Rules and Regulations. Notice; extension of comment period

Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
Action: Notice; extension of comment period
Citation: 77 FR (No. 35) · FR Doc. 2012-4081 · Docket No. APHIS-2010-0103

Summary

We are extending the comment period for a petition received from Dow AgroScience LLC seeking a determination of nonregulated status of corn designated as DAS-40278-9, which has been genetically engineered for increased resistance to broadleaf herbicides in the phenoxy auxin group (such as the herbicide 2,4-D) and resistance to grass herbicides in the aryloxyphenoxypropionate acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitor group (such as quizalofop herbicides). This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the 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 April 27, 2012.

Supplementary Information

On December 27, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 80872-80873, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0103) a notice 1 advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has received a petition from Dow AgroScience LLC seeking a determination of nonregulated status of corn ( Zea mays ) designated as event DAS-40278-9, which has been genetically engineered for increased resistance to broadleaf herbicides in the phenoxy auxin group (such as the herbicide 2,4-D) and resistance to grass herbicides in the aryloxyphenoxypropionate acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitor group (such as quizalofop herbicides). 1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and any comments we have received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0103. Comments on the Dow 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 February 27, 2012. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2010-0103 for an additional 60 days, ending April 27, 2012. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the Dow 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 15th day of February 2012. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2012-4081 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]