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0044) to submit or view comments.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send a copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room 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.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Huberty, Branch Chief, 
Regulatory and Environmental Analysis Branch, BRS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 146, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0485.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2010, we published in the 
Federal Register (APHIS-2007-0044, 75 FR 1585-1586) a notice of 
availability of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in 
connection with making a determination on the status of the Monsanto 
Company and Forage Genetics International alfalfa lines designated as 
events J101 and J163 as regulated articles.
    Comments on the draft EIS were required to be received on or before 
February 16, 2010. We are extending the comment period on the draft EIS 
until March 3, 2010. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.
    A notice regarding this extension of the comment period was also 
published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal 
Register on February 5, 2010 (75 FR 6026-6027; Docket No. ER-FRL-8987-
9).

Rescheduled Public Meeting

    The notice of availability of the draft EIS also provided notice of 
four public meetings. The last of these meetings was scheduled for 
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, in the USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River 
Road, Riverdale, MD, 20737, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., local time. However, 
this meeting was postponed due to inclement weather, and has been 
rescheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 
local time. The location of the meeting remains the same, as do the 
policies and procedures set forth for the meeting in our earlier 
notice.

Parking and Security Procedures

    Please note that a fee of $4 in exact change is required to enter 
the parking lot at the USDA Center at Riverside. The machine accepts $1 
bills or quarters.
    Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security 
personnel that they are attending the public meeting regarding the 
regulated status of alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance to the 
herbicide glyphosate. State issued photo identification is required and 
all bags will be screened. Security personnel will direct people to the 
registration tables. Registration upon arrival is required for all 
participants.
    Done in Washington, DC, this 18\th\ day of February 2010.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-3659 Filed 2-23-10: 7:32 am]
BILLING CODE: 3410-34-S
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