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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><a href="https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AGST2">https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AGST2</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>introduced in Lower 48 states<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:2.25pt .75pt 1.5pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="green round image for nativity"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Native<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="blue round image for introduced"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Introduced<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="ocre round image for introduced and nativity"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Both<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image004.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="white round image for no status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Absent/Unreported<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image005.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="image for native, but no county data"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Native, No County Data<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image006.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="image for introduced, but no county data"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Introduced, No County Data<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=20 height=16 id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image007.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="both introduced and native, but no county data"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Both, No County Data<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0><tr style='height:12.0pt'><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:12.0pt'></td><td width=569 colspan=28 style='width:426.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:12.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AGST2" title="The Native Status table opens in a new window"><span style='color:#000099;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Native Status:</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=512 colspan=21 style='width:384.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="lower 48 status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>L48 <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_9" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Alaska status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>AK <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_10" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Hawaii status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>HI <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_11" src="cid:image009.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Puerto Rico status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>PR <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_12" src="cid:image009.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Virgin Islands status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>VI <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_13" src="cid:image009.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Navassa Island"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>NAV <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_14" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Canada status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>CAN <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_15" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Greenland status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>GL <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_16" src="cid:image008.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="Saint Pierre and Michelon status"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>SPM <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=8 style='width:6.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=22 height=22 id="Picture_x0020_17" src="cid:image009.png@01D26668.08717190" alt="North America"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>NA <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:9.0pt'><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:9.0pt'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Marc Imlay [<a href="mailto:ialm@erols.com">mailto:ialm@erols.com</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 04, 2017 8:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Wildlife and Endangered Species Forum' <<a href="mailto:CONS-WPST-WES-FORUM@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG">CONS-WPST-WES-FORUM@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> USDA/APHIS intends to deregulate genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass, Agrostis stolonifera<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I would also be very concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The statement at the top of page 60 for example:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>"Although conventional creeping bentgrass is rarely considered a problem weed . . . "<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>is not in alignment with my experience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>It will grow directly in standing water, both fully or partially submersed, as well as in wet meadows and along waterways. It forms vast monocultures that choke everything else out, and becomes <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>literally impossible to manage. It thrives in disturbance. We have a <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>wet meadow area that we are attempting to restore in Salt Lake County where this species simply grows over the top of almost everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I would most certainly consider it to be a very problematic weed, as well as invasive, at least in our area.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>And so is Polypogon monspeliensis, and it is also very difficult to <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>remove/control as well. Both of these species have spread into <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>wetland areas all along the Wasatch Front in Utah and both exist now <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>in almost every county throughout the state within natural areas. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>They are clearly not benign and should be of considerable concern, particularly with respect to the protection of wetland ecosystems.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This document seems to seriously understate the invasive potential of a transgenic hybrid and related risks given that it understates the already existing invasive nature of these two introduced species.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Tony Frates<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Utah Native Plant Society<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> APWG [<a href="mailto:apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org">mailto:apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lindsey Riibe<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 03, 2017 12:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org">native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org</a>; Alien Plant Working Group <<a href="mailto:apwg@lists.plantconservation.org">apwg@lists.plantconservation.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [APWG] Fwd: USDA/APHIS intends to deregulate genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass, Agrostis stolonifera<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The deadline for public comment is <span class=gmail-aqj>Jan. 9</span>, <span class=gmail-abn>next Monday</span>.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div id="gmail-m_5302248093931015015AOLMsgPart_1.2_906542bc-3571-4278-ad81-c9c33df0c87c"><div><div id="gmail-m_5302248093931015015AOLMsgPart_1.2_e8bdcff2-dce7-441d-8246-a9d23391cf62"><div><div id="gmail-m_5302248093931015015AOLMsgPart_2_d31dac56-5f12-43b6-9bdf-a395b6da0f28"><div><div id="gmail-m_5302248093931015015AOLMsgPart_2_885ef90d-826a-4e2a-8014-076c8abc2a21"><div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid #006600 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 11.0pt 0in'><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:24.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1042" src="https://public.govdelivery.com/system/images/30685/original/aphis_stakeholder_registry_usdalogo_banner.jpg"><o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:24.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333;font-weight:normal'> </span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:24.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>Final Environmental Impact Statement for Deregulation of</span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:#333333'> GE </span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>Glyphosate-Resistant Creeping Bentgrass, <i>Agrostis stolonifera</i></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h1></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:5.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is now making available a </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/15_30001p_feis.pdf" target="_blank" title="Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)"><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501517><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#336699'>final environmental impact statement (EIS)</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> for public viewing/inspection, which evaluates the environmental impacts that may result from the deregulation of The Scotts Company (Scotts) and Monsanto Company (Monsanto) genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'> (<i>Agrostis stolonifera</i>)</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>This final EIS considered two alternatives: (1) take no action </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333'>—</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> APHIS would not change the regulatory status of the glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass (ASR368); or (2) approve the petition for deregulation. <b>The final EIS affirms APHIS preferred alternative, to deregulate </b></span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#333333'>the</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'> </span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass.</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>A 30-day public viewing period begins upon publication of the availability of the final EIS in the </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fedregister/EPA_20161209.pdf" target="_blank" title="Federal Register Notice of Final EIS"><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501517><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#336699'>Federal Register</span></i></span></a></span><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501516><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#336699'> </span></i></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>notice on Friday 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. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>To view the final EIS, and supporting documents, and to <b>submit public comments</b> beginning <b>Friday <span class=gmail-m530224809393101501515>December 9, 2016 through Monday January 9, 2017</span></b>, please see </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2015-0096" target="_blank" title="Docket No. APHIS-2015-0096"><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501517><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#336699'>Docket No. APHIS-2015-0096</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> on <a href="http://www.Regulations.gov" target="_blank">www.Regulations.gov</a>. The final EIS and preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment are also linked here:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501515><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'>Supporting Documents</span></b></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>[see attached files]</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/15_30001p_feis.pdf" target="_blank" title="Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)"><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501517><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#336699'>Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#333333'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background-image:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/15_30001p_pppra.pdf" target="_blank" title="Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment for GE Creeping Bentgrass"><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501517><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#05386B'>Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA)</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />
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