USDA ANNOUNCES MEETINGS ON DRAFT EIS FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA

News Date January 12, 2010

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced the dates and locations for a series of public meetings where interested parties can comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.  This genetically engineered alfalfa is commonly referred to as Roundup Ready® (RR) alfalfa. This notice is published in the Jan. 12 Federal Register.

APHIS will consider comments made at meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada (January 19); Kearnery, Nebraska (February 3); Lincoln, Nebraska (February 4); and Riverdale, Maryland (February 9). 

On Dec. 14, 2009, APHIS announced that it had prepared a draft EIS in connection with making a determination on the status of the Monsanto Company and Forage Genetics International alfalfa lines designated as events J101 and J163 as regulated articles.  APHIS considered two alternatives in the draft EIS:  to grant non-regulated status to the two RR alfalfa lines, or to maintain the lines’ status as regulated articles.  APHIS analyzed these alternatives with regard to their potential environmental impacts, socioeconomic impacts, as well as human health and safety impacts.

In 2005, APHIS deregulated the two lines of RR alfalfa.  The agency prepared this draft EIS to comply with a February 2007 judgment and order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  The court did not overturn APHIS’ 2005 conclusions regarding the safety of the RR alfalfa for food and feed purposes, but rather concluded that APHIS had not adequately documented potential, or lack of potential, environmental impacts.

In addition to the public meetings, APHIS will consider all comments related to the draft EIS that are received on or before Feb. 16, 2010.  The draft EIS is available on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov. The public may comment either at the public meetings or in writing through eRulemaking or by postal mail.  (Contact: Bob Ehart)