[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24934-24935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12480]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50821; FRL-5370-6]


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 Dupont Agricultural Products of Delaware 
a notification (352-NMP-U) of intent to conduct small-scale field 
testing involving a baculovirus Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear 
Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) which has been genetically engineered to 
express a synthetic gene which encodes for an insect-specific toxin 
from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus. Dupont 
intends to test this microbial pesticide on cotton and cabbage in seven 
states. Target pests for these field trials include: the cabbage looper 
(Tricholplusia ni), the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), the 
cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), the beet armyworm (Spodoptera 
exigua) and the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). 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 June 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: By mail, submit written comments to: Public Response and 
Program Resources Branch, Field

[[Page 24935]]

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-50821. No CBI should be submitted through e-mail. 
Electronic comments on this notice 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 and telephone number: 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 Dupont Agricultural Products of Delaware (NMP No. 352-NMP-U). The 
proposed small-scale field trial involves the introduction of a 
genetically engineered isolate of the baculovirus Autographa 
californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) which has been 
modified to express a synthetic gene which encodes for an insect-
specific toxin from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus 
hebraeus.
    The purpose of the proposed testing will be to assess and compare 
the efficacy of two genetically modified constructs relative to the 
wild-type AcMNPV and a chemical insecticide standard against selected 
lepidoptera pests: Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera 
exigua, Trichoplusia ni, and Plutella xylostella.
    The proposed program will consist of one trial per site (except 
Louisianna) to be conducted in mid-summer 1996 thru fall 1996. Testing 
will occur in 7 states: Arizona, Georgia, Louisianna, and Mississippi 
for cotton trials, and Illinois, Maryland, and Texas, for cabbage 
trials. All sites will be located on secured, fenced research or 
commercial farmland with limited public access.
    There will be a maximum of nine treatments for each trial (cotton 
and cabbage). The active ingredient will be applied at 5E(12) occlusion 
bodies/ha (2E(12) occlusion bodies/ac) for three to five applications. 
There will be a maximum of 5 applications per treatment over a 3 to 4-
week period during the growing season. The total amount of active 
ingredient to be used is 7.2 E12 occlusion bodies.
    Treated sites for the cotton trials will each be a total of 4 rows 
wide by 50 ft. long and replicated 4 times for a total of 800 feet of 
row per treatment for each trial. Treated sites for the cabbage trials 
will be a total of 2 rows wide by 25 ft. long and replicated 4 times 
for a total of 200 feet of row per treatment. The active ingredient 
will be applied via CO2 backpack sprayer using a hand-held spray broom.
    All trials will be surrounded by a 10 ft. minimum unplanted buffer 
zone. Upon completion of the trials, crops will remain standing in the 
field for at least 2 weeks prior to destruction and plow down.
    Intensive monitoring of the recombinant construct will take place. 
Soil, leaf, and host insect samples will be collected from all 
treatments at weekly intervals and monitored for amount and type of 
virus present until crop destruction. Several assay methods will be 
employed in order to quantify virus content in soil, plant and host 
insects. Following review of Dupont'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 of receipt under 
docket number OPP-50821 (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 
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 172

    Environmental protection and Genetically-engineered microbial 
pesticides.

    Dated: May 9, 1996.
Janet L. Andersen,
Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, 
Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-12480 Filed 5-16-96; 8:45 am]
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