Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Genetically engineered organisms; field test permits— Tobacco etch virus,

[Federal Register: August 20, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 161)]

[Notices]

[Page 44603-44604]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20au98-26]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 98-080-1]

Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the issuance of a permit to allow the field testing of genetically engineered organisms. The environmental assessment provides a basis for our conclusion that the field testing of the genetically engineered organisms will not present a risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest and will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact are available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect those documents are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arnold Foudin, Assistant Director, Scientific Services, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-7710. For copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, contact Ms. Linda Lightle at (301) 734-8231; e-mail: Linda.Lightle@usda.gov. Please refer to the permit number listed below when ordering documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 (referred to below as the regulations) regulate the introduction (importation, interstate movement, and release into the environment) of genetically engineered organisms and products that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests (regulated articles). A permit must be obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may be introduced into the United States. The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement, and release into the environment of a regulated article.

In the course of reviewing the permit application, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) assessed the impact on the environment that releasing the organisms under the conditions described in the permit application would have. APHIS has issued a permit for the field testing of the organisms listed below after concluding that the organisms will not present a risk of plant pest introduction or dissemination and will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, which are based on data submitted by the applicant and on a review of other relevant literature, provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and analysis of the environmental impacts associated with conducting the field test.

An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by APHIS relative to the issuance of a permit to allow the field testing of the following genetically engineered organisms:

Permit No.

Permittee

Date Issued

Organisms

Field Test Location

98-120-01r................ Biosource

7-15-98Tobacco etch virus Kentucky.

Technologies, Inc.

genetically engi-

neered to express

genes of pharma-

ceutical interest.

[[Page 44604]]

The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (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).

Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of August, 1998. Joan M. Arnoldi, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-22460Filed8-19-98; 8:45 am]

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