Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2020/07/20/2020-15631.html
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 18:30:14
Document Index: 361992429

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', 'art 2', 'art 1942', 'art 340', '§ 340', 'art 340', 'art 340', 'arts 1500', 'art 1', 'art 372', 'art 340', 'art 340', 'art 340', 'arts 1500', 'art 1', 'art 372']

Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Availability of a Preliminary Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment, 43807-43809 [2020-15631] :: Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service :: Department Of Agriculture :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Agriculture Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Availability of a Preliminary Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment, 43807-43809 [2020-15631]
Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Availability of a Preliminary Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment, 43807-43809 [2020-15631]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 139 / Monday, July 20, 2020 / Notices Program (FLP) to the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service in § 2.16 of 7 CFR part 2. FLP provides loans to family farmers to purchase real estate equipment and finance agricultural production. The regulations covered by this information collection package describes, the policies and procedures the agency uses to provide supervised credit to direct FLP applicants and borrowers in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. L. 87–128), as amended. Need and Use of the Information: Information collections are submitted by applicants and borrowers to the local FSA office serving the county in which their business is headquartered. The information is necessary to provide supervised credit as legislatively mandated and is used by Agency Officials to: (1) Ensure that when loan funds or insurance proceeds are used for construction and development, projects, work is completed according to applicable state and local requirements, and in a manner that protects the Agency’s financial interest. (2) Ensure that the loan repayment plan is developed using realistic data, based on the actual history of the operation and any planned improvements. (3) Identify potential concerns limiting the success of the operation and develop a loan assessment outlining the course of action to be followed, to improve the operation so that commercial credit is available. The agency is mandated to provide supervised credit; therefore, failure to collect the information, or collecting it less frequently, could result in the failure of the farm operation or loss of agency security property. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms. Number of Respondents: 64,802. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 168,029. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–15626 Filed 7–17–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request July 15, 2020. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments are requested 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 August 19, 2020 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. Rural Housing Service Title: 7 CFR 1942–A, Community Facility Loans. OMB Control Number: 0575–0015. Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit agency within the Rural Development mission area of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Community Programs Division of the RHS administers the Community Facilities program under 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A. Rural Development provides loan and grant funds through the Community Facilities program to finance many types of projects varying in size and complexity, from large general hospitals to small fire trucks. The facilities financed are designed to promote the development of rural communities by providing the infrastructure necessary to attract residents and rural jobs. RHS will collect information using multiple forms and in written format. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43807 Need and Use of the Information: Information will be collected by Rural Development field offices from applicants/borrowers and consultants. The information is used to determine eligibility, project feasibility, and to ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes. Failure to collect proper information could result in improper determinations of eligibility, improper use of funds, and/or unsound loans. Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 4,458. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 79,512. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–15620 Filed 7–17–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2019–0040] Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Availability of a Preliminary Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a preliminary plant pest risk assessment and draft environmental assessment regarding a request from Pioneer HiBred International seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn designated DP202216 Maize, which has been genetically engineered for enhanced grain yield potential and Glufosinate-ammonium herbicide resistance. We are making these documents available for public review and comment. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 19, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2019-0040. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1 43808 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 139 / Monday, July 20, 2020 / Notices APHIS–2019–0040, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. The draft environmental assessment, preliminary plant pest risk assessment, and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0040 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. Supporting documents for this petition are also available on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/permitsnotifications-petitions/petitions/ petition-status. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@ usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 19–101–01p) from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer) seeking a determination of nonregulated status of a maize event designated as DP202216, which has been genetically engineered for enhanced grain yield potential and glufosinate-ammonium resistance. The Pioneer petition stated that this maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be a regulated VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 article under APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340. According to our process 1 for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determination of nonregulated status of GE organisms, APHIS accepts written comments regarding a petition once APHIS deems it complete. On July 25, 2019, APHIS announced in the Federal Register 2 (84 FR 35850–35851, Docket No. APHIS– 2019–0040) the availability of the Pioneer petition for public comment. APHIS solicited comments on the petition for 60 days ending September 23, 2019, 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. Four comments were received. Two were opposed to deregulating DP202216 Maize, one comment was in favor of deregulation, and one comment was unrelated to the petition. APHIS evaluated the issues raised during the initial comment period and, where appropriate, provided a discussion of these issues in our draft 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 draft EA, preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and its preliminary plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) for a 30-day public review period. APHIS 1 On 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 GE organisms. To view the notice, go to http:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129. 2 To view the notice, its supporting documents, or the comments that we received, go to http:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2019-0040. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 following Approach 2. Under this approach, 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 first solicits written comments from the public on a draft EA and preliminary 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 preliminary PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the preliminary PPRA as necessary. It will then 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. This will provide the Agency and the public with a review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts that may result if the petition request is approved. APHIS concludes in its preliminary PPRA that DP202216 Maize, which as stated above has been genetically engineered for increased yield and resistance to the herbicide glufosinateammonium, 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 other pathogen, or any article similar to or allied with any of the foregoing. APHIS has also prepared a draft EA in which we present two alternatives based on our analysis of data Pioneer submitted, a review of other scientific data, field tests conducted under APHIS’ oversight, and comments received on the petition (see footnote 2). APHIS is considering the following alternatives: (1) Take no action, i.e., APHIS would not change the regulatory status of DP202216 Maize, or (2) make E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 139 / Monday, July 20, 2020 / Notices a determination of nonregulated status for enhanced grain yield and glufosinate-ammonium resistant DP202216 Maize. The draft 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 APHIS’ analysis of field and laboratory data submitted by Pioneer, references provided in the petition, peer-reviewed publications, information analyzed in the draft EA, the preliminary PPRA, comments provided by the public on the petition, and discussion of issues in the draft EA, APHIS has determined that corn designated as event DP202216 Maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. We are making available for a 30-day review period our preliminary PPRA and draft EA. The draft EA and preliminary PPRA 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. APHIS will revise the preliminary PPRA as necessary and prepare a final EA and, based on the final EA, a NEPA decision document (either a FONSI or a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement). 