[Federal Register: May 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 29606-29607]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23my06-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0022]
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Field Trial of Genetically Engineered
Bahiagrass
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment
has been prepared for a proposed field trial using two transgenic grass
lines. The trial consists of Argentine bahiagrass plants that are
genetically engineered to express resistance to the herbicide
glufosinate and resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. Each of 4 sets
of 12 genetically engineered bahiagrass plants will be encircled with a
ring of several untransformed cultivars of bahiagrass. The purpose of
the field trial is to study the likelihood of hybrid formation as a
result of pollen movement from the transgenic plants to the
nontransgenic plants. Data gained from this field experiment also will
be used to evaluate current confinement practices for this species of
transgenic grass. After assessment of the application and review of the
relevant scientific information, we have concluded that this field test
will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest.
We have completed an environmental assessment and have concluded that
this field test will not have a significant impact on the quality of
the human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact,
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field
test.
DATES: Effective Date: May 23, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may read the environmental assessment (EA) and the
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) in our reading room. The
reading room 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. The EA, FONSI, and decision notice are
available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/05_29402r_ea.pdf
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Patricia Beetham, Biotechnology
Regulatory Services, APHIS, Suite 6B81, 4700 River Road Unit 147,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-0664. To obtain copies of the EA
and FONSI, contact Ms. Ingrid Berlanger at (301) 734-4885; e-mail:
ingrid.e.berlanger@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 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,'' the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) regulates, 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
[[Page 29607]]
regulated article may be introduced. 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 21, 2005, APHIS received a permit application (APHIS No.
05-294-02r) from the University of Florida in Marianna, FL, for a field
trial using lines of transgenic Argentine bahiagrass. Permit
application 05-294-02r describes two transgenic lines of Argentine
bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flugge cv. Argentine:
Line `B9' has been genetically engineered to express the
phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) gene from Streptomyces
hygroscopicus, which confers resistance to glufosinate herbicides.
Expression of this gene is controlled by the polyubiquitin (ubi)
promoter, ubi 5' flanking region and the ubi first intron sequences
from Zea mays, and the 35S 3' region from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus
(CaMV).
In addition to the gene sequences above, line `P' has also been
genetically engineered to express the neomycin phosphotransferase gene
(nptII) from Escherichia coli, which confers resistance to the
antibiotic kanamycin. Expression of this gene is controlled by the
enhanced 35S promoter from CaMV, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) intron
from Zea mays, and the 35S 3' region from CaMV.
Constructs were inserted into the recipient organisms by
microprojectile bombardment.
The subject transgenic grasses are considered regulated articles
under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because they were created using
donor sequences from plant pests. The purpose of this proposed field
test is for research on transgenic bahiagrass plants, particularly to
investigate the frequency of cross-hybridization between transgenic
Argentine bahiagrass with different bahiagrass cultivars under field
conditions. Additionally, the data gathered during this study will be
used to assess the confined status of this field release and refine the
confinement conditions necessary for future releases of this grass
species.
On March 7, 2006, APHIS published a notice \1\ in the Federal
Register (71 FR 11372-11373, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0022) announcing the
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed field
trial. During the 30-day comment period, APHIS received no comments.
Only typographical errors in the EA have been corrected since its draft
form, and these do not change the substance of the EA.
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\1\ To view the notice and EA, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``Advanced Search'' tab, and select ``Docket Search.''
In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS-2006-0022, then click on
``Submit.'' Clicking on the Docket ID link in the search results
page will produce a list of all documents in the docket.
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Pursuant to its regulations (7 CFR part 340) promulgated under the
Plant Protection Act, APHIS has determined that this field trial will
not pose a risk of the introduction or dissemination of a plant pest.
Additionally, based upon analysis described in the EA, APHIS has
determined that the action proposed in Alternative C of the EA, to
issue the permit with additional permit conditions, will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. You may
read the finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and decision notice
on the Internet or in the APHIS reading room (see ADDRESSES above).
The EA and FONSI were 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). Copies of the EA
and FONSI are available from the individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
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 17th day of May 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7820 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am]
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