[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8884]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 13, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50779; FRL-4773-8]

 

Receipt of an Application for an Experimental Use Permit for Use 
of Bromoxynil on Herbicide Tolerant Cotton Plants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On February 18, 1993, EPA received from Rhone-Poulenc Ag Co. 
an application for an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) and a petition for 
a temporary tolerance for the use of Buctril Gel which contains the 
herbicide bromoxynil, on cotton plants genetically modified to be 
tolerant to this herbicide. On June 4, 1993, the EUP was accepted for a 
period of 1 year with the provision that the crop be destroyed or used 
only for research purposes. The registrant has requested that the EUP 
be extended on a crop destruct basis until the temporary tolerance is 
established. Due to recent interest in the introduction of genetically 
modified herbicide tolerant plants into commercial agriculture, the 
Agency has determined that this application may be of regional and 
national significance. Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), 
the Agency is soliciting public comments on this application.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 13, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments, in triplicate, should bear the docket control 
number OPP-50779 and be submitted to: Public Response and Program 
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. In person bring comments to: Rm. 1128, Crystal 
Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.
    Information submitted in any comment concerning this notice may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as 
``Confidential Business Information'' (CBI). Information so marked will 
not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 
CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that does not contain CBI must be 
submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information not marked 
confidential may be disclosed publicly by EPA without prior notice to 
the submitter. Written comments will be available for public inspection 
in Rm. 1128 at the address given above, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Robert J. Taylor, Product 
Manager (PM) 25, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Rm. 241, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 305-6800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 18, 1993, an application for an 
EUP and a Petition for Temporary Tolerance was received from Rhone-
Poulenc Ag Co., P.O. Box 12014, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27709 for the use of Buctril Gel, which contains the 
herbicide bromoxynil, on cotton plants genetically modified to be 
tolerant to the herbicide. The EUP was requested for a period of 2 
years. Data submitted in support of the temporary tolerance were 
insufficient to grant the temporary tolerance for the 1993 growing 
season. The EUP was subsequently issued on June 4, 1993, (EPA Reg. No. 
264-EUP-93) for a 1-year period with the provision that the food or 
feed derived from the experimental program would be destroyed or fed 
only to experimental animals for testing purposes, or otherwise 
disposed of in a manner which would not endanger man or the 
environment. Since the temporary tolerance for bromoxynil has not yet 
been established, the registrant requested on March 14, 1994, that the 
EUP be extended for a period of 1-year under the previous provisions, 
which would not allow food or feed to be sold, while the issues 
concerning the temporary tolerance are being resolved.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service published a notice in the Federal Register of 
September 8, 1993 (58 FR 47249), of their receipt of a petition for 
determination of nonregulated status of genetically engineered cotton 
lines. This notice and the referenced petition contain information 
related specifically to the genetic modification of the herbicide 
tolerant cotton plants which will be treated under this EUP.
    The purpose of the EUP as stated on the product label is to 
evaluate the control of certain broadleaf weeds in transgenic Bromotol 
cotton. Applications of the product can be made by ground equipment 
only to transgenic Bromotol cotton that has been genetically modified 
for crop tolerance to postemergence over-the-top applications of 
bromoxynil.
    The objectives for the 1994 testing program are stated to be: (1) 
Evaluate product efficacy on major broadleaf weeds that infest cotton, 
(2) compare weed control with commercial standard weed control systems 
on cotton, (3) verify transgenic seed purity during seed production, 
and (4) compare Buctril weed control system with commercial standard 
weed control systems of cotton in major cotton growing areas using 
standard commercial production methods and varieties.
    The application for the 1994 EUP request use of 4,000 pounds of the 
active ingredient bromoxynil on a total of 4,000 acres of cotton. 
Testing is proposed for the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, 
Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
    Upon review of the EUP extension request, any comments received in 
response to this notice and any other relevant information, EPA will 
decide whether to issue or deny the EUP extension. If issued, EPA will 
set conditions under which the experiments are to be conducted. Any 
issuance of an EUP by the Agency will be announced in the Federal 
Register.
    EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has a Public Docket Room where a 
copy of the EUP application deleted of all ``Confidential Business 
Information'' will be available for public inspection. The Public 
Docket Room is located at Rm. 1128, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA; the hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

    Dated: March 31, 1994.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-8884 Filed 4-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F