43160 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices 

required regarding; 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; the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of burden including 

the validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; ways to enhance the 

quality, utility and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and 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 September 7, 

2021 will be considered. Written 

comments and recommendations for the 

proposed information collection should 

be submitted within 30 days of the 

publication of this notice on the 

following website www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain. Find this 

particular information collection by 

selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day 

Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or 

by using the search function. 

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. 

Farm Service Agency 

Title: Assignments of Payments and 

Joint Payment Authorizations; Request 

for Waiver. 

OMB Control Number: 0560–0183. 

Summary of Collection: The Soil 

Conservation and Domestic Allotment 

Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) authorizes 

producers to assign, in writing, Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) conservation 

program payments. The statute requires 

that any such assignment be signed and 

witnessed. The Agricultural Act of 1949, 

as amended, extends that authority to 

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 

programs, including rice, feed grains, 

cotton, and wheat. When the recipient 

of an FSA, NRCS, or CCC payment 

chooses to assign a payment to another 

party or have the payment made jointly 

with another party, the other party must 

be identified. All federal nontax 

payments must be made by EFT, unless 

a waiver applies which requires certain 

criteria to be granted. FSA will collect 

information using forms CCC–36, CCC 

37, CCC–251, CCC–252 and FPAC–FM– 

12. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

information collected on the forms will 

be used by FSA and NRCS employees in 

order to record the payment or contract 

being assigned, the amount of the 

assignment, the date of the assignment, 

and the name and address of the 

assignee and the assignor. This is to 

enable FSA employee to pay the proper 

party when payments become due. FSA 

will also use the information to issue 

program payments jointly at the request 

of the producer and also terminate joint 

payments at the request of both the 

producer and joint payee. 

Description of Respondent: Farms. 

Number of Respondents: 700,491. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting; 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 116,687. 

Ruth Brown, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16833 Filed 8–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2020–0030] 

State University of New York College 

of Environmental Science and 

Forestry; Notice of Intent To Prepare 

an Environmental Impact Statement for 

Determination of Nonregulated Status 

for Blight-Tolerant Darling 58 American 

Chestnut (Castanea Dentata) 

Developed Using Genetic Engineering 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, Agriculture (USDA). 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: We are announcing to the 

public that the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service intends to prepare an 

environmental impact statement (EIS) 

evaluating the impacts that may result 

from the approval of a petition for 

nonregulated status for blight-tolerant 

Darling 58 American chestnut (Castanea 

dentata) from the State University of 

New York College of Environmental 

Science and Forestry. The trees have 

been developed using genetic 

engineering to express an oxalate 

oxidase enzyme from wheat as a defense 

against the fungal pathogen 

Cryphonectria parasitica, making 

Darling 58 American chestnut tolerant 

to chestnut blight. Issues to be 

addressed in the EIS include the 

potential environmental impacts to 

managed natural and non-agricultural 

lands, the physical environment, 

biological resources, human health, 

socioeconomics, federally listed 

threatened or endangered species, and 

cultural or historic resources. We are 

requesting public comments to further 

delineate the scope of the alternatives 

and environmental and interrelated 

economic issues and impacts to be 

considered in the EIS. 

DATES: APHIS will consider all 

comments received on or before 

September 7, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 

2020–0030 in the Search field. Select 

the Documents tab, then select the 

Comment button in the list of 

documents. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 

APHIS–2020–0030, Regulatory Analysis 

and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 

3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, 

Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. 

The petition and any comments we 

receive on this docket may be viewed at 

www.regulations.gov or in our reading 

room, which is located in room 1620 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, Biotechnology Regulatory 

Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 

147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 

851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@

usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for the Proposed 

Action 

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, ‘‘Movement of 

Organisms Modified or Produced 

Through Genetic Engineering,’’ regulate, 

among other things, the importation, 

interstate movement, or release into the 

environment of organisms modified or 

produced through genetic engineering 

that are plant pests or pose a plausible 

plant pest risk. 

The petition for nonregulated status 

described in this notice is being 

evaluated under the version of the 

regulations effective at the time that it 

was received. The Animal and Plant 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices 43161 

1To view the final rule, go to 

www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2018–0034 

in the Search field. 

