BASF Petition (19-317-01P)
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BASF Petition (19-317-01p) for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Transgenic GMB151 Soybean Resistant to the Soybean Cyst Nematode and HPPD- inhibiting Herbicides OECD Unique Identifier: BCS-GM151-6 Draft Environmental Assessment June 2021 Agency Contact Cindy Eck Biotechnology Regulatory Services 4700 River Road USDA, APHIS Riverdale Park, MD 20737 In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. Mention of companies or commercial products in this report does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over others not mentioned. USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide specific information. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... - V - LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... - VI - LIST OF ACRONYMS .............................................................................................. - VII - 1 PURPOSE AND NEED ......................................................................................... - 1 - 2 SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ........................................................... - 5 - 3 ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................................. - 7 - 4 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................. - 23 - 4.1.1 Acreage and Regional Distribution of Soybean Production ............................... - 26 - 4.1.2 Agronomic Practices for Conventional Soybean Production ............................. - 26 - 4.1.3 Agronomic Practices for Organic Soybean Production ...................................... - 37 - 4.2.1 Soil Quality ......................................................................................................... - 38 - 4.2.2 Water Resources ................................................................................................. - 40 - 4.2.3 Air Quality .......................................................................................................... - 43 - 4.3.1 Animal Communities .......................................................................................... - 44 - 4.3.2 Plant Communities ............................................................................................. - 46 - 4.3.3 Gene Flow and Weediness ................................................................................. - 50 - 4.3.4 Microorganisms .................................................................................................. - 51 - i 4.3.5 Biodiversity ........................................................................................................ - 53 - 4.5.1 Public Health ...................................................................................................... - 54 - 4.5.2 Occupational Health and Worker Safety ............................................................ - 55 - 4.6.1 Domestic Economic Environment ...................................................................... - 56 - 4.6.2 International Trade Environment ........................................................................ - 57 - 5 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................................................. - 60 - 5.3.1 Locations and Acreage of Soybean Production: No Action Alternative ............ - 61 - 5.3.2 Locations and Acreage of Soybean Production: Preferred Alternative .............. - 61 - 5.3.3 Agronomic Practices: No Action Alternative ..................................................... - 62 - 5.3.4 Agronomic Practices: Preferred Alternative ....................................................... - 62 - 5.3.5 Soybean Seed Production: No Action Alternative ............................................. - 63 - 5.3.6 Soybean Seed Production: Preferred Alternative ............................................... - 63 - 5.3.7 Organic and Conventional Soybean Production: No Action Alternative ........... - 64 - 5.3.8 Organic and Conventional Soybean Production: Preferred Alternative ............. - 64 - 5.4.1 Soil Quality: No Action Alternative ................................................................... - 64 - 5.4.2 Soil Quality: Preferred Alternative ..................................................................... - 65 - 5.4.3 Water Resources: No Action Alternative ........................................................... - 65 - 5.4.4 Water Resources: Preferred Alternative ............................................................. - 66 - 5.4.5 Air Quality: No Action Alternative .................................................................... - 66 - 5.4.6 Air Quality: Preferred Alternative ...................................................................... - 67 - 5.5.1 Animal Communities: No Action Alternative .................................................... - 67 - 5.5.2 Animal Communities: Preferred Alternative ...................................................... - 67 - 5.5.3 Plant Communities: No Action Alternative ........................................................ - 68 - 5.5.4 Plant Communities: Preferred Action Alternative .............................................. - 68 - ii 5.5.5 Gene Flow and Weediness: No Action Alternative ............................................ - 69 - 5.5.6 Gene Flow and Weediness: Preferred Alternative ............................................. - 69 - 5.5.7 Microorganisms: No Action Alternative ............................................................ - 70 - 5.5.8 Microorganisms: Preferred Alternative .............................................................. - 70 - 5.5.9 Biodiversity: No Action Alternative ................................................................... - 71 - 5.5.10 Biodiversity: Preferred Alternative .................................................................... - 71 - 5.6.1 Animal Feed—No Action Alternative ................................................................ - 72 - 5.6.2 Animal Feed—Preferred Alternative .................................................................. - 73 - 5.7.1 Public Health: No Action Alternative ................................................................ - 73 - 5.7.2 Public Health: Preferred Alternative .................................................................. - 74 - 5.7.3 Worker Safety: No Action Alternative ............................................................... - 74 - 5.7.4 Worker Safety: Preferred Alternative ................................................................. - 75 - 5.8.1 Domestic Economic Environment: No Action Alternative ................................ - 76 - 5.8.2 Domestic Economic Environment: Preferred Alternative .................................. - 76 - 5.8.3 International Trade Economic Environment: No Action Alternative ................ - 76 - 5.8.4 International Trade Economic Environment: Preferred Alternative .................. - 77 - 6 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ................................................................................... - 78 - 7 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ................................................ - 85 - 7.2.1 Threatened and Endangered Plant Species and Critical Habitat ........................ - 88 - 6.2.2 Threatened and Endangered Animal Species and Critical Habitat ..................... - 89 - iii 8 CONSIDERATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, STANDARDS, AND TREATIES RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .................................................. - 94 - 8.1.1 National