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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 100749-100751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29362]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 174

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0990; FRL-12381-01-OCSPP]

Streptomyces Sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS (5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-
Phosphate Synthase) Protein; Exemption From the Requirement of a 
Tolerance

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance for residues of the Streptomyces sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS 
(5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) protein (hereafter DGT-28 
EPSPS protein), in or on the food and feed commodities of corn: corn, 
field; corn, sweet; and corn, pop, when used as a plant-incorporated 
protectant (PIP) inert ingredient. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 
(Pioneer) submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum 
permissible level for residues of DGT-28 EPSPS protein.

DATES: This regulation is effective December 13, 2024. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before February 11, 2025, 
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0990, is available at 
https://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs 
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection 
Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., 
Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001. The 
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room and for the OPP Docket is (202) 566-1744. Please review 
the visitor instructions and additional information about the docket 
available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madison Le, Biopesticides and 
Pollution Prevention Division (7511P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; main telephone number: (202) 564-5754; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of 40 CFR 
part 174 through the Office of the Federal Register's e-CFR site at 
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40.

C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0990, in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
February 11, 2025. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections 
and hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential 
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without 
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing 
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0990, by one of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Background and Statutory Findings

    In the Federal Register of March 24, 2023 (88 FR 17778) (FRL-10579-
02-OCSPP), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 
21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of an FFDCA petition (IN 
11746) by

[[Page 100750]]

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 7100 NW 62nd Avenue, P.O. Box 
1000, Johnston, Iowa 50131. The petition requested that 40 CFR part 174 
be amended by establishing an exemption from the requirement of a 
tolerance for residues of DGT-28 EPSPS protein derived from 
Streptomyces sviceus when used as an inert ingredient in a plant-
incorporated protectant in or on maize. That document referenced a 
summary of the petition prepared by the petitioner Pioneer Hi-Bred 
International, Inc., which is available in the docket, https://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in response to the 
notice of filing.

III. Final Rule

A. EPA's Safety Determination

    Section 408(c)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish an 
exemption from the requirement for a tolerance (the legal limit for a 
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food) only if EPA determines that 
the exemption is ``safe.'' Section 408(c)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines 
``safe'' to mean that ``there is a reasonable certainty that no harm 
will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue, 
including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for 
which there is reliable information.'' This includes exposure through 
drinking water and in residential settings but does not include 
occupational exposure. Pursuant to FFDCA section 408(c)(2)(B), in 
establishing or maintaining in effect an exemption from the requirement 
of a tolerance, EPA must take into account the factors set forth in 
FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C), which require EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and 
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . 
. '' Additionally, FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D) requires that the Agency 
consider ``available information concerning the cumulative effects of a 
particular pesticide's residues'' and ``other substances that have a 
common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA evaluated the available toxicity and exposure data on DGT-28 
EPSPS protein and considered its validity, completeness, and 
reliability, as well as the relationship of this information to human 
risk. EPA has also considered available information concerning the 
variability of the sensitivities of major identifiable subgroups of 
consumers, including infants and children. A summary of the data upon 
which EPA relied and its risk assessment based on those data can be 
found within the document entitled ``Product Characterization Review 
and Human Health Risk Assessment of the Insecticidal Plant-Incorporated 
Protectant Active Ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Da2 and Plant-
Incorporated Inert Ingredient DGT-28 EPSPS, and the Genetic Material 
Necessary (PHP88492) for their Production in Event DAS-1131-3 Maize, 
and Establishment of a Permanent Tolerance Exemption for Residues of 
these Proteins when used as a Plant-incorporated protectant in corn.'' 
(hereafter Human Health Risk Assessment). This document, as well as 
other relevant information, is available in the docket for this action 
EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0990.
    The gene for the inert plant-incorporated protectant protein DGT-28 
EPSPS was derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces sviceus and is 
intended to confer tolerance to glyphosate herbicides. The Agency used 
a ``weight of evidence'' approach and determined that DGT-28 EPSPS 
protein is not expected to pose any risk of toxicity to humans and the 
likelihood of the protein to be a food allergen is minimal. Submitted 
data show that the DGT-28 EPSPS protein is not toxic via the oral route 
of exposure and bioinformatics analysis did not indicate any homology 
to known toxins. Likewise, the potential for allergenicity is low 
because: (1) A literature search for the bacterium source of DGT-28 
EPSPS protein, Streptomyces sviceus, did not yield any results that 
would indicate that S. sviceus is a known source of mammalian toxic or 
allergenic proteins; (2) DGT-28 EPSPS has been demonstrated to catalyze 
the same reaction as other EPSPS enzymes covered under current 
tolerance exemptions and have not been found to be associated with 
adverse health effects; (3) bioinformatic analysis indicates no 
biologically relevant similarity between DGT-28 EPSPS protein and known 
allergens; (4) DGT-28 EPSPS protein degrades rapidly when exposed to 
simulated gastric fluid and is completely digested in simulated 
intestinal fluid; DGT-28 EPSPS is heat labile at temperatures exceeding 
50 [deg]C, indicating that it will likely denature in the course of 
normal thermal treatment during food preparation; and (5) DGT-28 EPSPS 
protein is not glycosylated, which further reduces its allergenicity 
potential. Glycosylation is an enzymatic post-translational process in 
which carbohydrates (glycans) link to proteins, creating structures 
which could lead to an immune response in humans.
    The most likely exposure to the DGT-28 EPSPS protein is dietary 
through consumption of food products made from corn containing the 
protein. Oral exposure from ingestion of drinking water is unlikely 
because the DGT-28 EPSPS protein is present at very low levels within 
the plant cells, and the amounts likely to enter the water column from 
leaves, pollen or plant detritus are low. Additionally, proteases and 
nucleases found in water and the environment would likely degrade the 
biological material containing the active ingredients and treatment 
process for municipal water plants are likely to remove DGT-28 EPSPS 
residues. While dietary exposure is expected to be limited, even if 
there is dietary exposure to residues of DGT-28 EPSPS protein, such 
exposure presents no concern for adverse effects due to the lack of 
toxicity or allergenicity.
    Non-dietary, non-occupational or residential exposure via pulmonary 
or ocular exposure is not likely since DGT-28 EPSPS protein is 
contained within plant cells, and corn pollen is not respirable. 
Exposure via the skin is somewhat more likely via the contact with corn 
products which might have been processed in a way that disrupts 
cellular structure. However, naturally occurring proteases are likely 
to degrade proteins in contact with the skin and, as described above, 
the DGT-28 EPSPS protein has little or no potential toxicity to mammals 
and minimal potential for allergenicity. Thus, adverse effects are not 
expected due to non-occupational and residential exposure to DGT 28-
EPSPS protein. These findings are discussed in more detail in the Human 
Health Risk Assessment.
    Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when considering 
whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the Agency 
consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative effects of 
a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances that have a 
common mechanism of toxicity.'' No risk of cumulative toxicity or 
effects from DGT-28 EPSPS protein has been identified as no toxicity or 
allergenicity has been shown for this protein in the submitted studies. 
Therefore, EPA has concluded that DGT-28 EPSPS protein does not have a 
common mechanism of toxicity with other substances.
    Although FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(C) provides for an additional 
tenfold margin of safety for infants and children in the case of 
threshold effects, EPA has determined that there are no such effects 
due to the lack of toxicity of

