[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F