76 FR 144 pgs. 44891-44892 - Monsanto Co.; Availability of Petition, Plant Pest Risk Assessment, and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Corn Genetically Engineered for Drought Tolerance
Type: NOTICEVolume: 76Number: 144Pages: 44891 - 44892
Docket number: [Docket No. APHIS-2011-0023]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2011-19039 Filed 7-26-11; 8:45 am]
Agency: Agriculture Department
Sub Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0023]
Monsanto Co.; Availability of Petition, Plant Pest Risk Assessment, and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Corn Genetically Engineered for Drought Tolerance
AGENCY:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION:
Notice; reopening of comment period.
SUMMARY:
We are reopening the comment period for a petition received from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn designated as MON 87460, which has been genetically engineered for drought tolerance. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the Monsanto petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.
DATES:
We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 12, 2011.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0023-0001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0023, 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-2011-0023 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) 690-2817 before coming.
The petition, draft environmental assessment, and plant pest risk assessment are also available on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/09_05501p.pdf, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/09_05501p _dea.pdf, and http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/09_05501p _dpra.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Evan Chestnut, Policy Analyst, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-0942, e-mail: evan.a.chestnut@aphis.usda.gov. To obtain copies of the petition, draft environmental assessment, or plant pest risk assessment, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 734-0667, e-mail: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On May 11, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 27303-27304, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0023) a notice1advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status for corn designated as MON 87460, which has been genetically engineered for drought tolerance.
Footnotes:
1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and any comments we have received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0023.
Comments on the Monsanto petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status were required to be received on or before July 11, 2011. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2011-0023 for an additional 30 days, ending August 12, 2011. We will also consider all comments received between July 12, 2011 (the day after the close of the original comment period) and the date of this notice. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the Monsanto petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.
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 22nd day of July 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-19039 Filed 7-26-11; 8:45 am]
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