United States Department of Agriculture Proposal to permit the Marketing and Regulatory field release of Programs genetically engineered Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service diamondback moth in New York Environmental Assessment, May 2014 Proposal to permit the field release of genetically engineered diamondback moth in New York Environmental Assessment May 2014 Agency Contact: Cindy Eck Biotechnology and Regulatory Services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Mention of companies or commercial products in this report does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 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. This publication reports research involving pesticides. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... VI LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ VI ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................ VII 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 1 2 PURPOSE AND NEED .............................................................................................. 2 2.1 Regulatory Authority............................................................................................ 2 2.2 Regulated Organisms ........................................................................................... 2 2.3 APHIS Response to a Permit Application for a Field Release ............................ 3 2.4 Description and Purpose of the Research ............................................................. 3 2.5 Coordinated Framework Review and Regulatory Review ................................... 6 2.5.1 USDA-APHIS ............................................................................................... 6 2.5.2 FDA............................................................................................................... 7 2.5.3 EPA ............................................................................................................... 7 2.6 Public Involvement .............................................................................................. 8 2.7 Issues Considered ................................................................................................. 9 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 10 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 10 3.2 EA Action Area .................................................................................................. 10 3.3 Resource Areas ................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 13 3.4.1 Soil Resources ............................................................................................. 13 3.4.2 Water Resources ......................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Air Quality .................................................................................................. 15 3.4.4 Climate Change ........................................................................................... 15 3.5 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 16 3.5.1 Wildlife ....................................................................................................... 16 3.5.2 Plant Communities ...................................................................................... 17 3.5.3 Biological Diversity .................................................................................... 18 3.6 Human Health Environment............................................................................... 18 iii 3.6.1 Farmworker Health ..................................................................................... 18 3.6.2 Health of the General Public ....................................................................... 19 4 ALTERNATIVES..................................................................................................... 21 4.1 No Action Alternative – Deny the Permit .......................................................... 21 4.2 Preferred Alternative – Issue the APHIS Permit ................................................ 21 4.3 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................... 22 5 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................ 26 5.1 Scope of the Analysis ......................................................................................... 26 5.2 Physical Environment ........................................................................................ 27 5.2.1 No Action Alternative: Soil Resources, Water resources, Air Quality, and Climate Change. ......................................................................................... 27 5.2.2 Preferred Alternative: Soil Resources, Water Resources, Air Quality, and Climate Change .......................................................................................... 32 5.3 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 33 5.3.1 No Action Alternative: Wildlife, Plant Communities, and Biological Diversity ..................................................................................................... 33 5.3.2 Preferred Alternative: Wildlife, Plant Communities, and Biological Diversity .................................................................................................................... 41 5.4 Human Health Environment............................................................................... 47 5.4.1 No Action Alternative: Farmworker Health and Health of the General Public .................................................................................................................... 47 5.4.2 Preferred Alternative: Farmworker Health and Health of the General Public .................................................................................................................... 49 6 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ...................................................................................... 51 7 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ................................................. 52 8 CONSIDERATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, STANDARDS, AND TREATIES RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ................................................. 58 8.1 Executive Orders with Domestic Implications................................................... 58 8.2 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments ...................... 59 8.3 Impacts on Unique Characteristics of Geographic Areas .................................. 59 8.4 National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 as Amended .................... 60 9 LIST OF PREPARERS............................................................................................. 61 10 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 62 iv 11 APPENDIX A – APPLICANT’S TECHNICAL REPORT ..................................... 72 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Diamondback moth reproductive cycle in the absence/presence of the female autocidal trait. .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Action area of this Environmental Assessment. .............................................................. 12 Figure 3. Diamondback moth adult (A), larvae (B), and damage on a cruciferous crop from diamondback moth larvae. ............................................................................................................... 17 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.