[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26532]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 94-111-1]

 

Availability of Environmental Assessments and Findings of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared two environmental assessments and 
findings of no significant impact for the shipment of unlicensed 
veterinary biological products for field testing. Risk analyses, which 
form the bases for the environmental assessments, have led us to 
conclude that shipment of the unlicensed veterinary biological products 
for field testing will not have a significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment. Based on our findings of no significant impact, 
we have determined that environmental impact statements need not be 
prepared.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessments and findings of no 
significant impact may be obtained by writing to the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the docket 
number of this notice when requesting copies. Copies of the 
environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact (as 
well as the risk analyses with confidential business information 
removed) are also available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays. Persons wishing to inspect those documents are requested to 
call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jeanette Greenberg, Veterinary 
Biologics, BBEP, APHIS, USDA, room 571, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest 
Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782; telephone (301) 436-5390; fax (301) 436-
8669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A veterinary biological product regulated 
under the Virus-Serum Toxin Act (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) must be shown 
to be pure, safe, potent, and efficacious before a veterinary 
biological product license may be issued. A field test is generally 
necessary to satisfy prelicensing requirements for veterinary 
biological products. In order to ship an unlicensed product for the 
purpose of conducting a proposed field test, a person must receive 
authorization from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS).
    In determining whether to authorize shipment for field testing of 
the unlicensed veterinary biological products referenced in this 
notice, APHIS conducted risk analyses to assess the products' potential 
effects on the safety of animals, public health, and the environment. 
Based on those risk analyses, APHIS has prepared environmental 
assessments. APHIS has concluded that shipment of the unlicensed 
veterinary biological products for field testing will not significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment. Based on these findings of 
no significant impact, we have determined that there is no need to 
prepare environmental impact statements.
    Environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact 
have been prepared for the shipment of the following unlicensed 
veterinary biological products for field testing:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Requester(s)                Product          Field test location(s)
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Tufts University School  A live, genetically      Area astride the Cape 
 of Veterinary            engineered, vaccinia-    Cod Canal, Barnstable
 Medicine; Rhone          vectored rabies          County, MA (same 61- 
 Merieux, Inc.; and the   vaccine that expresses   square-mile area as  
 Centers for Disease      the rabies virus         for the ongoing field
 Control and Prevention.  surface glycoprotein;    test plus additional 
                          the vaccine is           20 square miles on   
                          enclosed in raccoon      the northern border).
                          baits.                                        
Rhone Merieux, Inc.,     A live, genetically      The northern part of  
 and the State of New     engineered, vaccinia-    Cape May Peninsula,  
 Jersey.                  vectored rabies          NJ (same area as for 
                          vaccine that expresses   the ongoing field    
                          the rabies virus         test).               
                          surface glycoprotein;                         
                          the vaccine is                                
                          enclosed in raccoon                           
                          baits.                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact 
have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)(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 Guidelines 
Implementing NEPA (44 FR 50381-50384, August 28, 1979, and 44 FR 51272-
51274, August 31, 1979).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of October, 1994.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-26532 Filed 10-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P