[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45413-45414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15932]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0021]


Louisiana State University; Availability of an Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Field Test of Two 
Non-Pathogenic, Genetically Engineered Strains of Burkholderia glumae.

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a 
proposed field test involving two genetically engineered strains of the 
bacteria, Burkholderia glumae. Burkholderia glumae is a plant pathogen 
that causes panicle blight in rice (Oryza sativa). The purpose of this 
field test is to conduct experiments that will provide information on 
the pathogenicity of Burkholderia glumae and will assist in the 
development of control methods to reduce yield loss caused by panicle 
blight. After assessing the application, reviewing pertinent scientific 
information, and considering public comment, we have concluded that 
this field test will not present a plant pest risk, nor will it have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on 
its

[[Page 45414]]

finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared for this field test.

DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may read the environmental assessment (EA), finding of 
no significant impact (FONSI), and our response to the one the comment 
we received on the EA in our reading room, which is located in room 
1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming. The EA, FONSI and 
decision notice, and our response to the public comment are available 
on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_11101r_ea.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Huberty, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (301) 734-0659. To obtain copies of the EA, FONSI and 
decision notice, and our response to the public comment, contact Ms. 
Cynthia Eck at (301) 734-0667; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340, 
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through 
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to 
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the 
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the 
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through 
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to 
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered organisms and 
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be 
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may 
be introduced. The regulations set forth the permit application 
requirements and the notification procedures for the importation, 
interstate movement, or release in the environment of a regulated 
article.
    On April 21, 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 06-111-01r) from 
Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, LA for a field test using 
strains of the bacterium Burkholderia glumae. Permit application 06-
111-01r describes four Burkholderia glumae strains--two wild-type 
strains, one of which is disease-causing and the other naturally non-
pathogenic, endemic to the United States, and two genetically 
engineered, non-pathogenic strains that share the same avirulent 
phenotype. The transgenic strains were created by placing base pairs of 
a methyltransferase gene into the cloning vector. The introduced 
vector, along with the methyltransferase gene, will integrate into the 
bacterial chromosome by homologous recombination.
    The subject Burkholderia glumae is considered a regulated article 
under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because it is the causal 
pathological agent of panicle blight in rice, a plant disease occurring 
in the United States.
    On June 19, 2007, APHIS published a notice \1\ in the Federal 
Register (72 FR 33735-33736, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0021) announcing the 
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for a field test of 
two non-pathogenic, genetically engineered strains of Burkholderia 
glumae. During the 30-day comment period, which ended on June 19, 2007, 
APHIS received one comment, from an academic professional who opposed 
APHIS granting the permit. APHIS has addressed the issues raised in the 
comment and has provided a response as an attachment to the finding of 
no significant impact (FONSI).
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    \1\ To view the notice, the EA, and the comment we received, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0021.
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    Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 promulgated under the 
Plant Protection Act, APHIS has determined that this field test will 
not pose a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest. 
Additionally, based upon analysis described in the EA, APHIS has 
determined that the action proposed in Alternative C of the EA, issue 
the permit with supplemental permit conditions, will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. You may 
read the FONSI and decision notice on the Internet or in the APHIS 
reading room (see ADDRESSES above). Copies may also be obtained from 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The EA and FONSI were 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 Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of August 2007.
Cindy Smith,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-15932 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
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