This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this

section. 

# Notices Federal Register 

### 45169

Vol. 78, No. 144

Friday, July 26, 2013

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request** 

July 22, 2013.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by August 26, 2013
will be considered. Written comments
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit
their comments to OMB via email to:

OIRA

_ Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

Title: Animal Disease Traceability Information Systems, Agreements, and Reports (formerly: National Animal Identification System).

OMB Control Number: 0579–0259. Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has the authority to issue orders and promulgate regulations to prevent the introduction into the United
States and the dissemination within the United States of any pest or disease of livestock. APHIS’ regulations govern cooperative programs to control and
eradicate communicable diseases of livestock. The regulations also establish requirements for the interstate movement of livestock to prevent the
dissemination of diseases of livestock within the United States. Knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they have been, and when, is indispensable in emergency response and in ongoing disease control and eradication programs. To provide a system that could provide for animal traceability, APHIS developed the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT)
framework and ADT information systems. The basic data APHIS acquires through the ADT information systems will help APHIS obtain timely
information on animal movement
tracebacks and trace forwards when responding to an animal disease of

concern.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS’ goal is to create an effective, consistent, and efficient system which
will allow traces of animals to be completed in a timely manner, detection of disease, and ensure rapid
containment of disease. The ADT information systems involve reporting and recordkeeping activities, including animal identification; premises registration; nonproducer participant registration; updates submitted by
animal identification number manufacturers and managers; cooperative agreements; cooperative agreement applications; cooperator (State/Tribe) quarterly accomplishment reports; an identification number management system; and records
associated with animal movement activities. Failing to collect the needed information would make it impossible for APHIS to conduct a timely traceback or trace forward of animals potentially exposed to disease.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 60,315. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 47,054.

Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2013–17925 Filed 7–25–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection**
**Service**

**[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0046]**

**GENECTIVE SA; Availability of Plant Pest Risk Assessment, Environmental**  **Assessment, Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, and Preliminary**  **Determination of Nonregulated Status of Maize Genetically Engineered for** 
**Herbicide Resistance**

**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 a preliminary determination regarding a request from GENECTIVE SA, seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize designated as VCO–01981–5, which has been genetically engineered
for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. We are also making available for public review our plant pest risk assessment, environmental assessment, and preliminary finding of no significant impact for the preliminary determination of nonregulated status.

**DATES :**  We will consider any
information that we receive on or before August 26, 2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit any information by either of the following
methods:


### 45170 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 144 / Friday, July 26, 2013 / Notices

1 On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our process for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms. To view the notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129.

2 To view the notice, the petition, and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2012-;0046. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0046.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2012–0046, 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-2012-0046 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.

Supporting documents are also
available on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ biotechnology/ petitions

_table

_pending.shtml under APHIS Petition Number 11–342–01p.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Rebecca Stankiewicz Gabel, Chief, Biotechnology Environmental Analysis Branch, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–3927, email: rebecca.l.stankiewiczgabel@aphis.usda.gov. To obtain copies of the petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
Background

Under the authority of the plant pest provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7

U.S.C. 7701 et seq. ), 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 (GE) 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. APHIS received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 11–342–01p) from GENECTIVE SA of Chappes, France, seeking a determination of nonregulated status of maize ( Zea mays L.) designated as event VCO–01981–5, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The petition stated that this maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be a regulated article under APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340.

According to our process 1 for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status of GE organisms, APHIS accepts written comments regarding a petition once APHIS deems it complete. In a notice 2 published in
the Federal Register on July 13, 2012, (77 FR 41353–41354, Docket No. APHIS–2012–0046), APHIS announced the availability of the GENECTIVE SA petition for public comment. APHIS solicited comments on the petition for 60 days ending on September 11, 2012, in order to help identify potential
environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be
considered in our evaluation of the petition.

APHIS received 79 comments on the petition. Several of these comments
included electronic attachments consisting of a consolidated document of many identical or nearly identical letters, for a total of 4,693 comments. Issues raised during the commentperiod include outcrossing and crosspollination concerns and effects of herbicide use, such as the development
of herbicide-resistant weeds and effects on non-target organisms. APHIS has evaluated the issues raised during the comment period and, where appropriate, has provided a discussion
of these issues in our environmental assessment (EA).

After public comments are received on a completed petition, APHIS
evaluates those comments and then provides a second opportunity for public involvement in our decisionmaking process. According to our public review process (see footnote 1), the second opportunity for public involvement follows one of two approaches, as described below.

