[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13163-13164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6923]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-019-1]


Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding 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 an environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact has been prepared by the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the issuance of a 
permit to allow the field testing of genetically engineered organisms. 
The environmental assessment provides 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 finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact is 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 the document are requested 
to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading 
room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arnold Foudin, Assistant Director, 
Scientific Services, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-7612. For a copy of the 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, contact 
Ms. Linda Lightle at (301) 734-8231; e-mail: [email protected]. 
Please refer to the permit number listed below when ordering the 
document.

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 a

[[Page 13164]]

notification acknowledged 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 the permit application, the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) assessed the impact on the 
environment that releasing the organisms under the conditions described 
in the permit application would have. APHIS has issued a permit 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 assessment and finding of no 
significant impact, which is based on data submitted by the applicant 
and on a review of other relevant literature, provides the public with 
documentation of APHIS' review and analysis of the environmental 
impacts associated with conducting the field test.
    An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
has been prepared by APHIS relative to the issuance of a permit to 
allow the field testing of the following genetically engineered 
organisms:

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          Permit No.                 Permittee       Date issued          Organisms          Field test location
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97-301-01r...................  ProdiGene, Inc......      1-30-98  Tomato plants genetically  Texas.             
                                                                   engineered to express a                      
                                                                   novel protein of                             
                                                                   pharmaceutical interest.                     
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    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
has 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 11th day of March 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6923 Filed 3-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P