[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40869-40870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19273]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00615; FRL-6093-1]


Notice of Public Meeting; EPA/USDA Workshop on Bacillus 
thuringiensis Crop Resistance Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will 
conduct a 1-day joint public workshop on managing the emergence of 
insect populations that are resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) 
plant-pesticides. The workshop will provide the two Agencies with 
information to help them develop and implement plans related to 
managing resistance.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday August 26, 1999 from 8:00 
am to 5:30 pm.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 
Memphis International Airport, 2240 Democrat Road, Memphis, TN, 
telephone number: (901) 332-1130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Sharlene R. Matten, 
Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 605-0514; e-mail address: 
[email protected]; fax: (703) 308-7026. For questions 
specifically about registration for the workshop, contact the person 
listed in Unit II B of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?

    This notice applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency 
has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
affected by this notice. If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this notice to a particular entity, consult the 
technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' 
section.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of Any Documents 
Discussed in this Notice?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document and related supporting materials from the EPA internet 
Biopesticides Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
btworkshop826.htm. Electronic copies of this document, a draft agenda, 
and an EPA/USDA Position Paper for the workshop are currently 
available; a list of panelists and draft questions for panelists will 
be available by August 1, 1999. You can also go to the EPA internet 
Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select ``Laws and 
Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document under the 
``Federal Register - Environmental Documents.'' You can also go 
directly to the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/
homepage/fedrgstr/.
    2. In person. If you have any questions or need additional 
information about this action, you may contact the technical person 
identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
    In addition, the official record for this notice, including the 
public version, has been established under docket control number [OPP-
00615]. This official record not only includes the documents that are 
physically located in the docket, but also includes all the documents 
that are referenced in those documents. A public version of this 
official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any 
electronic comments, but does not include any information claimed as 
CBI, is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2 (CM #2), 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Public Information 
and Records Integrity Branch telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket control number [OPP-00615] in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. Comments on the EPA/USDA position paper, especially 
on Bt cotton, should be forwarded to the Agency no later than September 
30, 1999.
    1. By mail. Submit written comments to: Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver written comments to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and 
Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Rm. 119, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, VA.
    3. Electronically. Submit your comments and/or data electronically 
by e-mail to: [email protected]. Do not submit any information 
electronically that you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI). Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file, 
avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption, or 
in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. 
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
docket control number [OPP-00615]. Electronic comments on this notice 
may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

D. How Should I Handle CBI That I Want to Submit to the Agency?

    You may claim information that you submit in response to this 
document as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by marking any part 
or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be 
disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 
2. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any 
information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain 
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information 
not marked confidential will be included in the public docket by EPA 
without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the 
procedures for claiming CBI, please consult with the technical person 
identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.

E. What Should I Consider As I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    We invite you to provide your views on the various options we 
propose, new approaches we haven't considered, the potential impacts of 
the various options (including possible unintended consequences), and 
any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider 
during the development of the final action. You may find the following 
suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:

[[Page 40870]]

    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide solid technical information and/or data to support your 
views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate.
    5. Tell us what you support, as well as what you disagree with.
    6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    7. Offer alternative ways to improve this activity.
    8. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
notice.
    9. At the beginning of your comments, be sure to properly identify 
the document you are commenting on. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it 
is imperative that you identify docket control number [OPP-00615] in 
the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also 
provide the name, date, Federal Register citation, and/or the 
appropriate EPA or OMB ICR number.

II. BACKGROUND

A. What Issues Will the Workshop Address?

    On Thursday, August 26, 1999, the EPA/USDA will conduct a joint 
public workshop on Bt crops to discuss specific insect resistance 
management issues focusing on Bt cotton. Three preselected panels will 
explore: Refuge Design and Deployment; Monitoring and Remedial Action; 
and Education and Compliance Issues. The workshop will begin with 
introductory comments from representatives of EPA and USDA. Panelists 
will be selected beforehand from the various stakeholder groups: 
industry, academia, USDA, conventional and organic growers, public 
interest groups, Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council, and the 
National Cotton Council. Each panel's presentation will be followed by 
approximately 30-60 minutes of open discussion. Proceedings will be 
sent to all attendees and posted on the Biopesticides website: (http://
www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides).
    EPA believes that managing insect resistance to Bt toxins is 
important because of the threat that resistance poses to the high 
benefits and low risk of using Bt toxins in transgenic crops and in 
microbial spray formulations. With use of Bt-crops increasing, EPA 
recognizes the value of ensuring that Bt crops and microbial Bts remain 
effective against target pests for as long as possible. To this end, 
EPA has worked with stakeholders (e.g., industry, public sector 
research and extension, growers, user groups, public interest groups, 
and government agencies) to address resistance management for Bt crops.

B. What Should I Do if I Want to Attend the Workshop?

    EPA strongly requests all persons planning on attending the 
workshop to preregister. This information is needed to ensure adequate 
space for attendees. There is no registration fee. To register, please 
visit the workshop website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
biopesticides/btworkshop826.htm and fill out the registration form 
there. As an alternative, you may provide the following registration 
information directly to Teresa Bullock by e-mail or fax: Name(s); 
Organization; Mailing Address; Phone; Fax; E-mail. Teresa Bullock can 
be reached by: E-mail: [email protected]; Fax: (815) 753-9348; 
telephone: (815) 753-9347; Mailing Address: Teresa Bullock, American 
Farmland Trust, P.O. Box 987, DeKalb, IL 60115.
    A block of rooms has been reserved at the workshop hotel at a 
special rate. Please make your reservation early to ensure you get a 
room at that rate. Make your reservation by calling: Sheraton Four 
Points Hotel, 2240 Democrat Road, Memphis, TN 38132; Phone: (901) 332-
1130; Fax: (901) 398-5206.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Bt cotton, Bt crops, pesticides, plant-
pesticides, biopesticides, resistance management.

    Dated: July 14, 1999.

Kathleen D. Knox,
Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, 
Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-19273 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F