[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26648-26649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12928]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 3, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 26648]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059]


ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment for 
Controlled Release of a Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrid

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for a 
proposed controlled field release of a genetically engineered clone of 
a Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of this release is to continue 
research on the effectiveness of gene constructs which are intended to 
confer cold tolerance; to test the efficacy of a gene introduced to 
alter lignin biosynthesis; and to test the efficacy of a gene designed 
to alter fertility. We are making the environmental assessment 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0059 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room 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.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Biotechnology Regulatory Services, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-
7324. To obtain copies of the environmental assessment, 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 January 11, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 08-011-106rm) from 
ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release of 
genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 19 locations. On January 
14, 2008, APHIS received a second permit application (APHIS No. 08-014-
101rm) from ArborGen for another controlled release of genetically 
engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 10 additional locations. Under these 
permits for a total of 29 sites, trees planted under previously 
approved permits (APHIS Nos. 06-325-111r, 08-039-102rm, and 08-151-
101r) would be allowed to flower.
    Permit applications 08-11-106rm and 08-014-101rm describe 
Eucalyptus trees derived from a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis X 
Eucalyptus urophylla. The purpose of the field tests is to assess the 
effectiveness of gene constructs which are intended to confer cold 
tolerance; to test the efficacy of a gene introduced to alter lignin 
biosynthesis; and to test the efficacy of a gene designed to alter 
fertility. In addition, the trees have been engineered with the 
kanamycin resistance selectable marker gene (nptII). These DNA 
sequences were introduced into Eucalyptus trees using disarmed 
Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
    The subject Eucalyptus trees are considered regulated articles 
under the regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because they were created using 
donor sequences from plant pests.
    To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and 
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks 
associated with the proposed release under permit of these transgenic 
Eucalyptus trees, APHIS has prepared an environmental assessment (EA). 
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 
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
    The EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our 
reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and 
information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided 
under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.) In 
addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the 
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.


[[Page 26649]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12928 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P