[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24934-24935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12480]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-50821; FRL-5370-6]
Receipt of a Notification to Conduct Small-Scale Field Testing of
a Genetically Engineered Microbial Pesticide
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA has received from Dupont Agricultural Products of Delaware
a notification (352-NMP-U) of intent to conduct small-scale field
testing involving a baculovirus Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear
Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) which has been genetically engineered to
express a synthetic gene which encodes for an insect-specific toxin
from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus. Dupont
intends to test this microbial pesticide on cotton and cabbage in seven
states. Target pests for these field trials include: the cabbage looper
(Tricholplusia ni), the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), the
cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea), the beet armyworm (Spodoptera
exigua) and the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). The Agency has
determined that the application may be of regional and national
significance. Therefore, in accordance with 40 CFR 172.11 (a), the
Agency is soliciting public comments on this application.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted to EPA by June 17, 1996.
ADDRESSES: By mail, submit written comments to: Public Response and
Program Resources Branch, Field
[[Page 24935]]
Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic
comments must be submitted in ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by
docket number OPP-50821. No CBI should be submitted through e-mail.
Electronic comments on this notice may be filed online at many Federal
Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic submissions
can be found under the SUPPLEMENTARY unit of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Hollis, Biopesticides and
Pollution Prevention Division (7501W), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Office location and telephone number: 5th Floor, CS #1, 2805 Jefferson
Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, (703) 308-8733; e-mail:
hollis.linda@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notification of intent to conduct small-
scale field testing pursuant to EPA's Statement of Policy entitled,
``Microbial Products subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act,'' published in
the Federal Register of June 26, 1986 (51 FR 23313), has been received
from Dupont Agricultural Products of Delaware (NMP No. 352-NMP-U). The
proposed small-scale field trial involves the introduction of a
genetically engineered isolate of the baculovirus Autographa
californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) which has been
modified to express a synthetic gene which encodes for an insect-
specific toxin from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus
hebraeus.
The purpose of the proposed testing will be to assess and compare
the efficacy of two genetically modified constructs relative to the
wild-type AcMNPV and a chemical insecticide standard against selected
lepidoptera pests: Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera
exigua, Trichoplusia ni, and Plutella xylostella.
The proposed program will consist of one trial per site (except
Louisianna) to be conducted in mid-summer 1996 thru fall 1996. Testing
will occur in 7 states: Arizona, Georgia, Louisianna, and Mississippi
for cotton trials, and Illinois, Maryland, and Texas, for cabbage
trials. All sites will be located on secured, fenced research or
commercial farmland with limited public access.
There will be a maximum of nine treatments for each trial (cotton
and cabbage). The active ingredient will be applied at 5E(12) occlusion
bodies/ha (2E(12) occlusion bodies/ac) for three to five applications.
There will be a maximum of 5 applications per treatment over a 3 to 4-
week period during the growing season. The total amount of active
ingredient to be used is 7.2 E12 occlusion bodies.
Treated sites for the cotton trials will each be a total of 4 rows
wide by 50 ft. long and replicated 4 times for a total of 800 feet of
row per treatment for each trial. Treated sites for the cabbage trials
will be a total of 2 rows wide by 25 ft. long and replicated 4 times
for a total of 200 feet of row per treatment. The active ingredient
will be applied via CO2 backpack sprayer using a hand-held spray broom.
All trials will be surrounded by a 10 ft. minimum unplanted buffer
zone. Upon completion of the trials, crops will remain standing in the
field for at least 2 weeks prior to destruction and plow down.
Intensive monitoring of the recombinant construct will take place.
Soil, leaf, and host insect samples will be collected from all
treatments at weekly intervals and monitored for amount and type of
virus present until crop destruction. Several assay methods will be
employed in order to quantify virus content in soil, plant and host
insects. Following review of Dupont's application and any comments
received in response to this notice, EPA will decide whether or not an
experimental use permit is required.
EPA has established a record for this notice of receipt under
docket number OPP-50821 (including comments and data submitted
electronically as described below). A public version of this record,
including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does
not include any information claimed as (CBI), is available for
inspection from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
legal holidays. The public record is located in Room 1132 of the Public
Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency,
Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov
The official record for this document, as well as the public
version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly,
EPA will transfer all comments received electronically into printed,
paper form as they are received and will place the paper copies in the
official record which will also include all comments submitted directly
in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this document.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 172
Environmental protection and Genetically-engineered microbial
pesticides.
Dated: May 9, 1996.
Janet L. Andersen,
Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division,
Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-12480 Filed 5-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
