[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54950-54951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25686]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0156]


Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; Availability of Petition and 
Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for 
Genetically Engineered High-oleic Soybeans

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; availability of petition and extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is extending the public comment period on a petition 
from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., seeking a determination of 
nonregulated status for soybean designated as transformation event 
305423, which has been genetically engineered to have higher levels of 
oleic acid and lower levels of linoleic and linolenic acids in their 
oil. Due to an Agency oversight, an incorrect version of the Pioneer 
petition was originally posted on the Internet for review and comment. 
With this notice, we are advising the public that the correct version 
of the petition has been posted and is available for review and 
comment. We are also extending the comment period for the petition, the 
draft environmental assessment, and the plant pest risk assessment in 
order to provide the public a full 60 days to consider the petition for 
determination of nonregulated status and the supporting documents 
associated with that petition.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

[[Page 54951]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0156) 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-2007-0156, 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-2007-0156.
    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. Karen Green, Biotechnology 
Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236; (301) 734-0672, email: ([email protected]). To 
obtain copies of the petition or the draft environmental assessment, 
contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 734-0667, email: 
([email protected]). The petition, the draft environmental 
assessment, and the plant pest risk assessment are also available on 
the Internet at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_35401p.pdf), (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_35401p_ea.pdf), and (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/06_35401p_pra.pdf).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In a notice\1\ published in the Federal Register on September 2, 
2009 (74 FR 45413-45415, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0156), the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the availability of a 
petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., seeking a 
determination of nonregulated status for soybean designated as 
transformation event 305423, which has been genetically engineered to 
have higher levels of oleic acid and lower levels of linoleic and 
linolenic acids in their oil. In that notice, we indicated to the 
public that the petition, a draft environmental assessment, and a plant 
pest risk assessment were available on the Internet, in our Agency 
reading room, and from the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
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    \1\To view the notice, petition, draft environmental assessment, 
plant pest risk assessment, and any comments we have received, go to 
(http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0156).
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    Due to an Agency oversight, an incorrect version of the Pioneer 
petition was originally posted on the Internet for review and comment. 
With this notice, we are advising the public that the correct version 
of the petition has been posted and is available for review and 
comment. We are also extending the comment period for the petition, the 
draft environmental assessment, and the plant pest risk assessment in 
order to provide the public a full 60 days to consider the petition for 
determination of nonregulated status and the supporting documents 
associated with that petition. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
    After the comment period closes, APHIS will review all written 
comments received during the comment period and any other relevant 
information. All public comments received regarding the petition and 
draft environmental assessment will be available for public review. 
After reviewing and evaluating the comments on the petition, draft 
environmental assessment, and other data, APHIS will furnish a response 
to the petitioner, either approving or denying the petition. APHIS will 
then publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the regulatory 
status of Pioneer's 305423 soybean and the availability of APHIS' 
written decision.

    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 19th day of October 2009.

Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25686 Filed 10-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S