2To view the petition, go to https://

www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/ 

permits-notifications-petitions/petitions/petitionstatus. 

3On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the 

Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. 

APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our public 

review process for soliciting public comments and 

information when considering petitions for 

determinations of nonregulated status for organisms 

developed using genetic engineering. To view the 

notice, go to www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS– 

2011–0129 in the Search field. 

4To view the notice, supporting documents, and 

the comments that we received, go to 

www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2020–0030 

in the Search field. 

5Human environment means comprehensively 

the natural and physical environment and the 

relationship of present and future generations of 

Americans with that environment. Impacts/effects 

include ecological (such as effects on natural 

resources, and on the components, structures, and 

functioning of affected ecosystems), aesthetic, 

historic, cultural, economic (such as the effects on 

employment), social, or health effects (see 40 CFR 

1508.1). 

6See Coordinated Framework. U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, https:// 

usbiotechnologyregulation.mrp.usda.gov/ 

biotechnologygov/home/. 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

issued a final rule, published in the 

Federal Register on May 18, 2020 (85 

FR 29790–29838, Docket No. APHIS– 

2018–0034),1 revising 7 CFR part 340; 

however, the final rule is being 

implemented in phases. The new 

Regulatory Status Review (RSR) process, 

which replaces the determination of 

nonregulated status petition process, 

became effective on April 5, 2021 for 

corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato, 

and alfalfa. The RSR process is effective 

for all crops as of October 1, 2021. 

However, ‘‘[u]ntil RSR is available for a 

particular crop . . . ., APHIS will 

continue to receive petitions for 

determination of nonregulated status for 

the crop in accordance with the [legacy] 

regulations at 7 CFR 340.6.’’ (85 FR 

29815). This petition for a 

determination of nonregulated status is 

being evaluated in accordance with the 

regulations at 7 CFR 340.6 (2020) as it 

was received by APHIS on January 21, 

2020. 

APHIS received a petition from the 

State University of New York College of 

Environmental Science and Forestry 

(ESF) (APHIS Petition Number 19–309– 

01p) 2 seeking a determination of 

nonregulated status for blight-tolerant 

Darling 58 American chestnut (Castanea 

dentata). The petition states that Darling 

58 American chestnut is unlikely to 

pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, 

should not be regulated under APHIS’ 

regulations in 7 CFR part 340. 

According to our process 3 for 

soliciting public comment when 

considering petitions for determination 

of nonregulated status of regulated 

organisms, APHIS accepts written 

comments regarding a petition once 

APHIS deems it complete. On August 

19, 2020, we announced in the Federal 

Register (85 FR 51008–51009, Docket 

No. APHIS–2020–0030) the availability 

of the blight-tolerant chestnut petition 

for public comment.4 We solicited 

comments on the petition for 60 days to 

help us identify potential environmental 

and interrelated economic issues and 

impacts that APHIS should consider in 

evaluation of the petition. We received 

4,320 comments on the petition from 

the academic sector, farmers, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit 

organizations, industry, Tribes, and 

unaffiliated individuals. 

Comments in favor of the petition 

emphasized the positive environmental 

and socio-economic benefits of restoring 

American chestnut throughout its preblight range. Issues raised in the 

opposing comments included 

environmental impacts of the 

unconfined release of a forest tree 

developed using genetic engineering, 

impacts to native communities, human 

health and safety impacts of using a 

wheat gene, the need for long term 

studies, the potential for chestnut to be 

more susceptible to chestnut blight as 

well as other diseases, the potential for 

impacts to organic producers, impacts to 

trade, and general anti-biotech 

sentiments. APHIS evaluated all 

comments received on the petition. A 

full record of comments received is 

available online at www.regulations.gov 

(see footnote 4). As part of our 

evaluation of the petition and 

consideration of public comments, 

APHIS has determined that this 

proposed action has potential to 

significantly affect the quality of the 

human environment.5 As such, APHIS 

is deciding to prepare an environmental 

impact statement (EIS) in order to 

conduct the level of detailed and 

rigorous environmental analysis 

required to make an informed decision 

about the proposed deregulation of 

Darling 58 American chestnut. 

