MON 87712 Soybean

GMO Answers RE: MON 87712 Soybean

The original series of this soybean line (877xx) was Genetically engineered to contain herbicide in its cells.  MON 87712 is stacked with additional herbicide genes to combat the growing resistance of weeds to the herbicides used in industrial farming. This is a never ending cycle and the result is more and more pesticides inside the crop and also as residues on the crop.  In turn, major diseases and poor health of the U.S. population increase with the amount of herbicides and pesticides used that show up in our food supply.

APHIS received a petition from Monsanto in July 2011 seeking nonregulated status for this soybean.  According to the APHIS “Factsheet”, no doubt prepared by Monsanto – MON 87712 was produced to create soybean crops with increased yield.  They produced this soybean using the BBX32 gene “that causes the plant to express the protein that alters the plant’s physiology; allowing it to make more efficient use of nutrients and sunlight.”   Hmmmm, and just how does this soybean do this?  By killing everything around it with the dicamba herbicide stacked trait????

Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) includes brand names such as Banvel, Diablo, Oracle and Vanquish.   The chemical compound is a derivative of benzoic acid and is used to control brush, bracken, legumes, cacti and perennial wild rose.  It kills broadleaf weeds before and after they sprout.  Dicamba functions by increasing plant growth rate.  At sufficient concentrations, the plant outgrows its nutrient supplies and dies.  And they put this into soybeans along with who knows what else?  Soybeans that are fed to animals and people, both directly and indirectly??  You better believe they do.

More information can be found in the patent for the MON 87708 Soybean  http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20110067134

The traits and events Monsanto created in this soybean will be stacked with additional events and traits into the MON 87712 soybean, which they want deregulated.  Tricky

The following are excerpts from patent MON 87712:

The invention relates to transgenic Glycine max event, MON 87708. The event exhibits tolerance to dicamba herbicide. The invention also relates to plants, plant parts, plant seeds, plant cells, agricultural products, and methods related to event MON 87708 and provides nucleotide molecules that are unique to the event and were created in connection with the insertion of transgenic DNA into the genome of a Glycine max plant.

Soybean is an important crop in many areas of the world, and the methods of biotechnology have been applied to this crop in order to produce soybean with desirable traits. One such desirable trait is herbicide tolerance. The expression of an herbicide tolerance transgene in a plant can confer the desirable trait of herbicide tolerance on the plant, but expression of the transgene may be influenced by the chromosomal location and the genomic result of the transgene insertion.

The invention provides transgenic soybean plants designated event MON 87708, which exhibit commercially acceptable tolerance to applications of dicamba herbicide, having representative seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-9670. The invention also provides novel DNA molecules related to soybean event MON 87708 and methods of using these molecules. The invention also provides seeds, progeny, plant parts, cells, and commodity products of soybean event MON 87708. The invention also provides methods of using soybean event MON 87708 and methods of producing dicamba tolerant soybean."

Remember that the July 2012 APHIS Factsheet never mentions anything about GE herbicides spliced into plant genes in MON 87712.  They claim it has been field tested since 2009 under permits and movement controls granted by APHIS.  Now Monsanto wants what little regulations were in place, dropped.  Monsanto provides a few more details about MON 87712 in their Draft Environmental Assessment of June 2013.

Monsanto Petition (11-202-01p) for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Event

MON 87712-4 Soybean

OECD Unique Identifier: MON 87712-4

Draft Environmental Assessment June 2013

Excerpt:

Physical Environment

The potential effects from the cultivation of other stacked GE crops (including soybean) to use of pesticides have been evaluated in other EAs by APHIS. For example, glyphosate, glufosinate and other herbicide resistance and resistance to insects have been thoroughly evaluated in other APHIS EAs since the 1994 introduction of a glyphosate-resistant soybean, and since the first insect-resistant crop (potato) in 1994 (see list of pending and previously approved GE crops).

An in depth paper could be written about each of these GE seeds.  The environmental assessments, FONSIs (Finding of No Significant Impact statements) and other such technical sounding documents are written by the chemical companies.  The FDA doesn't fight them but goes along with whatever they write.  The regulatory process is a sham of smoke and mirrors used to deceive the American public.  Those who have dug deep into this subject know the truth, however.  