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 15th day of July 2020. Mark Davidson, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2020–15631 Filed 7–17–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2020–0056] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; South American Cactus Moth; Quarantine and Regulations Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request. ACTION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of South American cactus moth. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 14, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0056. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2020–0056, 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-2020-0056 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: For information on the regulations for the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of South American cactus moth, contact Dr. Herb Bolton, National Policy Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3594; herbert.bolton@usda.gov. For information on the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–2483; joseph.moxey@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43809 Title: South American Cactus Moth; Quarantine and Regulations. OMB Control Number: 0579–0337. Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection. Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture, either independently or in cooperation with States, may carry out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers regulations to implement the PPA. In accordance with the regulations in ‘‘Subpart K—South American Cactus Moth’’ (7 CFR 301.55 through 301.55–9), APHIS restricts the interstate movement of cactus moth host material, including nursery stock and plant parts for consumption, from infested areas of the United States to help prevent the spread of South American cactus moth into noninfested areas of the United States. The regulations contain requirements for the interstate movement of regulated articles and involve information collection activities, including completion of Federal certificates, compliance agreements, and limited permits. We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 years. The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us: (1) Evaluate 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; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.41 hours per response. E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 139 (Monday, July 20, 2020)]
[Pages 43807-43809]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15631]
[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0040]
Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Availability of a Preliminary Pest
Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared a preliminary plant pest risk
assessment and draft environmental assessment regarding a request from
Pioneer Hi-Bred International seeking a determination of nonregulated
status for corn designated DP202216 Maize, which has been genetically
engineered for enhanced grain yield potential and Glufosinate-ammonium
herbicide resistance. We are making these documents available for
public review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
August 19, 2020.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0040.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
[[Page 43808]]
APHIS-2019-0040, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,
Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
The draft environmental assessment, preliminary plant pest risk
assessment, and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0040 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.
Supporting documents for this petition are also available on the
APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/permits-notifications-petitions/petitions/petition-status.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Eck, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 851-3892, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Sec.  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
19-101-01p) from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer) seeking
a determination of nonregulated status of a maize event designated as
DP202216, which has been genetically engineered for enhanced grain
yield potential and glufosinate-ammonium resistance. The Pioneer
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 determination of nonregulated status of GE
organisms, APHIS accepts written comments regarding a petition once
APHIS deems it complete. On July 25, 2019, APHIS announced in the
Federal Register \2\ (84 FR 35850-35851, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0040)
the availability of the Pioneer petition for public comment. APHIS
solicited comments on the petition for 60 days ending September 23,
2019, 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.
\1\ On 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 GE organisms. To view the notice, go to
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0129.
\2\ To view the notice, its supporting documents, or the
comments that we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0040.
Four comments were received. Two were opposed to deregulating
DP202216 Maize, one comment was in favor of deregulation, and one
comment was unrelated to the petition. APHIS evaluated the issues
raised during the initial comment period and, where appropriate,
provided a discussion of these issues in our draft 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 draft EA, preliminary finding of no
significant impact (FONSI), and its preliminary 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 following Approach 2. Under this
approach, if APHIS decides, based on its review of the petition and its
organism that raises substantive new issues, APHIS first solicits
written comments from the public on a draft EA and preliminary 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 preliminary PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the
preliminary PPRA as necessary. It will then 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. This will provide the Agency and the public with
a review and analysis of any potential environmental impacts that may
result if the petition request is approved.
APHIS concludes in its preliminary PPRA that DP202216 Maize, which
as stated above has been genetically engineered for increased yield and
resistance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, 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
other pathogen, or any article similar to or allied with any of the
APHIS has also prepared a draft EA in which we present two
alternatives based on our analysis of data Pioneer submitted, a review
of other scientific data, field tests conducted under APHIS' oversight,
and comments received on the petition (see footnote 2). APHIS is
considering the following alternatives: (1) Take no action, i.e., APHIS
would not change the regulatory status of DP202216 Maize, or (2) make
[[Page 43809]]
a determination of nonregulated status for enhanced grain yield and
glufosinate-ammonium resistant DP202216 Maize.
The draft 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 APHIS' analysis of field and laboratory data submitted by
Pioneer, references provided in the petition, peer-reviewed
publications, information analyzed in the draft EA, the preliminary
PPRA, comments provided by the public on the petition, and discussion
of issues in the draft EA, APHIS has determined that corn designated as
event DP202216 Maize is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk.
We are making available for a 30-day review period our preliminary
PPRA and draft EA. The draft EA and preliminary PPRA 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.
APHIS will revise the preliminary PPRA as necessary and prepare a final
EA and, based on the final EA, a NEPA decision document (either a FONSI
or a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement).
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 15th day of July 2020.
[FR Doc. 2020-15631 Filed 7-17-20; 8:45 am]