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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7123-7124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3189]

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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.

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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 x 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

[[Page 7124]]

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
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