Just recently, Monsanto set up a "GMO Answers" website.  More smoke and mirrors.  Methinks they doth protest TOO much.  It is truly astounding they have managed to deceive so many people for so many years with their heinous lack of honesty and human compassion.

The total amount of the mix of pesticides that may be applied to varieties of MON 87712-4 soybean stacked with herbicide-resistant varieties would be limited by the total application approved by EPA for a registered or exempted herbicide and would be no different than the application rate already approved for use on currently nonregulated varieties of stacked herbicide-resistant soybean cultivars. In addition, MON 87712-4 soybean engineered for higher yield may also be stacked with dicamba-resistant MON 87708 soybean pending determination of nonregulated status (Monsanto, pers. comm. October 2012); however, as stated above, the authorized amount or application rate of dicamba approved for use on MON 87708 soybean would not likely differ in a stacked product containing the MON 87712-4 soybean enhanced yield trait. When used consistent with the label, the potential risks from the application of pesticides to stacked MON 87712-4 soybean varieties to the physical environment could increase. However, substantial impact would not occur because EPA will have determined whether environmental effects of application of an approved herbicide would or would not be likely to cause unreasonable harmful impacts on the environment. In addition, there would be no changes to currently authorized pesticide tolerance levels for stacked varieties of MON 87712-4 soybean.

 Big Deal.  Monsanto owns APHIS where biotechnology and plant gene splicing are concerned and the EPA follows their lead.

Read comments from 2012 and 2013 at this APHIS-2012-0020 Docket.  

A summary of the FR Notice regarding MON 87712 Soybean follows along with the full text

Federal Register Notice

August 5, 2013   http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-08-05/html/2013-18876.htm

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2013)]
[Pages 47272-47273] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18876]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0020]

Monsanto Co.; Availability of Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Soybean Genetically Engineered for Increased Yield

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available for public comment our plant pest risk assessment and our draft environmental assessment regarding a request from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status of soybean designated as MON 87712, which has been genetically engineered for increased yield. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered soybean is likely to pose a plant pest risk.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 4, 2013.

47272 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 150 / Monday, August 5, 2013 / Notices

1. On March 6, 2012, APHIS published in the Federal Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our public review process for soliciting public comments and information when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms. To view the notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0129.

2. To view the notice, the petition, and the comments we received, go to http://www. regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012- 0020.

Here is the full Notice:

[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0020]

Monsanto Co.; Availability of Plant Pest Risk Assessment and

Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status of Soybean Genetically Engineered for Increased Yield

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available for public comment our plant pest risk assessment and our draft environmental assessment regarding a request from the Monsanto Company seeking a determination of nonregulated status of soybean designated as MON 87712, which has been genetically engineered for increased yield. We are soliciting comments on whether this genetically engineered soybean is likely to pose a plant pest risk.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0020. •

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2012–0020, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www. regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= APHIS-2012-0020 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC.

Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. Supporting documents are also available on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ biotechnology/petitions_table_ pending.shtml under APHIS Petition Number 11–202–01p.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Stankiewicz Gabel, Chief, Biotechnology Environmental Analysis Branch, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–3927, email: rebecca.l.stankiewiczgabel@ aphis.usda.gov. To obtain copies of the supporting documents for this petition, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 851–3892, email: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under the authority of the plant pest provisions of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ‘‘Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests,’’ regulate, among other things, the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products are considered ‘‘regulated articles.’’ The regulations in § 340.6(a) provide that any person may submit a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. APHIS has received a petition (APHIS Petition Number 11–202–01p) from the Monsanto Company (Monsanto) of St. Louis, MO, seeking a determination of nonregulated status of soybean (Glycine max) designated as event MON 87712, which has been genetically engineered for increased yield.

