USDA Approves ArborGen Request to Plant 260,000 Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Trees Across US South
Note: Below you will find the Federal Register Notice of the USDA's decision to approve the mass-release of GE eucalyptus trees. We were anticipating this approval based on the USDA's record of approving the release of GMOs into the environment. The STOP GE Trees Campaign is now preparing our next steps.
To sign the petition opposing the mass-planting of GE trees, please go to:
http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/petition.php
For more information on the dangers of GE eucalyptus, please see the campaign website at http://nogetrees.org
To join the "frankentrees" informational listserve for updates on GE trees, please click here
[Federal Register: May 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 91)]
[Notices]
[Page 26708-26709]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my10-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059]
ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for a Controlled Release of
Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrids
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment for
proposed controlled field releases of a genetically engineered clone of
a Eucalyptus hybrid. The purpose of this release is to continue
research on the efficacy of genetic constructs intended to confer cold
tolerance, alter lignin biosynthesis and alter fertility. After
assessing the application, reviewing pertinent scientific information,
and considering comments provided by the public, APHIS has concluded
that these field releases are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, nor
are they likely to have a significant impact on the quality of the
human environment. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need not be prepared for this field
release.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may read the documents referenced in this notice and the
comments we received in our reading room. The reading room is located
in room 1141 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) 690-2817 before coming. Those
documents are also available on the Internet at (http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
[[Page 26709]]
biotech_ea_permits.html) and are posted with the previous notice and
the comments we received on the Regulations.gov Web site at (http://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail
&d=APHIS-2008-0059).
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EA, FONSI, and
response to comments, contact Ms. Cynthia Eck at (301) 734-0667; e-
mail: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR part 340,
``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through
Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to
Believe Are Plant Pests,'' regulate, among other things, the
introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the
environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through
genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to
believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered organisms and
products are considered ``regulated articles.'' A permit must be
obtained or a notification acknowledged before a regulated article may
be introduced. The regulations set forth the permit application
requirements and the notification procedures for the importation,
interstate movement, or release in the environment of a regulated
article.
On January 11, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) received a permit application (APHIS No. 08-011-106rm) from
ArborGen, LLC, in Summerville, SC, for a controlled field release of
genetically engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 19 locations. On January
14, 2008, APHIS received a second permit application (APHIS No. 08-014-
101rm) from ArborGen for another controlled release of genetically
engineered Eucalyptus hybrids in 10 additional locations. Under these
permits, trees allowed to be planted on 28 sites under previously
approved permits (APHIS Nos. 06-325-111r, 08-039-102rm, and 08-151-
101r) would be allowed to flower on 27 of the 28 sites. The original
request was to plant 29 sites and allow 28 to flower, however, one
location was removed from permit application 08-014-101rm, which
reduced the number to 28 sites, with 27 allowed to flower. If granted,
the permits would be issued for 3 years. To continue the field tests
beyond this 3-year period, the applicant will be required to submit a
renewal for an additional 3 years.
Permit applications 08-11-106rm and 08-014-101rm describe
Eucalyptus trees derived from a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis X
Eucalyptus urophylla. The purpose of this release is to continue
research on the efficacy of genetic constructs intended to confer cold
tolerance, alter lignin biosynthesis and alter fertility. In addition,
the trees have been engineered with the kanamycin resistance selectable
marker gene (nptII). These DNA sequences were introduced into
Eucalyptus trees using disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The subject
Eucalyptus trees are considered regulated articles under the
regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because they were created using donor
sequences from plant pests.
In a notice1 published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2009
(74 FR 26648-26649, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059), APHIS announced the
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) for public review and
comment for a proposed controlled field release of a genetically
engineered clone of a Eucalyptus hybrid. Comments on the EA were
required to be received on or before July 6, 2009. Commenters noted
that one of the documents cited in the EA, a U.S. Forest Service
assessment of hydrological impacts from Eucalyptus, was not available
for review. Subsequently, APHIS published a notice in the Federal
Register on January 19, 2010 (75 FR 2845, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059)
announcing the availability of an amended EA, which included the U.S.
Forest Service document, and reopened the comment period for the
environmental assessment an additional 30 days. APHIS also accepted
comments received in the interim between the two Federal Register
notices. There were 45 respondents that supported issuance of the
permit; and 12,462 respondents who were opposed. Further information
regarding the nature of the comments received, as well as APHIS'
response to those comments are contained in the response to comments
document (see ADDRESSES above).
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1 To view the notice, the environmental assessment, and the
comments we received, go to (http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/
home.html#docketDetail?R=APHIS-2008-0059)
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Pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection
Act, APHIS has determined that this field release is unlikely to pose a
risk of introducing or disseminating a plant pest. Additionally, based
upon analysis described in the EA, APHIS has determined that the action
proposed in Alternative B of the EA - issue the permit with
supplemental permit conditions - is unlikely to have a significant
impact on the quality of the human environment. The EA, finding of no
significant impact (FONSI), and response to comments documents are
available as indicated in the ADDRESSES sections of this notice. Copies
may also be obtained from the person listed under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
To provide the public with documentation of APHIS' review and
analysis of any potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks
associated with the proposed release of these Eucalyptus trees, an EA
and FONSI have been prepared. The EA and FONSI were prepared in
accordance with (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the
Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural
provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
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 10th day of May 2010.
Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11437 Filed 5-11-10; 9:22 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S
--
Anne Petermann
Executive Director
Global Justice Ecology Project
P.O. Box 412
Hinesburg, VT 05461 USA
+1-802-482-2689 ph/fax
+1-802-578-0477 mobile
skype: annepetermann
globalecology@gmavt.net
http://www.globaljusticeecology.org
Global Justice Ecology Project Mission Statement: To build local,
national and international alliances with action to address the
intertwined root causes of social injustice, economic domination and
environmental destruction.
Global Justice Ecology Project is the North American Focal Point of
the Global Forest Coalition
http://www.globalforestcoalition.org
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