[Sustain] Comment Deadline Today: USDA Risky Field Trials of GE Trees

Eric Brooks brookse32 at aim.com
Mon Jul 6 10:55:01 PDT 2009 

<http://www.truefoodnow.org>

USDA Poised to Approve Widespread, Risky Field Trial of GE Trees

Dear Eric,

__

*Comment period ends today - July 6th at 11:59pm PST - Please send your 
comment now!*

_The biotechnology firm ArborGen has asked the USDA for permission to 
conduct 29 field trials of genetically engineered "cold tolerant" 
eucalyptus trees in the U.S._ For the first time in history, this 
massive experiment, which is on the verge of being green-lighted, will 
literally be using nature as the laboratory to test more than 260,000 
genetically engineered trees. Scientists across the U.S. are voicing 
concerns over this proposal.

_As it did with GE alfalfa, USDA failed to conduct and prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comprehensively address all the 
relevant issues related to the proposed eucalyptus field trials._ 
Scientists at Duke University in North Carolina have created pollen 
models that show tree pollen traveling from a forest in North Carolina 
for over 1,000 kilometers northward into eastern Canada. A study 
published in the New Physiologist found pine pollen 600 kilometers from 
the nearest pines. Scientists researching sterility in trees have 
admitted that 100 percent guaranteed sterility in GE trees is 
impossible. This evidence implies that if GE trees are released into the 
environment, widespread and irreversible contamination of native forests 
cannot be prevented.

_Contamination of natural trees by GE eucalyptus could pose a severe 
environmental threat._ Eucalyptus grow well in warm climates, so 
engineering them to tolerate cold temperatures removes the only barrier 
to their unrestricted spread. In some places where eucalyptus have been 
introduced, they are well known for escaping and colonizing native 
ecosystems. For example, eucalyptus is listed as an invasive species and 
a costly plant pest in California. The spread of these plants into the 
wild through seeds and plant matter is highly likely, and the impacts on 
native ecosystems from this invader are largely unknown. Additionally, 
one of the experimental GE tree varieties is a known host for 
cryptococcus gatti, a fatal fungal pathogen whose spores cause 
meningitis in people and animals.

_Despite recent federal court decisions that USDA failed to address the 
risk of contamination and other environmental risks from genetically 
engineered plants, like GE bentgrass and alfalfa, USDA seems poised to 
push ahead with this dangerous proposal._

*A public comment period is open until July 6th, 2009 - please send your 
comment to USDA APHIS opposing this risky proposal today!*



<http://ga3.org/campaign/GEtrees/8un56k8r1jx5kw75?>

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Oppose Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059
Regulatory Analysis and Development
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road, Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238

Re: USDA/ APHIS Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059

I am strongly opposed to ArborGen's proposal to conduct 29 field trials 
of experimental genetically engineered eucalyptus trees in the U.S. 
(APHIS-2008-0059) for the following reasons:

As it did with GE alfalfa, USDA failed to conduct and prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comprehensively address all the 
relevant issues related to the proposed eucalyptus field trials.

Eucalyptus species are introduced organisms into the US and grow well in 
certain warm climates such as the southern and southeast US regions. The 
main barrier to Eucalyptus becoming established in this region is that 
the varieties planted often die in cold temperatures. Genetically 
engineering them to tolerate those cold temperatures removes that 
barrier. In other regions, where eucalyptus have been introduced, they 
are well known for escaping and colonizing native ecosystems. Eucalyptus 
has become so established in California that it is now listed as an 
invasive species and a plant pest in the state.

Scientists at Duke University in North Carolina have created pollen 
models that show tree pollen traveling from a forest in North Carolina 
for over 1,000 kil ometers northward into eastern Canada. A study 
published in the New Physiologist found pine pollen 600 kilometers from 
the nearest pines. Scientists researching sterility in trees have 
admitted that 100 percent guaranteed sterility in GE trees is 
impossible. This evidence implies that if GE trees are released into the 
environment, widespread and irreversible contamination of native forests 
cannot be prevented.

Contamination of natural trees by GE eucalyptus could pose a severe 
environmental threat. The spread of these plants into the wild through 
seeds and plant matter is highly likely, and the impacts on native 
ecosystems from this invader are largely unknown. Additionally, one of 
the experimental GE tree varieties is a known host for cryptococcus 
gatti, a fatal fungal pathogen whose spores cause meningitis in people 
and animals.

By the agency's own admission, there are several varieties of eucalyptus 
that are naturally cold-tolerant, at least eight of which could be grown 
in Southern U.S. states like Alabama. This field trial is not only 
risky, it is completely unnecessary.

Please deny this request, and require the implementation of a full 
Environmental Impact Statement.

Sincerely,

Eric Brooks

<http://ga3.org/campaign/GEtrees/8un56k8r1jx5kw75?>

	
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What's At Stake:

For more information on genetically engineered trees, links to reports, 
and more, visit the Stop GE Trees Campaign 
<http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/stopgetrees_about.php>, a project 
of the Global Justice Ecology Project


Campaign Expiration Date:
July 7, 2009

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