<p>GRS lines W62 and W98 have been genetically engineered to express the bar gene originally isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that confers tolerance to the application of the phosphinothricin class of herbicides by coding for a phosphinothricin-N-acetyltrasferase (PAT) enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of the active ingredient Glufosinate-Ammonium to the inactive form L-phosphinothricin. In addition, GRS lines W62 and W98 also express a selectable marker gene, gus, coding for á-glucuronidase. GRS lines A2704-12, A2704-21, and A5547-35 express the pat gene which is a synthetic version of the PAT coding gene originally isolated from S. viridochromogenes. The gus gene expressed only in W62 and W98 lines was originally isolated from Escherichia coli.</p><br><p>AgrEvo submitted its petition after numerous field tests of GRS lines at 197 sites  throughout the continental United States under 8 permits and 26 notifications. Field  trial reports from these tests demonstrate that the transformed lines had no deleterious effects on plants, did not exhibit weedy characteristics, and had no effect on nontarget organisms or the general environment.</p><br><p> An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared prior to granting field test permits</p><br><p> involving the GRS lines. The EA for the previous introductions of GRS lines</p><br><p> addressed plant pest risk issues relative to the conduct of field trials under physical and</p><br><p> reproductive confinement. This EA specifically addresses the potential impacts of the</p><br><p> GRS lines to the human environment through the unrestricted use in agriculture. The</p><br><p> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority over the potential uses</p><br><p> of the herbicide glufosinate (Basta , Ignite , Rely , Liberty , Harvest , and</p><br><p> Finale ) in conjunction with GRS lines through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and</p><br><p> Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).</p><br><p> APHIS has considered the information provided by AgrEvo in its petition as well as</p><br><p> other scientific data, information, and comments received from the public relating to</p><br><p> potential plant pest risk and related environmental impacts of the GRS lines. A</p><br><p> thorough evaluation of the potential for significant impact to the human environment</p><br><p> through the unconfined, agricultural use of GRS lines resulted in a Finding of No</p><br><p> Significant Impact (FONSI) by APHIS. This conclusion is based upon (1) the nature of</p><br><p> the genetic modification; (2) the fact that soybean has no weedy relatives with which it</p><br><p> can interbreed in the United States and its territories; and (3) the fact that this</p><br><p> modification will not increase the weediness potential of the soybeans or negatively</p><br><p> affect any nontarget organisms, including beneficials. In conjunction with the FONSI,</p><br><p> APHIS has made the determination that GRS lines and their progeny have no potential</p><br><p> to pose a plant pest risk and are, therefore, determined to be no longer regulated articles</p><br><p> according to 7CFR 340.</p><br>