Availability of Draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Draft Environmental Assessment for Petition to Deregulate GE Soybean for Increased Yield and Herbicide Resistance

Date: March 12, 2019

Dear BRS Stakeholder,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on two documents related to the potential deregulation of a soybean variety genetically engineered (GE) for increased yield and resistance to the herbicide glufosinate. The documents are a draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA) that examines any plant pest risks and a draft Environmental Assessment (dEA) that analyzes the potential issues and environmental impacts.

This notice may be viewed in the Federal Register. Beginning tomorrow, the public will be able to submit comments on the dEA and preliminary PPRA for 30 days through April 12, 2019, at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2017-0075. These documents can be accessed now on the News and Information page of the BRS website.

APHIS will thoroughly review and consider all public input submitted during the comment period, and use the information as we work to complete, and then publish, final environmental documents and our regulatory determination.