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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51299-51300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20496]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056]

Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Field Release 
of Genetically Engineered Diamondback Moths

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 is making available for public comment our 
environmental assessment for the field release of diamondback moths 
which have been genetically engineered for repressible female lethality 
and to express red fluorescence as a marker. The purpose of the field 
release is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of these moths in 
reducing populations of non-genetically engineered diamondback moths.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0056.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0056, 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-2014-
0056 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Document Control 
Officer/Team Leader, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, 
Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3892, 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 (GE) organisms and 
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be 
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may 
be released into the environment. The regulations set forth the permit 
application requirements and the notification procedures for the 
importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment of a 
regulated article.
    On October 24, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application from Cornell University (APHIS 
Permit Number 13-297-102r) seeking the permitted field release of three 
strains of GE diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, strains 
designated as OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy. The GE DBM 
have been genetically engineered to exhibit red fluorescence (DsRed2) 
as a marker and repressible female lethality, also known as female 
autocide. The GE DBMs are considered a regulated article under the 
regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because the recipient organism is or may 
be a plant pest. APHIS has previously issued Cornell University a 
permit authorizing the importation of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, 
OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy from the United Kingdom to the Cornell 
University New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES, 
APHIS Permit Number 12-227-102m) in Geneva, NY.
    The purpose of the requested field release is to assess the 
efficacy of GE DBM strains OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and OX4767A-Pxy in 
reducing pest populations of non-GE DBM. The female autocidal trait 
permits the selection of DBM males during rearing. When released, it is 
likely that any female progeny produced from GE DBM males and non-GE 
DBM females will die.
    The proposed release would be at NYSAES and would not exceed 3 
years. The release would be limited to 6 sites not exceeding 10 acres 
per site, surrounded by other agricultural fields within NYSAES' 870 
total acres. The release of 20,000 GE DBMs per release per site would 
be allowed, with up to 5 releases per week per site. Post-experiment 
monitoring of DBM with traps would continue for 2 weeks after the 
conclusion of each release to assess field longevity of GE DBM. The red 
fluorescent marker will allow the GE DBMs to be positively identified.
    To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of any potential environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed release of the GE DBM, an environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared. 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). APHIS will accept 
written comments on our EA regarding the proposed release of the GE DBM 
from interested or affected persons for a period of 30 days from the 
date of this notice. Copies of the EA are available as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections of this notice.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

[[Page 51300]]

    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of August 2014.
Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20496 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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