[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68681-68682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31772]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-50864; FRL-6398-3]


Plant-Pesticide Corn Rootworm Experimental Use Permits; Receipt 
of Applications

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of applications 524-EUP-ON, 524-
EUP-OE, and 524-EUP-OG from Monsanto Company, 700 Chesterfield Parkway 
North, St. Louis, Missouri 63198, requesting experimental use permits 
(EUPs) for the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb protein and the genetic 
material necessary for its production (Vector ZMIR14L) in corn, the 
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb protein and the genetic material 
necessary for its production (Vector ZMIR12L) in corn, and the Bacillus 
thuringiensis Cry3Bb protein and the genetic material necessary for its 
production (Vector ZMIR13L) in corn. The Agency has determined that 
these applications may be of regional and national significance. 
Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency is 
soliciting comments on these applications.

DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-50864, must be 
received on or before January 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments and data may be submitted by mail, electronically, 
or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method 
as provided in Unit I.C. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.'' To 
ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-50864 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Mike Mendelsohn, 
Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8715; and e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to those persons who are or may be required to 
conduct testing of plant-pesticides under the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Since other entities may also be interested, 
the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that 
may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person 
listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this 
Document and Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
document, and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. 
To access this document, 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/fedrgstr/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an official record for 
this action under docket control number OPP-50864. The official record 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, and 
other information related to this action, including any information 
claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official 
record includes the documents that are physically located in the 
docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those 
documents. The public version of the official record does not include 
any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official 
record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic 
comments submitted during an applicable comment period is available for 
inspection in the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch 
(PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 
Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB 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

[[Page 68682]]

ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket 
control number OPP-50864 in the subject line on the first page of your 
response.
    1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources 
and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 
a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    3. Electronically . You may submit your comments electronically by 
e-mail to: ``[email protected],'' or you can submit a computer disk as 
described above. Do not submit any information electronically that you 
consider to be CBI. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Electronic submissions will be accepted in Wordperfect 6.1/
8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be 
identified by docket control number OPP-50864. Electronic comments may 
also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

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

    Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to 
be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to 
this document as 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 the information claimed as 
CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the 
official record. Information not marked confidential will be included 
in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If 
you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, 
please consult the person identified under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.''

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

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternative ways to improve the notice.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
document.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
control number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first 
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

II. Proposed Experimental Programs

    The subject programs propose to test and evaluate genetically 
modified corn that has been developed to provide control of corn 
rootworm (Diabrotica spp.). Monsanto Company proposes to plant 186 
acres in Hawaii and Puerto Rico in 1999 of each plant-pesticide and 
1,237 acres in Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, 
Washington, and Wisconsin in 2000 of each plant-pesticide. All 
plantings of corn containing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb protein 
under these experimental programs will be contained during these 
experimental programs. No portion of the crops will be used for food or 
feed.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    Following the review of the Monsanto Company application and any 
comments and data received in response to this notice, EPA will decide 
whether to issue or deny the EUP requests for these EUP programs, and 
if issued, the conditions under which it is to be conducted. Any 
issuance of EUPs will be announced in the Federal Register.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Experimental use permits.

    Dated: December 1, 1999.

Janet L. Andersen,

Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Office of 
Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-31772 Filed 12-7-99; 8:45 am]
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