[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23207-23208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09144]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0020]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Field Testing of 
a Yersinia Pestis Vaccine, Live Raccoon Poxvirus Vector

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment concerning 
authorization to ship for the purpose of field testing, and then to 
field test, an unlicensed Yersinia Pestis Vaccine, Live Raccoon 
Poxvirus Vector. The environmental assessment, which is based on a risk 
analysis prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing 
of this vaccine and related information, examines the potential effects 
that field testing this veterinary vaccine could have on the quality of 
the human environment. Based on the risk analysis and other relevant 
data, we have reached a preliminary determination that field testing 
this veterinary vaccine will not have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment, and that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared. We intend to authorize shipment of this 
vaccine for field testing following the close of the comment period for 
this notice unless new substantial issues bearing on the effects of 
this action are brought to our attention. We also intend to issue a 
U.S. Veterinary Biological Product license for this vaccine, provided 
the field test data support the conclusions of the environmental 
assessment and the issuance of a finding of no significant impact and 
the product meets all other requirements for licensing.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
20, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0020-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0020, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-
0020 or 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) 7997039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Donna Malloy, Operational Support 
Section, Center for Veterinary Biologics, Policy, Evaluation, and 
Licensing, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 148, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; phone (301) 851-3426, fax (301) 734-4314.
    For information regarding the environmental assessment or the risk 
analysis, or to request a copy of the environmental assessment (as well 
as the risk analysis with confidential business information removed), 
contact Dr. Patricia L. Foley, Risk Manager, Center for Veterinary 
Biologics, Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing VS, APHIS, 1920 Dayton 
Avenue, P.O. Box 844, Ames, IA 50010; phone (515) 337-6100, fax (515) 
337-6120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (21 U.S.C. 
151 et seq.), a veterinary biological product must be shown to be pure, 
safe, potent, and efficacious before a veterinary biological product 
license may be issued. A field test is generally necessary to satisfy 
prelicensing requirements for veterinary biological products. Prior to 
conducting a field test on an unlicensed product, an applicant must 
obtain approval from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS), as well as obtain APHIS' authorization to ship the product for 
field testing.
    To determine whether to authorize shipment and grant approval for 
the field testing of the unlicensed product referenced in this notice, 
APHIS considers the potential effects of this product on the safety of 
animals, public health, and the environment. Using the

[[Page 23208]]

risk analysis and other relevant data, APHIS has prepared an 
environmental assessment (EA) concerning the field testing of the 
following unlicensed veterinary biological product:
    Requester: U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center.
    Product: Yersinia Pestis Vaccine, Live Raccoon Poxvirus Vector.
    Possible Field Test Locations: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New 
Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
    The above-mentioned product consists of a live recombinant raccoon 
poxvirus vector expressing two Yersinia pestis proteins. The vaccine is 
for the oral vaccination of certain wildlife species, specifically 
free-ranging prairie dogs, as an aid in the prevention and control of 
sylvatic plague.
    The EA has been 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).
    Unless substantial issues with adverse environmental impacts are 
raised in response to this notice, APHIS intends to issue a finding of 
no significant impact (FONSI) based on the EA and authorize shipment of 
the above product for the initiation of field tests following the close 
of the comment period for this notice.
    Because the issues raised by field testing and by issuance of a 
license are identical, APHIS has concluded that the EA that is 
generated for field testing would also be applicable to the proposed 
licensing action. Provided that the field test data support the 
conclusions of the original EA and the issuance of a FONSI, APHIS does 
not intend to issue a separate EA and FONSI to support the issuance of 
the product license, and would determine that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared. APHIS intends to issue a veterinary 
biological product license for this vaccine following completion of the 
field test provided no adverse impacts on the human environment are 
identified and provided the product meets all other requirements for 
licensing.

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 151-159.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of April 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09144 Filed 4-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P