<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Helvetica Neue";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.gmail-abn
{mso-style-name:gmail-abn;}
span.gmail-aqj
{mso-style-name:gmail-aqj;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
color:#365F91;
font-weight:bold;}
span.gmail-m530224809393101501517
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_530224809393101501517;}
span.gmail-m530224809393101501516
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_530224809393101501516;}
span.gmail-m530224809393101501515
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_530224809393101501515;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Is anyone submitting comments on this species release? <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'>Thank you!<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'>Emily<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'>Emily B. Roberson, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php">Native Plant Conservation Campaign</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>PMB 151 - 1459 18th St. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>San Francisco, CA 94107</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> native-plants [mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lindsey Riibe<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 03, 2017 9:47 AM<br><b>To:</b> native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org; Alien Plant Working Group<br><b>Subject:</b> [PCA] 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='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid #006600 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 11.0pt 0in;background:white'><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;border:none;padding:0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1025" 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;border:none;padding:0in;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","serif";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;border:none;padding:0in;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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";color:#336699'>final environmental impact statement (EIS)</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";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","serif";color:#336699'>Federal Register</span></i></span></a></span><span class=gmail-m530224809393101501516><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";color:#336699'> </span></i></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";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","serif";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","serif";color:#336699'>Docket No. APHIS-2015-0096</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";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","serif";color:#333333'>Supporting Documents</span></b></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";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","serif";color:#336699'>Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)</span></span></a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","serif";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","serif";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></body></html>