[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42481-42482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20752]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-069-1]


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 three environmental 
assessments and findings of no significant impact have been prepared by 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the issuance 
of permits to allow the field testing of genetically engineered 
organisms. The environmental assessments provide a basis for our 
conclusion that the field testing of the genetically engineered 
organisms will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a 
plant pest and will not have a significant impact on the quality of the 
human environment. Based on its findings of no significant impact, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that 
environmental impact statements need not be prepared for these field 
tests.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessments and findings of no 
significant impact are 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 telephone before visiting on (202) 690-2817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arnold Foudin, Deputy Director, 
Biotechnology Evaluation, BSS, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road 
Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-7710. For copies of the 
environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact, 
contact Ms. Linda Lightle at (301) 734-8231; e-mail: 
[email protected]. Please refer to the permit numbers listed 
below when ordering the documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 (referred 
to below as the regulations) regulate the introduction (importation, 
interstate movement, and release into the environment) of genetically 
engineered organisms and products that are plant pests or that there is 
reason to believe are plant pests (regulated articles). A permit must 
be obtained or there must be a notification, specific requirements met, 
and approval by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
before a regulated article may be introduced into the United States. 
The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and the 
notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement, and 
release into the environment of a regulated article.
    In the course of reviewing each permit application, APHIS assessed 
the impact on the environment that releasing the organisms under the 
conditions described in the permit application would have. APHIS has 
issued permits for the field testing of the organisms listed below 
after concluding that the organisms will not present a risk of plant 
pest introduction or dissemination and will not have a significant 
impact on the quality of the human environment. The environmental 
assessments and findings of no significant impact, which are based on 
data submitted by the applicant and on a review of other relevant 
literature, provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of the environmental impacts associated with conducting the 
field tests.
    Environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact 
have been prepared by APHIS relative to the issuance of permits to 
allow the field testing of the following genetically engineered 
organisms:

[[Page 42482]]



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       Permit No.               Permittee        Date issued           Organisms           Field test  location 
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97-071-01r.............  University of                6-3-97  Rhizobium and               Wisconsin.            
                          Wisconsin.                           Sinorhizobium bacterial                          
                                                               strains genetically                              
                                                               engineered to enhance                            
                                                               yield on host legumes.                           
97-083-02r.............  Sanford Scientific,          6-3-97  Geranium plants             California.           
                          Inc.                                 genetically engineered                           
                                                               for disease resistance                           
                                                               and extended flower life.                        
97-087-02r.............  Pure Seed Testing, Inc      6-24-97  Creeping bentgrass plants   Oregon.               
                                                               genetically engineered                           
                                                               for tolerance to the                             
                                                               herbicide glufosinate and                        
                                                               to contain the proteinase                        
                                                               inhibitor gene derived                           
                                                               from potato.                                     
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    The environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact 
have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 31st day of July 1997.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20752 Filed 8-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P