The petition stated that this soybean is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be a regulated article under APHIS’ regulations in 7 CFR part 340. According to our process 1 for soliciting public comment when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status of GE organisms, APHIS accepts written comments regarding a petition once APHIS deems it complete. In a notice 2 published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2012, VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:07 Aug 02, 2013

NOTICES Federal Register /Vol. 78, No. 150 /Monday, August 5, 2013 /Notices 47273 (77 FR 41354–41355, Docket No. APHIS–2012–0020), APHIS announced the availability of the Monsanto petition for public comment. APHIS solicited comments on the petition for 60 days ending on September 11, 2012, in order to help identify potential environmental and interrelated economic issues and impacts that APHIS may determine should be considered in our evaluation of the petition. APHIS received 66 comments on the petition: Several of these comments included electronic attachments consisting of a consolidated document of many identical or nearly identical letters, for a total of 4,665 comments. Issues raised during the comment period include effects on plant and animal diversity, soybean supply and prices, and organic soy production; gene flow; and food and feed impacts. APHIS has evaluated the issues raised during the comment period and, where appropriate, has provided a discussion of these issues in our environmental assessment (EA). After public comments are received on a completed petition, APHIS evaluates those comments and then provides a second opportunity for public involvement in our decision making process.

According to our public review process, the second opportunity for public involvement follows one of two approaches, as described below. If APHIS decides, based on its review of the petition and its evaluation and analysis of comments received during the 60-day public comment period on the petition, that the petition involves a GE organism that raises no substantive new issues, APHIS will follow Approach 1 for public involvement. Under Approach 1, APHIS announces in the Federal Register the availability of APHIS’ preliminary regulatory determination along with its EA, preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and its plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) for a 30-day public review period. APHIS will evaluate any information received related to the petition and its supporting documents during the 30-day public review period. If APHIS decides, based on its review of the petition and its evaluation and analysis of comments received during the 60-day public comment period on the petition, that the petition involves a GE organism that raises substantive new issues, APHIS will follow Approach 2. Under Approach 2, APHIS first solicits written comments from the public on a draft EA and PPRA for a 30-day comment period through the publication of a Federal Register notice.

Then, after reviewing and evaluating the comments on the draft EA and PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the PPRA as necessary and prepare a final EA and, based on the final EA, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision document (either a FONSI or a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement). For this petition, we are using Approach 2. APHIS has prepared a PPRA to determine if soybean event MON 87712 is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. In section 403 of the Plant Protection Act, ‘‘plant pest’’ is defined as any living stage of any of the following that can directly or indirectly injure, cause damage to, or cause disease in any plant or plant product: A protozoan, a nonhuman animal, a parasitic plant, a bacterium, a fungus, a virus or viroid, an infectious agent or other pathogen, or any article similar to or allied with any of the foregoing.

APHIS has also prepared a draft EA in which we present two alternatives based on our analysis of data submitted by Monsanto, a review of other scientific data, field tests conducted under APHIS oversight, and comments received on the petition.

APHIS is considering the following alternatives: (1) Take no action, i.e., APHIS would not change the regulatory status of soybean event MON 87712 and it would continue to be a regulated article, or (2) make a determination of nonregulated status of soybean event MON 87712. The EA was prepared in accordance with (1) NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). In accordance with our process for soliciting public input when considering petitions for determinations of nonregulated status for GE organisms, we are publishing this notice to inform the public that APHIS will accept written comments on our PPRA and draft EA regarding the petition for a determination of nonregulated status from interested or affected persons for a period of 30 days from the date of this notice. The petition is available for public review, and copies are available as indicated under

ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above. After the comment period closes, APHIS will review all written comments received during the comment period and any other relevant information. After reviewing and evaluating the comments on the draft EA and PPRA and other information, APHIS will revise the PPRA as necessary and prepare a final EA. Based on the final EA, APHIS will prepare a NEPA decision document (either a FONSI or a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement). If a FONSI is reached, APHIS will furnish a response to the petitioner, either approving or denying the petition. APHIS will also publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the regulatory status of the GE organism and the availability of APHIS’ final EA, PPRA, FONSI, and our regulatory determination.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– 7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. Done in Washington, DC, this 31st day of July 2013. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–18876 Filed 8–2–13; 8:45 am]