The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential environmental impacts that may result from approving a petition from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY) seeking deregulation of an American chestnut variety designated as Darling 58. This American chestnut variety was developed using genetic engineering for tolerance to chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica).
The Federal Register notice of APHIS' NOI can be viewed now on the News page of the APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services website. Beginning August 6, 2021, members of the public will be able to submit comments through September 7, 2021, by going to www.regulations.gov and entering “APHIS-2020-0030” into the Search field.