[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 33226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15604]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33226]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-024-1]


Availability of Environmental Assessment for Field Release of 
Genetically Engineered Pink Bollworm

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
has been prepared for a proposed confined release into the environment 
of pink bollworm genetically engineered to express green fluorescence 
as a marker. The purpose of the release is to develop a marked strain 
of pink bollworm for performance studies in the pink bollworm sterile 
insect program. This environmental assessment is available to the 
public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive by July 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies (an original and three copies) of 
your comments to: Docket No. 01-024-1, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
    Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 01-024-1.
    You may read a copy of the environmental assessment and any 
comments we receive on this notice of availability 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. To be sure that someone is there to help you, please call 
(202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert I. Rose, Biotechnology 
Assessments Section, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8723. To obtain a copy of the environmental 
assessment, contact Ms. Kay Peterson at (301) 734-4885; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 (referred 
to 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 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.
    On January 29, 2001, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 01-029-01r) from 
APHIS' Plant Protection Center in Phoenix, AZ, for a permit to release 
the plant pest pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora 
gossypiella(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The subject PBW has been 
genetically engineered to express an enhanced green fluorescent protein 
(EGFP) derived from the jellyfish Aequora victoria. The PBW expressing 
EGFP fluoreses when viewed under an ultraviolet light source. A 
piggyBac transposable element derived from the plant pest cabbage 
looper (Trichoplusia ni) was used to transform the subject PBW, and 
expression of the EGFP is controlled through use of the Drosophila 
melanogaster hsp70 and Bombyx mori actin A3 promoters. The subject 
transgenic PBW is considered a regulated article under the regulations 
in 7 CFR part 340 because the recipient organism is a plant pest and 
because it contains gene sequences from a plant pest. The proposed 
field test will be conducted under carefully controlled and confined 
conditions.
    The transgenic PBW with EGFP as a marker has been developed for use 
in confined on site experimentation and field performance studies in 
the PBW sterile insect program, which is designed to depress PBW 
populations. The transgenic PBW will be reared in the Phoenix PBW 
genetic rearing facility, sterilized with radiation, and placed in 
escape-proof screen field cages near the facility, where they will 
undergo a series of fitness and related tests.
    To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk 
associated with the proposed release of the transgenicEGFP PBW, an 
environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared. The EA was prepared in 
accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended (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 
ImplementingProcedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of June 2001.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-15604 Filed 6-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U