The EIS is being prepared in 

accordance with: (1) National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) the 

Council on Environmental Quality’s 

(CEQ) NEPA-implementing regulations 

(40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA’s 

NEPA-implementing regulations (7 CFR 

part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA 

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 

372). 

Proposed Action and Alternative the 

EIS Will Consider 

The EIS will analyze the preferred 

alternative, approval of ESF’s petition 

for a determination of nonregulated 

status for Darling 58 American chestnut, 

as well as the no action alternative, 

denial of the petition for nonregulated 

status. Both alternatives will receive 

APHIS’ full consideration. APHIS has 

developed a list of topics for 

consideration in the EIS based on public 

comments on the petition, prior 

environmental assessments (EAs)/EISs 

for plants developed using genetic 

engineering, public comments 

submitted for other EAs/EISs evaluating 

petitions for nonregulated status, 

scientific literature on biotechnology, 

and issues identified by APHIS specific 

to American chestnut and other 

Castanea species. The following topics 

were identified as relevant to the scope 

of analysis: Action Area (Historic, 

Present, and Potential Future Range of 

American Chestnut); Physical 

Environment (Soil Quality, Water 

Resources, Air Quality and Climate 

Change); Biological Resources (Animal 

Communities, Plant Communities, Gene 

Flow and Weediness, Microorganisms, 

and Biodiversity); Human Health 

Considerations; Animal Health and 

Welfare; and Socioeconomic 

Considerations (Domestic Economic 

Environment, International Trade). In 

addition, potential impacts on 

threatened and endangered species, as 

well as adherence of the Agency’s 

decision to Executive Orders, and 

environmental laws and regulations to 

which the action may be subject will 

also be examined. 

Summary of Potential Impacts 

APHIS anticipates the potential 

impacts of the proposed action could 

include impacts on the physical 

environment, biological resources, and 

socioeconomic impacts. 

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations 

Darling 58 American chestnut, if 

deregulated, could be cultivated to 

produce food or animal feed, subject to 

any Environmental Protection Agency’s 

(EPA) and/or U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) requirements 

under the Coordinated Framework.6 For 

example, any human food or animal 

feed derived from Darling 58 American 

chestnut would be subject to the Federal 

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA; 

21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) and FDA 

requirements. ESF may voluntarily 

consult with the FDA to ensure 

compliance with the FFDCA. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
43162 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices 

Public Scoping Process 

As previously discussed, APHIS seeks 

public comment on petitions deemed 

complete through notices published in 

the Federal Register. In accordance with 

our process, on August 19, 2020, APHIS 

solicited comments on the petition for 

60 days and received 4,320 comments 

from the academic sector, farmers, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit 

organizations, industry, Tribes, and 

unaffiliated individuals. 

APHIS is seeking additional public 

comment on this notice of intent to 

prepare an EIS to help identify potential 

alternatives, as well as relevant 

information, studies, and/or analyses 

that we should consider in evaluating 

the potential impacts of the proposed 

action on the quality of the human 

environment. Those who have already 

submitted comments on the ESF 

petition need not resubmit—we will 

consider these comments in 

development of the EIS. To promote 

informed NEPA analysis and 

decisionmaking, comments should be as 

specific as possible and explain why the 

issues raised are important for 

consideration in the EIS. Comments 

should include, where possible, 

references and data sources supporting 

the information provided in the 

comment. We encourage the submission 

of data, studies, or research to support 

your comments. 

APHIS will accept written comments 

for a period of 30 days from the date of 

this notice. The petition is available for 

public review, and copies are available 

as indicated under ADDRESSES and FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above. 

Schedule for the Decision-Making 

Process 

As part of the decision-making 

process regarding the petition, we are 

preparing a plant pest risk assessment 

(PPRA) and the EIS that is the subject 

of this notice. We plan to complete the 

PPRA within 6 months, and the EIS and 

record of decision (ROD) within 2 years 

of the date of this notice. This schedule 

is tentative and subject to extension. 