[[Page 100751]]

DGT-28 EPSPS protein. As a result, an additional margin of safety for 
the protection of infants and children is unnecessary.
    Based upon its evaluation described above and in the Human Health 
Risk Assessment, EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty 
that no harm will result to the U.S. population, including infants and 
children, from aggregate exposure to residues of the DGT-28 EPSPS 
protein. Therefore, an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is 
established for residues of DGT-28 EPSPS protein in or on the food and 
feed commodities of corn: corn, field; corn, sweet; and corn, pop when 
used as a plant-incorporated protectant inert ingredient in corn.

B. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Validated enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are available 
analytical methods for detection of DGT-28 EPSPS protein. These ELISAs 
have been demonstrated to reliably detect the levels of protein in the 
tissues of corn.

C. Conclusion

    Therefore, an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is 
established for residues of the Streptomyces sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS (5-
enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) protein in or on the food 
and feed commodities of corn: corn, field; corn, sweet; and corn, pop 
when used as an inert ingredient in a plant-incorporated protectant 
(PIP) in corn.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action establishes a tolerance exemption under FFDCA section 
408(d) in response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this action has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not 
subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), or Executive Order 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). This action does not contain any 
information collections subject to OMB approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require any 
special considerations under Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal 
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 
Low-Income Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis 
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance 
exemption in this final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed 
rule, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), do not apply.
    This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food 
handlers, and food retailers, not States or Tribes, nor does this 
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and 
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions 
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency has determined that 
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or 
Tribal governments, on the relationship between the National Government 
and the States or Tribal governments, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between 
the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has 
determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999), and Executive Order 13175, entitled 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 
67249, November 9, 2000), do not apply to this action. In addition, 
this action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any 
unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

V. Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 174

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: December 5, 2024.
Edward Messina,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, for the reasons stated in the preamble, EPA is amending 
40 CFR chapter I as follows:

PART 174--PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT-INCORPORATED 
PROTECTANTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 174 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 136-136y; 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.

0
2. Add Sec.  174.550 to subpart W to read as follows:

Sec.  174.550  Streptomyces sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS (5-
enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) protein; exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance.

    Residues of Streptomyces sviceus DGT-28 EPSPS (5-
enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) protein in or on the food 
and feed commodities of corn; corn, field; corn, sweet; and corn, pop 
are exempt from the requirement of a tolerance when used as an inert 
ingredient in a plant-incorporated protectant in corn.

[FR Doc. 2024-29362 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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