[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11838-11839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7043]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50816; FRL-5352-7]


Receipt of a Notification to Conduct Small-Scale Field Testing of 
a Genetically-Engineered Microbial Pesticide

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has received from American Cyanamid Company of New Jersey 
a notification (241-NMP-G) of intent to conduct small-scale field 
testing involving a baculovirus Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear 
Polyhedrosis Virus (ACMNPV) which has been genetically engineered to 
contain a gene which encodes for an insect-specific protein toxin from 
the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis. American Cyanamid 
intends to test this microbial pesticide on cotton, tobacco, and leafy 
vegetables in 12 states. Target pests for these field trials include 
the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and the tobacco budworm (Heliothis 
virescens). The Agency has determined that the 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 should be submitted to EPA by April 22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments in triplicate, must bear the docket control number 
OPP-50816 and be submitted to: Public Docket and Freedom of Information 
Section, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington 
DC 20460.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic 
comments must be submitted in ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be 
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
docket number OPP-50816. No CBI should be submitted through e-mail. 
Electronic comments on this action may be filed online at many Federal 
Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic submissions 
can be found under the SUPPLEMENTARY unit of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Hollis, Biopesticides and 
Pollution Prevention Division (7501W), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Office location, telephone number, and e-mail address: 5th Floor, CS 
#1, 2805 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703)308-8733; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notification of intent to conduct small-
scale field testing pursuant to EPA's Statement of Policy entitled, 
``Microbial Products Subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act,'' published in 
the Federal Register of June 26, 1986 (51 FR 23313), has been received 
from American Cyanamid Company of New Jersey (NMP No. 241-NMP-E). The 
proposed small-scale field trial involves the introduction of a 
genetically-engineered isolate of the baculovirus Autographa 
californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV). The strain to 
be tested (vEGTDEL-AaIT) has been genetically modified with 
approximately 1 kilobase internal deletion in the ecdysteroid UDP-
glucosyltransferase gene and an inserted gene which encodes an insect-
specific toxin protein from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus 
australis.
    The purpose of the proposed testing will be to evaluate the 
efficacy of this genetically-altered AcMNPV (relative to the gene-
deleted construct and a commercial Bacillus thuringiensis insecticide) 
against certain lepidopteran species (Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper) 
and Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm) on tobacco, cotton and leafy 
vegetables.
    The proposed program consists of a total of 20 field trials to be 
conducted in spring 1996 thru fall 1996. Testing will occur in 12 
states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and 
Virginia. For each crop to to be treated, the following number of 
trials and treatments are proposed: Leafy vegetables/6 trials, 5 total 
treatments; cotton/11 trials, 10 total treatments; and tobacco/3 
trials, 6 total treatments. All sites will be located on secured 
research or commercial farmland with limited public access.
    There will be a maximum of four plots per treatment and a maximum 
of six applications per treatment. The maximum size of a given 
treatment plot in each test will be 0.02 acres (4 rows wide x 75ft. 
long). The total acreage treated with the genetically modified 
construct will consist of 7.4 acres. The total amount of active 
ingredient to be used will be 98.25g.
    Treated plots will be buffered on either side by an untreated row.

[[Page 11839]]
Alleyways (6') will be cut between replicates. Entire trials will be 
surrounded by a 10' crop-free buffer zone. Small-scale ground-based 
spray equipment will be used. Equipment will be cleaned with 
hypochlorite after applications with construct. Upon completion of the 
trials, crops will remain standing for at least 2 weeks to maximize the 
natural degradation of the remaining Polyhedral Inclusion Bodies (PIBs) 
before being shredded and interred into the soil.
    Weekly monitoring of target insects and those non-target insects 
will take place within treated plots. Following review of American 
Cyanamid Company's application and any comments received in response to 
this notice, EPA will decide whether or not an experimental use permit 
is required.
    EPA has established a record for this notice under docket number 
OPP-50816 (including comments and data submitted electronically as 
described below). A public version of this record, including printed, 
paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any 
information claimed as (CBI), is available for inspection from 8 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. The public 
record is located in Room 1132 of the Public Response and Program 
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
    [email protected]
    The official record for this document, as well as the public 
version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, 
EPA will transfer all comments received electronically into printed, 
paper form as they are received and will place the paper copies in the 
official record which will also include all comments submitted directly 
in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the 
``ADDRESSES'' unit at the beginning of this document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Genetically-engineered microbial 
pesticides.

    Dated: March 11, 1996.
Janet L. Andersen,
Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, 
Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-7043 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
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