The decision allows ArborGen, a forestry research & development firm that is a joint venture of International Paper, MeadWestvaco Corp., and New Zealand’s Rubicon Ltd., to continue its work on genetically engineering commercially desirable traits in eucalyptus species. In the permitted plantings, ArborGen is researching cold tolerance, the alteration of lignin biosynthesis, and the alteration of fertility. The permits authorize the confined planting of the eucalyptus trees on 29 sites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, and allowing trees to flower on 28 of the sites.
According to the decision notice, after reviewing the application, pertinent scientific information, and provided by the public, APHIS concluded that the field releases were unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, nor likely to have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on this finding of no significant impact, APHIS also detemined that no environmental impact statement needed to be prepared for the field release. The APHIS decision can be found in the May 12, 2010, edition of The Federal Register.
While the permit approvals may be welcome news to ArborGen and to the pulp and paper interests, not everyone is happy.
Supporters of the Organic Consumers Association submitted nearly 7,000 comments in opposition to the granting of the federal permits, citing the GE eucalyptus as invasive, highly flammable, and groundwater-thirsty.
"We are very disappointed but not surprised by the USDA's decision, which is likely to have severe social and environmental impacts," stated Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator of the STOP GE Trees Campaign. "The USDA's final environmental assessment disregarded concerns raised by thousands of people in comments submitted opposing the release of GE eucalyptus trees."
The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which includes organizations, foresters and scientists from across the U.S. and around the world, is preparing its next steps following the USDA decision. Stay tuned.
Commentary & Analysis
USDA Approves Planting of Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus in U.S. South
The USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service has green-lighted the planting of more than one quarter million genetically engineered eucalyptus trees across seven states in the U.S. South by a joint venture of IP and MeadWestvaco. Not everyone is happy, however.
On May 12, 2010, the USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a decision to approve two permit applications for the planting of more than one quarter million genetically engineered (GE), freeze-tolerant eucalyptus trees across seven states in the U.S. South.
The decision allows ArborGen, a forestry research & development firm that is a joint venture of International Paper, MeadWestvaco Corp., and New Zealand’s Rubicon Ltd., to continue its work on genetically engineering commercially desirable traits in eucalyptus species. In the permitted plantings, ArborGen is researching cold tolerance, the alteration of lignin biosynthesis, and the alteration of fertility. The permits authorize the confined planting of the eucalyptus trees on 29 sites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, and allowing trees to flower on 28 of the sites.
According to the decision notice, after reviewing the application, pertinent scientific information, and provided by the public, APHIS concluded that the field releases were unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, nor likely to have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on this finding of no significant impact, APHIS also detemined that no environmental impact statement needed to be prepared for the field release. The APHIS decision can be found in the May 12, 2010, edition of The Federal Register.
While the permit approvals may be welcome news to ArborGen and to the pulp and paper interests, not everyone is happy.
Supporters of the Organic Consumers Association submitted nearly 7,000 comments in opposition to the granting of the federal permits, citing the GE eucalyptus as invasive, highly flammable, and groundwater-thirsty.
"We are very disappointed but not surprised by the USDA's decision, which is likely to have severe social and environmental impacts," stated Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator of the STOP GE Trees Campaign. "The USDA's final environmental assessment disregarded concerns raised by thousands of people in comments submitted opposing the release of GE eucalyptus trees."
The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which includes organizations, foresters and scientists from across the U.S. and around the world, is preparing its next steps following the USDA decision. Stay tuned.
The decision allows ArborGen, a forestry research & development firm that is a joint venture of International Paper, MeadWestvaco Corp., and New Zealand’s Rubicon Ltd., to continue its work on genetically engineering commercially desirable traits in eucalyptus species. In the permitted plantings, ArborGen is researching cold tolerance, the alteration of lignin biosynthesis, and the alteration of fertility. The permits authorize the confined planting of the eucalyptus trees on 29 sites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, and allowing trees to flower on 28 of the sites.
According to the decision notice, after reviewing the application, pertinent scientific information, and provided by the public, APHIS concluded that the field releases were unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, nor likely to have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on this finding of no significant impact, APHIS also detemined that no environmental impact statement needed to be prepared for the field release. The APHIS decision can be found in the May 12, 2010, edition of The Federal Register.
While the permit approvals may be welcome news to ArborGen and to the pulp and paper interests, not everyone is happy.
Supporters of the Organic Consumers Association submitted nearly 7,000 comments in opposition to the granting of the federal permits, citing the GE eucalyptus as invasive, highly flammable, and groundwater-thirsty.
"We are very disappointed but not surprised by the USDA's decision, which is likely to have severe social and environmental impacts," stated Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator of the STOP GE Trees Campaign. "The USDA's final environmental assessment disregarded concerns raised by thousands of people in comments submitted opposing the release of GE eucalyptus trees."
The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which includes organizations, foresters and scientists from across the U.S. and around the world, is preparing its next steps following the USDA decision. Stay tuned.
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