Once we have reviewed the comments 

received in response to this notice, we 

will prepare and make available a draft 

EIS for a review and comment for a 

period of 45 days. A notice for public 

comment on the draft EIS will be 

provided in the Federal Register, and 

the draft EIS and associated documents 

will be made available on 

www.regulations.gov. 

The commenting and review process 

on the draft EIS will be conducted in 

accordance with CEQ’s NEPA 

regulations. Comments will be invited 

from State, Tribal, and local 

governments and agencies, industry, 

environmental organizations, academia, 

and the public. APHIS will review all 

comments received on the draft EIS, 

provide responses to substantive 

comments, and incorporate relevant 

issues raised in the comments into 

development of a final EIS. 

We will announce the availability of 

the final EIS in the Federal Register and 

file the final EIS together with 

comments and responses with the EPA, 

Office of Federal Activities, consistent 

with EPA’s procedures and CEQ’s filing 

requirements. The EPA will publish a 

notice in the Federal Register 

announcing the final EIS. APHIS will 

issue a ROD on the final EIS and 

petition 30 days after the EPA notifies 

the public that the final EIS has been 

completed and submitted. If necessary, 

APHIS may extend these timeframes. 

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 2nd day of 

August 2021. 

Michael Watson, 

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16771 Filed 8–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

U.S. Codex Office 

Codex Alimentarius Commission: 

Meeting of the Codex Committee on 

Fats and Oils 

AGENCY: U.S. Codex Office, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Codex Office is 

sponsoring a public meeting on 

September 20, 2021. The objective of the 

public meeting is to provide information 

and receive public comments on agenda 

items and draft United States (U.S.) 

positions to be discussed at the 27th 

Session of the Codex Committee on Fats 

and Oils (CCFO) of the Codex 

Alimentarius Commission, which will 

convene virtually, October 18–26, 2021. 

The U.S. Manager for Codex 

Alimentarius and the Acting Deputy 

Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign 

Agricultural Affairs recognize the 

importance of providing interested 

parties the opportunity to obtain 

background information on the 27th 

Session of the CCFO and to address 

items on the agenda. 

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled 

for September 20, 2021, from 2:00–4:00 

p.m. EDT. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will 

take place via Video Teleconference 

only. Documents related to the 27th 

Session of the CCFO will be accessible 

via the internet at the following address: 

http://www.fao.org/fao-whocodexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/ 

?meeting=CCFO&session=27. Dr. Paul 

South, U.S. Delegate to the 27th Session 

of the CCFO, invites U.S. interested 

parties to submit their comments 

electronically to the following email 

address: paul.south@fda.hhs.gov. 

REGISTRATION: Attendees must register 

to attend the public meeting here: 

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/ 

register/vJItdeCspjoiE_

dPA0lHBseYMWHn9UDDhdY. After 

registering, you will receive a 

confirmation email containing 

information about joining the meeting. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

For further information about the 27th 

Session of the CCFO, contact U.S. 

Delegate, Dr. Paul South, paul.south@

fda.hhs.gov, +1 (240) 402–1640. 

For further information about the 

public meeting contact: U.S. Codex 

Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 

Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 

Washington, DC 20250. Phone (202) 

720–7760, Fax: (202) 720–3157, Email: 

uscodex@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Codex was established in 1963 by two 

United Nations organizations, the Food 

and Agriculture Organization and the 

World Health Organization. Through 

adoption of food standards, codes of 

practice, and other guidelines 

developed by its committees, and by 

promoting their adoption and 

implementation by governments, Codex 

seeks to protect the health of consumers 

and ensure fair practices in the food 

trade. 

The Terms of Reference of the Codex 

Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) are: 

(a) To elaborate worldwide standards 

for fats and oils of animal, vegetable and 

marine origin including margarine and 

olive oil. 

The CCFO is hosted by Malaysia. The 

United States attends the CCFO as a 

member country of Codex. 

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public 

Meeting 

The following items on the Agenda 

for the 27th Session of the CCFO will be 

discussed during the public meeting: 

• Adoption of the Agenda. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES