# State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Blight-Tolerant Darling 58 American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Developed Using Genetic Engineering
**AGENCY:**
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
**ACTION:**
Notice of availability; extension of comment period.
**SUMMARY:**
We are advising the public that we are extending the comment period on a notice of availability of a draft environmental impact statement and draft plant pest risk assessment evaluating the potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk that may result from the approval of a petition for nonregulated status for blight-tolerant Darling 58 American chestnut ( *Castanea dentata* ) from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
**DATES:**
The comment period for the notice published on November 10, 2022 (87 FR 67861-67862) is extended. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 26, 2023.
**ADDRESSES:**
You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• FederaleRulemakingPortal:Go to *www.regulations.gov.* Enter APHIS-2020-0030 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
• *Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:* Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2020-0030, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
The petition and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at *Regulations.gov* or in our reading room, which is located in room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 7997039 before coming.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Dr. Subray Hegde, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; (301) 851-3901; email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On November 10, 2022, we published in the *Federal Register* (87 FR 67861-67862), Docket No. APHIS-2020-0030) a notice of availability of a draft environmental impact statement and draft plant pest risk assessment [^1] evaluating the potential environmental impacts and plant pest risk that may result from the approval of a petition for nonregulated status for blight-tolerant Darling 58 American chestnut ( *Castanea dentata* ) from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
[^1] To view the notice, supporting documents, and public comments, go to *www.regulations.gov.* Enter APHIS-2020-0030 in the Search field.
Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before December 27, 2022. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2020-0030 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
*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 20th day of December 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.