99-19273. Notice of Public Meeting; EPA/USDA Workshop on Bacillus thuringiensis Crop Resistance Management  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 40869-40870]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-19273]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    [OPP-00615; FRL-6093-1]
    
    
    Notice of Public Meeting; EPA/USDA Workshop on Bacillus 
    thuringiensis Crop Resistance Management
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: EPA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will 
    conduct a 1-day joint public workshop on managing the emergence of 
    insect populations that are resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) 
    plant-pesticides. The workshop will provide the two Agencies with 
    information to help them develop and implement plans related to 
    managing resistance.
    
    DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday August 26, 1999 from 8:00 
    am to 5:30 pm.
    
    ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 
    Memphis International Airport, 2240 Democrat Road, Memphis, TN, 
    telephone number: (901) 332-1130.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: Sharlene R. Matten, 
    Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511C), Office of 
    Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
    Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 605-0514; e-mail address: 
    matten.sharlene@epa.gov; fax: (703) 308-7026. For questions 
    specifically about registration for the workshop, contact the person 
    listed in Unit II B of this document.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. GENERAL INFORMATION
    
    A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?
    
        This notice applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency 
    has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially 
    affected by this notice. If you have any questions regarding the 
    applicability of this notice to a particular entity, consult the 
    technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' 
    section.
    
    B. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of Any Documents 
    Discussed in this Notice?
    
        1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this 
    document and related supporting materials from the EPA internet 
    Biopesticides Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
    btworkshop826.htm. Electronic copies of this document, a draft agenda, 
    and an EPA/USDA Position Paper for the workshop are currently 
    available; a list of panelists and draft questions for panelists will 
    be available by August 1, 1999. You can also go to the EPA internet 
    Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select ``Laws and 
    Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document under the 
    ``Federal Register - Environmental Documents.'' You can also go 
    directly to the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/
    homepage/fedrgstr/.
        2. In person. If you have any questions or need additional 
    information about this action, you may contact the technical person 
    identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
        In addition, the official record for this notice, including the 
    public version, has been established under docket control number [OPP-
    00615]. This official record not only includes the documents that are 
    physically located in the docket, but also includes all the documents 
    that are referenced in those documents. A public version of this 
    official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any 
    electronic comments, but does not include any information claimed as 
    CBI, is available for inspection in Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2 (CM #2), 
    1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
    Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Public Information 
    and Records Integrity Branch telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    
    C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
    
        You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or 
    electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
    docket control number [OPP-00615] in the subject line on the first page 
    of your response. Comments on the EPA/USDA position paper, especially 
    on Bt cotton, should be forwarded to the Agency no later than September 
    30, 1999.
        1. By mail. Submit written comments to: Public Information and 
    Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division 
    (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
    401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460.
        2. In person or by courier. Deliver written comments to: Public 
    Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and 
    Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
    Protection Agency, Rm. 119, CM #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
    Arlington, VA.
        3. Electronically. Submit your comments and/or data electronically 
    by e-mail to: opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Do not submit any information 
    electronically that you consider to be Confidential Business 
    Information (CBI). Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file, 
    avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption, or 
    in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
    standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. 
    All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
    docket control number [OPP-00615]. Electronic comments on this notice 
    may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
    
    D. How Should I Handle CBI That I Want to Submit to the Agency?
    
        You may claim information that you submit in response to this 
    document as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by marking any part 
    or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be 
    disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 
    2. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any 
    information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain 
    CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public record. Information 
    not marked confidential will be included in the public docket by EPA 
    without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the 
    procedures for claiming CBI, please consult with the technical person 
    identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
    
    E. What Should I Consider As I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
    
        We invite you to provide your views on the various options we 
    propose, new approaches we haven't considered, the potential impacts of 
    the various options (including possible unintended consequences), and 
    any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider 
    during the development of the final action. You may find the following 
    suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:
    
    [[Page 40870]]
    
        1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
        2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
        3. Provide solid technical information and/or data to support your 
    views.
        4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
    arrived at the estimate.
        5. Tell us what you support, as well as what you disagree with.
        6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
        7. Offer alternative ways to improve this activity.
        8. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this 
    notice.
        9. At the beginning of your comments, be sure to properly identify 
    the document you are commenting on. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it 
    is imperative that you identify docket control number [OPP-00615] in 
    the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also 
    provide the name, date, Federal Register citation, and/or the 
    appropriate EPA or OMB ICR number.
    
    II. BACKGROUND
    
    A. What Issues Will the Workshop Address?
    
        On Thursday, August 26, 1999, the EPA/USDA will conduct a joint 
    public workshop on Bt crops to discuss specific insect resistance 
    management issues focusing on Bt cotton. Three preselected panels will 
    explore: Refuge Design and Deployment; Monitoring and Remedial Action; 
    and Education and Compliance Issues. The workshop will begin with 
    introductory comments from representatives of EPA and USDA. Panelists 
    will be selected beforehand from the various stakeholder groups: 
    industry, academia, USDA, conventional and organic growers, public 
    interest groups, Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council, and the 
    National Cotton Council. Each panel's presentation will be followed by 
    approximately 30-60 minutes of open discussion. Proceedings will be 
    sent to all attendees and posted on the Biopesticides website: (http://
    www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides).
        EPA believes that managing insect resistance to Bt toxins is 
    important because of the threat that resistance poses to the high 
    benefits and low risk of using Bt toxins in transgenic crops and in 
    microbial spray formulations. With use of Bt-crops increasing, EPA 
    recognizes the value of ensuring that Bt crops and microbial Bts remain 
    effective against target pests for as long as possible. To this end, 
    EPA has worked with stakeholders (e.g., industry, public sector 
    research and extension, growers, user groups, public interest groups, 
    and government agencies) to address resistance management for Bt crops.
    
    B. What Should I Do if I Want to Attend the Workshop?
    
        EPA strongly requests all persons planning on attending the 
    workshop to preregister. This information is needed to ensure adequate 
    space for attendees. There is no registration fee. To register, please 
    visit the workshop website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
    biopesticides/btworkshop826.htm and fill out the registration form 
    there. As an alternative, you may provide the following registration 
    information directly to Teresa Bullock by e-mail or fax: Name(s); 
    Organization; Mailing Address; Phone; Fax; E-mail. Teresa Bullock can 
    be reached by: E-mail: tbullock@niu.edu; Fax: (815) 753-9348; 
    telephone: (815) 753-9347; Mailing Address: Teresa Bullock, American 
    Farmland Trust, P.O. Box 987, DeKalb, IL 60115.
        A block of rooms has been reserved at the workshop hotel at a 
    special rate. Please make your reservation early to ensure you get a 
    room at that rate. Make your reservation by calling: Sheraton Four 
    Points Hotel, 2240 Democrat Road, Memphis, TN 38132; Phone: (901) 332-
    1130; Fax: (901) 398-5206.
    
    List of Subjects
    
        Environmental protection, Bt cotton, Bt crops, pesticides, plant-
    pesticides, biopesticides, resistance management.
    
        Dated: July 14, 1999.
    
    Kathleen D. Knox,
    Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, 
    Office of Pesticide Programs.
    
    [FR Doc. 99-19273 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/28/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
99-19273
Dates:
The meeting will be held on Thursday August 26, 1999 from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Pages:
40869-40870 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
OPP-00615, FRL-6093-1
PDF File:
99-19273.pdf