Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.; Availability of Petition, Plant Pest Risk Assessment, and Environmental Assessment of Determination of Nonregulated Status for Lepidopteran-Resistant Cotton

Résumé

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received a petition from Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., seeking a determination of nonregulated status for cotton designated as event COT67B, which has been genetically engineered to express a protein to protect cotton plants from lepidopteran insect damage. The petition has been submitted in accordance with our regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered cotton is likely to pose a plant pest risk. We are making available for public comment the Syngenta petition, our plant pest risk assessment, and our draft environmental assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status.