[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9944]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 25, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50779; FRL-4775-7]

 

Receipt of an Application for an Experimental Use Permit for Use 
of Glufosinate-Ammonium on Herbicide Tolerant Corn Plants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On March 11, 1994, EPA received from Hoechst Celanese Corp., 
an application for an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) for the use of 
Ignite Herbicide which contains the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, on 
corn plants genetically modified to be tolerant to this herbicide. 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 25, 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: Joanne I. Miller, Product 
Manager (PM) 23, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Office location and telephone number: Rm. 237, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 305-7830.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 11, 1994, an application for an EUP 
was received from Hoechst Celanese Corp., Route 202-206, P.O. Box 2500, 
Somerville, New Jersey 08876-1258 for the use of Ignite Herbicide (EPA 
Reg. No. 8340-42), which contains the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, 
on corn plants genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide. 
Ignite tolerant corn has been genetically transformed by inserting a 
gene identified as the Bialophos Resistance Gene (BAR) containing the 
information to produce the enzyme, Phosphinotricin Acetyl Transferase 
(PAT), which detoxifies the herbicide during plant metabolism. The 
requested EUP for the use of Ignite will be conducted in concert with 
an EUP for a plant pesticide (66737-EUP-1) which was granted to Ciba 
Seeds for the use and evaluation of a B.t.-derived insect control 
protein in the corn plant. A request for extension of this EUP is 
currently under review. The addition of the herbicide resistance gene 
in combination with the insect control protein to the corn plant 
provides a convenient marker to confirm the presence of the insect 
control protein. Application of Ignite Herbicide provides a quality 
control check for this protein and will also selectively eliminate 
plants that do not contain it.
    A notice of the issuance of EUP 66737-EUP-1 to Ciba Seeds for 
testing of transgenic corn was published in the Federal Register of 
December 27, 1993 (58 FR 68409). The notice of receipt of the EUP was 
published on March 31, 1993 (58 FR 16827), and an extension of the 
comment period was published on May 7, 1993 (58 FR 27284). A notice of 
receipt of the request for extension of the EUP was published on March 
11, 1994 (59 FR 11600). These notices contain information related 
specifically to the genetic modification of the corn plants which will 
be treated with Ignite under the proposed herbicide EUP.
    The purpose of the proposed EUP for the use of Ignite Herbicide as 
stated on the product label is for evaluation as a selective herbicide 
to determine weed control and Ignite (glufosinate-ammonium) tolerance 
in corn. The product will be applied as foliar sprays using ground 
application equipment only to transgenic corn that has been genetically 
modified for crop tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium.
    The objectives for the testing program are stated to be: (1) 
Evaluate product efficacy for use in plant breeding by selective 
elimination of non-transgenic corn plants, (2) evaluate the tolerance 
of the transgenic plants to the herbicide, (3) determine efficacy of 
transgenic plants for insect control when used in combination with, 
Ignite and (4) for production of hybrid plants for use in feeding and 
safety studies in experimental animals.
    The application for the EUP requests use of 454.7 pounds of the 
active ingredient on a total of 157.3 acres of corn for the time period 
from approval of the permit until October 1, 1995. Testing is proposed 
for the states of Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, 
Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. No 
petition for temporary tolerance was submitted with this application 
since the treated crop will be destroyed or used only for research 
purposes.
    Upon review of the EUP request, any comments received in response 
to this notice and any other relevant information, EPA will decide 
whether to issue or deny the EUP. 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: April 14, 1994.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-9944 Filed 4-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F