Washington, DC, USA
December 7, 2016
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making available a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for public viewing/inspection that evaluates the environmental impacts that may result from the deregulation of The Scotts Company’s (Scotts) and Monsanto Company’s (Monsanto) genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass.
The EIS considered two alternatives: (1) take no action; APHIS would not change the regulatory status of the glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass, or (2) approve the petition for deregulation. The final EIS affirms APHIS’ preferred alternative to deregulate glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass.
A 30-day public viewing period begins upon publication of the availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register notice on December 9, 2016. Following the 30-day viewing period, APHIS will issue its record of decision for its final EIS, its final plant pest risk assessment, and final regulatory decision.
To view the EIS, supporting documents and to submit public comments beginning December 9, 2016 through January 9, 2017, please see Docket No. APHIS-2015-0096 on www.Regulations.gov. The EIS and supporting documents are also available below.
Background
On January 8, 2016, APHIS announced in the Federal Register the availability of a petition from Scotts and Monsanto seeking deregulation for creeping bentgrass genetically engineered (GE) for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate for a 60-day public comment period, which ended March 8, 2016.
On August 3, 2016, APHIS announced in the Federal Register our intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental impacts that may result from the approval of the Scotts and Monsanto petition. We requested that the public review our Notice of Intent (NOI) and provide comment to help us identify potential issues and impacts that APHIS should consider in our evaluation of the petition. The 30-day public comment period ended September 2, 2016.
APHIS thoroughly reviewed the public comments received on the NOI and other relevant data and prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) and Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA).
On September 30, 2016, APHIS announced the availability of the dEIS for a 45-day public comment period in the Federal Register. The comment period closed November 14, 2016. APHIS finalized the dEIS and preliminary PPRA after carefully considering public comments and before making a final regulatory determination and issuing a Record of Decision.
Supporting Documents
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Federal Register Notice of the Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS)
Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA)
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
APHIS Petition No. 15-300-01p
Topics
Species
