A federal court ordered the US Fish & Wildlife Service to halt the planting of genetically modified plants in national wildlife refuges in the Service's Southeast region. District Judge James Boasberg also directed mitigation of environmental damage caused by cultivation of GMO crops. Contrary to popular notions about wildlife refuges, enabling federal laws allow the cultivation of crops not only as food for migrating birds but also as commercial operations under cooperative agreements. The decision is the clumination of a lawsuit brought by the public interest group
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). USF&WS did not dispute the legality of planting GM crops, but instead argued in court that the end of the 2012 planting season mooted the case, but the court was not impressed with the agency's legalistic approach. The judicial edict remains in effect until the Service complies with the National Wildlife Refuge Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. To mitigate harm to twenty-five refuges in ten southeastern states the Service must inventory and catalog the sites of genetically modified crops and the pesticides used. They also must identify volunteer GM plants that have escaped from the refuges into surrounding areas. This decision is the latest of a series against GM crops on refuges. Interest groups have successfully in eliminating genetically modified crops on 75 refuges in thirty states, and litigation is continuing. The Secretary of Interior has been petitioned to prohibit the practice nationwide.