If APHIS decides, based on its review of the petition and its evaluation and analysis of comments received during the 60-day public comment period on the petition, that the petition involves a GE organism that raises no substantive new issues, APHIS will follow Approach 1 for public involvement. Under Approach 1, APHIS announces in
the Federal Register the availability of APHIS’ preliminary regulatory determination along with its EA, preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and its plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) for a 30-day public review period. APHIS will evaluate any
information received related to the petition and its supporting documents during the 30-day public review period. For this petition, we are using Approach

1. If APHIS decides, based on its review of the petition and its evaluation and analysis of comments received during the 60-day public comment period on the petition, that the petition involves a GE organism that raises substantive new issues, APHIS will follow Approach 2. Under Approach 2, APHIS first solicits written comments from the public on a draft EA and PPRA for a 30-day comment period through the publication of a Federal Register notice. Then, after reviewing and evaluating the
comments on the draft EA and PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the PPRA as necessary and prepare a final EA and, based on the final EA, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision document (either a FONSI or a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement).

As part of our decisionmaking process regarding a GE organism’s regulatory status, APHIS prepares a PPRA to assess the plant pest risk of the article. APHIS also prepares the appropriate
environmental documentation—either an EA or an environmental impact statement—in accordance with NEPA, to provide the Agency with a review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the petition request.

APHIS has prepared a PPRA and has
concluded that maize event VCO– 01981–5 is unlikely to pose a plant pest
risk. In section 403 of the Plant Protection Act, ‘‘plant pest’’ is defined as any living stage of any of the following that can directly or indirectly injure, cause damage to, or cause disease in any plant or plant product: A protozoan, a nonhuman animal, a parasitic plant, a bacterium, a fungus, a virus or viroid, an infectious agent or


### 45171 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 144 / Friday, July 26, 2013 / Notices

other pathogen, or any article similar to or allied with any of the foregoing.

APHIS has prepared an EA in which we present two alternatives based on our analysis of data submitted by GENECTIVE SA, a review of other scientific data, field tests conducted under APHIS oversight, and comments received on the petition. APHIS is considering the following alternatives: (1) Take no action, i.e., APHIS would not change the regulatory status of
maize event VCO–01981–5 and it would continue to be a regulated article, or (2) make a determination of nonregulated
status of maize event VCO–01981–5.

The EA was prepared in accordance with (1) 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). Based on our EA and other pertinent scientific data, APHIS has reached a preliminary FONSI with regard to the preferred alternative
identified in the EA.

Based on APHIS’ analysis of field and laboratory data submitted by GENECTIVE SA, references provided in the petition, peer-reviewed publications, information analyzed in the EA, the PPRA, comments provided by the public, and discussion of issues in the EA in response to those public comments, APHIS has determined that maize event VCO–01981–5 is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. We have therefore reached a preliminary decision to make a determination of nonregulated status of maize event VCO–01981–5, whereby maize event VCO–01981–5 would no longer be subject to our regulations governing the introduction of certain GE organisms.

We are making available for a 30-day review period APHIS’ preliminary regulatory determination of maize event VCO–01981–5, along with our PPRA, EA, and preliminary FONSI for the preliminary determination of nonregulated status. The EA, preliminary FONSI, PPRA, and our preliminary determination for maize event VCO–01981–5, as well as the GENECTIVE SA petition and the comments received on the petition, are
available as indicated under **ADDRESSES** and **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT** above. Copies of these documents may also be obtained from the person listed
under **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**

**CONTACT**

.

After the 30-day review period closes, APHIS will review and evaluate any information received during the 30-day review period. If, after evaluating the information received, APHIS determines
that we have not received substantive
new information that would warrant APHIS altering our preliminary regulatory determination or FONSI, substantially changing the proposed action identified in the EA, or substantially changing the analysis of impacts in the EA, APHIS will notify the public through an announcement on our Web site of our final regulatory determination. If, however, APHIS
determines that we have received
substantive new information that would warrant APHIS altering our preliminary regulatory determination or FONSI, substantially changing the proposed action identified in the EA, or substantially changing the analysis of impacts in the EA, then APHIS will notify the public of our intent to conduct additional analysis and to prepare an amended EA, a new FONSI, and/or a revised PPRA, which would be made available for public review through the publication of a notice of availability in the Federal Register

. APHIS will also notify the petitioner.

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 19th day of July, 2013.
Kevin Shea,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 2013–17937 Filed 7–25–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Food and Nutrition Service**

**Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;**  **Comment Request–WIC Nutrition Services and Administration (NSA)**  **Cost Study**

**AGENCY :**  Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection.
This collection is a new collection to
obtain data on how State and local WIC agencies calculate NSA costs; how recent Program changes have impacted NSA costs; and how administrative costs and policies compare to those of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). **DATES :**  Written comments must be received on or before September 24,

2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed data collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 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 that were 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Written comments may be sent to: Dr. Melissa Abelev, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via fax to the attention
of Dr. Melissa Abelev at 703–305–2209
or via email to Melissa.Abelev@fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.

All written comments will be open for public inspection at the office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will be a matter of public record.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information or copies of this information collection
should be directed to Dr. Melissa Abelev

at 703–305–2209.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: WIC Nutrition Services and Administration (NSA) Cost Study.

Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned. Expiration Date: Not yet determined. Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), (Pub. L. 109–85), is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through Federal grants to States, WIC