[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23448-23449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11021]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50829; FRL-5714-8]
Receipt of Notifications to Conduct Small-Scale Field Testing of
Genetically Engineered Microbial Pesticides
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of three notifications of intent
to conduct small-scale field testing involving microorganisms which
have been genetically engineered to express pesticidal toxins. Two,
from Dupont and American Cyanimid, respectively, involve baculoviruses
expressing synthetic genes which encode for insect-specific toxins from
the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus, and the other, from the
University of Wisconsin, involves various strains of nitrogen-fixing
bacteria of the genera, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium, containing a
plasmid which has been engineered to express trifolitoxin, an
antibiotic derived from Rhizobium species, in order to inhibit the
growth of competing soil bacteria. The Agency has determined that these
notifications may be of regional and national significance. Therefore,
in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is soliciting public
comments on these notifications.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to EPA by May 30, 1997.
ADDRESSES: By mail, submit written comments identified by the document
control number [OPP-50829] and the appropriate file symbol to: Public
Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Divisions
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments to: Rm.
1132, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by following
the instructions under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION unit of this
document. No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be
submitted through e-mail.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William R. Schneider, 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 Highway, Arlington, VA, (703) 308-
8683; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA received three notifications of proposed
small-scale field testing as follows. Notice of receipt of these
notifications does not imply a decision by the Agency on these
notifications.
1. A Notification (352-NMP-004) was received from DuPont
Agricultural Products of Delaware. The proposed small-scale field trial
involves the introduction of two baculoviruses, Autographa californica
Multiple-embedded Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV), and Helicoverpa
zea Single-embedded Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (HzSNPV), which have
been genetically engineered 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 these baculoviruses alone and in combination with each
other against the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), cotton
bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), and beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), on
cotton. The proposed program will be conducted in 1997, and the total
acreage for all sites will not exceed 6 acres. The number of acres and
site per state are: Alabama (0.24 acre), Georgia (0.24 acre), Louisiana
(2 sites, 1.48 acres), Maryland (1.0 acre), Mississippi (3 sites, 0.18
acre), North Carolina (0.24 acre), South Carolina (0.36 acre), and
Texas (3 sites, 1.l6 acres). The total amount of baculovirus for all of
the testing will not exceed 6E13 occlusion bodies. Extensive monitoring
to gather persistence data will be conducted on the Louisiana site and
effects on non-target beneficial arthropods will be studied at the
Texas site. On completion of the test, the crops will remain standing
for at least 1 week prior to destruction, except for the monitoring
site. At the completion of the study, all plots will be oversprayed
with wild-type virus.
2. A Notification (241-NMP-U) was received from American Cyanimid
Company. The proposed small-scale field trial involves the introduction
of a baculovirus, Autographa californica Multiple-embedded 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. This
is the same construct that was previously field tested in 1995 and
1996.
The purpose of the proposed testing will be to evaluate the
efficacy of the baculovirus against the tobacco budworm (Heliothis
virescens) and cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) on cotton, tobacco, and
leafy vegetables. The proposed program will be conducted in 1997, and
the total acreage for all sites will not exceed 9.9 acres. Individual
tests will be conducted in: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina,
Texas, and Virginia. The total amount of AcMNPV for all of the testing
will not exceed 250 grams of active ingredient. On completion of the
test, the crops will be destroyed. Ground spray equipment will be used
and will be disinfected with
[[Page 23449]]
0.1% sodium hypochlorite following use.
3. A Notification (70721-NMP-R) was received from Eric Triplett of
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The proposed small-scale field
trial involves the introduction of a recombinant plasmid into various
strains of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium.
The plasmid, pH2TFXPAR, has been genetically engineered to express a
gene for trifolitoxin that has pesticidal properties, i.e. it serves to
inhibit the growth of competing soil bacteria. The trifolitoxin gene is
found naturally in various strains of Rhizobium. The plasmid was
constructed to eliminate plasmid mobilization genes in order to reduce
its ability to transfer into other strains of soil bacteria. The
plasmid also contains a non-pesticidal gene, a hydrogenase which serves
to enhance the nitrogen-fixing process.
The purpose of the proposed testing will be to evaluate the
efficacy of the bacteria for yield enhancement, nodulation
competitiveness, and plasmid stability by inoculating alfalfa, clover,
and bean seeds. The proposed program will begin in 1997, and be
followed for at least 2 years. The total acreage for all sites will not
exceed 10 acres. All tests will be conducted in Wisconsin and all crops
will be destroyed or used for analysis following the field tests.
Following review of these notifications and any comments received
in response to this notice, EPA may approve the tests, ask for
additional data, require additional modifications to the test
protocols, or require EUP applications to be submitted. In accordance
with 40 CFR 172.50, under no circumstances shall the proposed tests
proceed until the submitters have received notice from EPA of its
approval of such tests.
The official record for this notice, as well as the public version,
has been established for this notice under docket control number ``OPP-
50829'' (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 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
official rulemaking record is located at the address in ``ADDRESSES''
at the beginning of this document.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
[email protected]
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comment and data
will also be accepted on disks in Wordperfect 5.1 file format or ASCII
file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be
identified by the docket control number OPP-50829 and the appropriate
file symbol. Electronic comments on this notice may be filed online at
many Federal Depository Libraries.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection and Genetically engineered microbial
pesticides.
Dated: April 21, 1997.
Janet L. Andersen,
Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-11021 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
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