APS REGULATORY ALERT

USDA seeks Public Comments on Imported Articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. to Prevent Introduction of Potato Brown Rot; EPA Developing a RED for Chloropicrin; EPS extended public comment period of PCNB RED; USDA Interim Rule on Karnal bunt regulations; Announcement of Fiscal Year 2007 Microbial Genome Sequencing Program
Date: December 14, 2006

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public comments by January 10 on the paperwork and regulatory burdens associated with the extension of "Certification Program for Imported Articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. to Prevent Introduction of Potato Brown Rot." Complete information can be found in the December 11 Federal Register.

EPA has released its human health and environmental fate and effects risk assessment(s) and related documents for the fumigant chloropicrin, and has opened a public comment period on these documents. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision for chloropicrin through the full six-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0661, must be received on or before January 29, 2007. http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/November/Day-29/p20145.htm

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of August 2, 2006, concerning the availability of the pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) reregistration eligibility decision (RED) and the opening of a 60-day public comment period. The Agency is now extending the comment period, for a third time, to January 8, 2006. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA- HQ-OPP-2004-0202, must be received on or before January 8, 2007.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule upon which public comments will be accepted through January 22, 2007 for amendment of Karnal bunt regulations, to remove certain areas or fields from the list of regulated areas based on the determination that those fields or areas meet our criteria for release from regulation are no longer necessary. For details see the November 22 Federal Register.

Announcement of Fiscal Year 2007 Microbial Genome Sequencing Program. The National Science Foundation and USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service have released the solicitation for the Fiscal Year 2007 Microbial Genome Sequencing Program. The Program supports 1) high throughput sequencing of the genomes of a wide range of microorganisms and 2) the development and implementation of strategies, tools and technologies to make currently available genome sequences more valuable to the user community.