[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 42644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20294]


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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. 74, No. 162 / Monday, August 24, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 42644]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0098]


Notice of Availability of Biotechnology Quality Management System 
Pilot Project Draft Audit Standard

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period on the draft audit 
standard developed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
for its Biotechnology Quality Management System pilot project. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments. The Biotechnology Quality Management System is a 
voluntary compliance assistance program designed to help stakeholders 
develop sound management practices, thus enhancing compliance with the 
regulatory requirements for environmental releases and movements of 
regulated articles in accordance with 7 CFR part 340.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 23, 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-2008-0098 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-2008-0098, 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-2008-0098.
    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: Dr. Edward Jhee, Biotechnology Quality 
Management System Program Manager, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 91, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-
6356, [email protected]. To obtain copies of the draft audit 
standard, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 734-0667, e-mail: 
[email protected]. The draft audit standard is also 
available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/news_bqms.shtml.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 4, 2009, APHIS published a notice in 
the Federal Register (74 FR 26831-26832, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0098) 
announcing the availability of the Biotechnology Quality Management 
System (BQMS) draft audit standard. Comments on the BQMS draft audit 
standard were to have been received on or before August 3, 2009. We are 
reopening the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2008-0098 for an 
additional 60 days. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments. We will also consider 
all comments received between August 4, 2009, and the date of this 
notice.
    Upon conclusion of the BQMS pilot project, APHIS will consider all 
comments received during the comment period to revise the draft audit 
standard to improve the efficacy of this project. This feedback, as 
well as comments from the pilot participants on the pilot BQMS project, 
will be used to inform the development of a BQMS audit standard and any 
future BQMS initiative. The BQMS draft audit standard is available for 
public review, and copies of this document are available as indicated 
under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of August 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-20294 Filed 8-21-09; 8:45 am]
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