Surely the closest place to Heaven in all of sport is a golf course. -- Frank Deford

APHIS publishes notice on Roundup resistant creeping bent

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has published a notice in the Federal Register regarding a petition from Monsanto Co. and The Scotts Co. seeking nonregulated status for Roundup resistant creeping bentgrass.

This bentgrass has been genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.

According to the notice, published Jan. 5, the petition has been submitted in accordance with the regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. APHIS will be soliciting public comments on whether this creeping bentgrass presents a plant pest risk. The agency is also requesting information and public comment on certain issues pertaining to the potential environmental effects of the subject bentgrass.

Comments on the petition must be submitted on or before March 5, 2004.

According to the agency, after reviewing and evaluating the comments on the petition, APHIS will prepare an environmental document on the Roundup resistant creeping bentgrass, which will then be made available for public comment.

After reviewing and evaluating the comments on the environmental document, APHIS will approve the petition in whole or in part, or deny the petition.

Comments can be submitted by mail, commercial delivery or e-mail. Those who submit via mail or commercial delivery need to send four copies of their comments to Docket No. 03–101– 1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. The submission must state that the comments refer to Docket No. 03–101–1.

Comments submitted via e-mail should go to mailto:regulations@aphis.usda.gov. The comment must be contained in the body of the message--do not send attached files. Include the author's name and address in the message and Docket No. 03–101–1 on the subject line.

For the complete Federal Register notice can: click here

A preliminary risk assessment was conducted and is available on the APHIS Web site.

The entire petition (approximately 350 pages) is also on the APHIS Web site.

APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/..

Audubon International certifies first community developments

Audubon International, well known for its cooperative Sanctuary Program, has announced that WCI Communities, a builder of lifestyle communities, is the first homebuilder to have a residential community certified as a Gold Signature Sustainable Development.

The designation is Audubon International's highest rating for environmental design, construction and operation of new developments.

WCI received certification for two of its Florida residential communities. Evergrene, a 364-acre development in Palm Beach Gardens and home to WCI's newest concept green house--the Geni G--is located on the East Coast of Florida; and Sun City Center, an active adult community in Fort Myers, is located on the West Coast.

Geni G -- short for Generation Green -- is a 1,500-square foot bungalow that incorporates the latest energy-efficient building technologies, use of recycled materials and features that promote indoor air quality. It has bamboo flooring, a rain collection/storage system for irrigation and paints and finishes that emit little or no fumes.

The homes meet the 200-point green building benchmark set by the Florida Green Building Coalition as well as Audubon International's Principles of Sustainability, which include:

• Understanding the unique attributes of each piece of designated land
• Protecting local wildlife
• Conserving and maximizing native and naturalized plants
• Commitment to water quality and conservation
• Commitment to green building
• Dedication to education and outreach to foster sustainable communities

"WCI's commitment to building sustainable communities is unmatched in the industry. The company's passion and dedication to constantly push the envelope, explore leading-edge green building opportunities and embrace educating customers and key stakeholders is what ultimately led to this well-deserved certification," said Audubon International President and CEO Ronald Dodson. "They back up their commitments with resources that lead to results."

WCI and Audubon International are in the third year of working together on a commitment that spans 10 projects in Florida--the first agreement of this size between a builder and a non-profit environmental organization. During the past few years, WCI has invested $2.5 million in this effort, including a full-time team of four environmental managers dedicated to building sustainable communities and educating consumers, communities and industry leaders.

Contact http://www.audubonintl.org, http://www.wcicommunities.com, http://www.greengeneration.org.

GCSAA names Watson Fellows

GCSAA has named four outstanding graduate students as 2003 winners of GCSAA Watson Fellowship awards. Each recipient receives a $5,000 stipend and an all-expenses-paid trip to GCSAA's 75th International Golf Course Conference and Show, Feb. 9-14, 2004, in San Diego.

The GCSAA Watson Fellowship is available to masters and doctoral degree candidates who demonstrate academic excellence, communication skills, commitment to a career as an instructor and/or scientist, accomplishments in research and education, and the potential to contribute significantly to the industry. The 2003 recipients are (field of study and university):

• Sarah Thompson, turfgrass entomology (master's), North Carolina State University
• Qi Zhang, turfgrass diseases control (master's), Kansas State University
• Michelle DaCosta, turfgrass physiology (doctoral), Rutgers University
• Darren Lycan, weed science (doctoral), Rutgers University

The GCSAA Watson Fellowship program is administered by The Environmental Institute for Golf and is funded by The Toro Co. in honor of James R. Watson, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of turfgrass research. The selection committee consists of Dr. Watson, two representatives of The Toro Co., two members of the GCSAA Scholarship Committee and two university professors.

The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic division of GCSAA, is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment.