[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26873-26874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13408]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 96-030-1]


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 an environmental assessment and a 
finding of no significant impact for the shipment of unlicensed 
veterinary biological products for field testing. A risk analysis, 
which forms the basis for the environmental assessment, has 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 finding of no significant impact, 
we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be 
prepared.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact may be obtained by writing to the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the docket 
number and publication date of this notice, as well as the first two 
words of the product name, when requesting copies. Copies of the 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact (as well 
as the risk analysis 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, 4700 River Road Unit 148, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1237, telephone (301) 734-8400, fax (301) 734-8910, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (21 U.S.C. 
151 et seq.), a veterinary biological product 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 veterinary biological 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 a risk analysis to assess the potential effect 
of these products on the safety of animals, public health, and the 
environment. Based on that risk analysis, APHIS has prepared an 
environmental assessment. 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 
this finding of no significant impact, we have determined that there is 
no need to prepare an environmental impact statement. An environmental 
assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by 
APHIS for the shipment of the following unlicensed veterinary 
biological products for field testing:

[[Page 26874]]



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             Requestor                                   Products                        Field test locations   
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Rhone Merieux, Inc.................  Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Coronavirus-  California, Colorado,     
                                      Parainfluenza-Parvovirus Vaccine, Modified       Florida, Georgia,        
                                      Live Virus, Live Canarypox Vector, Leptospira    Illinois, Maine,         
                                      Bacterin, Code 46J9.R1.                          Missouri, New Jersey, New
                                     Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Coronavirus-   York, Ohio, Oregon, South
                                      Parainfluenza-Parvovirus Vaccine, Modified       Carolina, Virginia.      
                                      Live Virus, Live Canarypox Vector, Code                                   
                                      1591.R1.                                                                  
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    The environmental assessment and finding 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' NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372; 60 FR 6000-6005, February 1, 1995).
    Unless substantial environmental issues are raised in response to 
this notice, APHIS intends to authorize the shipment of the above 
products and the initiation of the field tests on June 12, 1996.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of May 1996.
William S. Wallace,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13408 Filed 5-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P