Emerald Ash Borer; Availability of an Environmental Assessment, 28947-28948 [E7-9895]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 23, 2007 / Notices (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.4338 hours per response. Respondents: Importers and shippers of bees and related articles, foreign governments, and containment facilities. Estimated annual number of respondents : 869. Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1. Estimated annual number of responses: 869. Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,115 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.) All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of May 2007. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–9897 Filed 5–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0060] Emerald Ash Borer; Availability of an Environmental Assessment Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of three insect parasitoid species for the biological control of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with the release of these biological control agents. We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:32 May 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 22, 2007. DATES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select APHIS–2007– 0060 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’ link. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0060, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2007–0060. Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the environmental assessment in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690–2817 before coming. Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Juli Gould, Entomologist, Otis Pest Survey, Detection, and Exclusion Laboratory, PPQ, APHIS, Building 1398, Otis ANGB, MA 02542–5008; (508) 563– 9303 ext. 220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Background The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) is a destructive woodboring insect that attacks ash trees (Fraxinus spp., including green ash, white ash, black ash, and several horticultural varieties of ash). The insect, which is indigenous to Asia and known to occur in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, Taiwan, and Canada, eventually kills healthy ash PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28947 trees after it bores beneath their bark and disrupts their vascular tissues. The EAB regulations in 7 CFR 301.53– 1 through 301.53–9 restrict the interstate movement of regulated articles from quarantined areas to prevent the artificial spread of EAB into noninfested areas of the United States. The States of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and portions of the State of Michigan are currently designated as quarantined areas. We are also in the process of establishing a quarantine in Prince George’s County, MD. Despite State and Federal quarantines designed to contain EAB, the lack of effective methods to detect EAB-infested trees and the large area of EAB infestation has resulted in a shift in strategy by regulatory agencies from area-wide eradication to eradication in outlying areas and containment in the core infestation area. In the United States, EAB eradication efforts involve the removal of all ash trees within a specified radius around known infestations. However, by the time an infestation is discovered and treated, EAB has usually already dispersed outside the eradication zone. Besides natural dispersal, the spread of EAB has been accelerated through humanassisted movement of infested ash firewood, timber, solid wood packing materials, and nursery stock. As EAB spreads throughout North America, regulatory agencies, land managers, and the public are seeking sustainable management tools such as biological control to reduce EAB population densities and to slow its spread. APHIS has completed an environmental assessment that examines the potential effects on the quality of the human environment that may be associated with the release of three specific biological control agents to control infestations of EAB within the continental United States. APHIS and the Forest Service propose to release the three parasitoids into the environment of the continental United States for the purpose of reducing EAB populations. These parasitoids are known to attack EAB consistently in its native habitat in China. Initial releases of each parasitoid are planned for summer 2007. Postrelease monitoring of the spread and establishment of each parasitoid species and impacts on EAB and non-target wood-boring beetles will also be conducted. APHIS’ review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with this biological control action are documented in detail in an environmental assessment entitled ‘‘Proposed Release of Three Parasitoids for the Biological Control of the Emerald E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM 23MYN1 28948 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 23, 2007 / Notices Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the Continental United States’’ (April 2, 2007). We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading DATES at the beginning of this notice. The environmental assessment may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the environmental assessment by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the environmental assessment when requesting copies. The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (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 1), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of May 2007 . Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–9895 Filed 5–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Road Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–7921. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (the Committee) advises the Secretary of Agriculture concerning policies, program issues, and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services (WS) program. The Committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the WS program to have a voice in the program’s policies. The meeting will focus on operational and research activities. The Committee will discuss WS efforts to increase operational capacity through prioritizing research objectives. Additionally, the Committee will discuss pertinent national programs and how to increase their effectiveness, as well as ensuring WS remains an active participant in the goal of agricultural protection. The meeting will be open to the public. However, due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the discussions during the meeting. Written statements on meeting topics may be filed with the Committee before or after the meeting by sending them to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Written statements may also be filed at the meeting. Please refer to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0049 when submitting your statements. This notice of meeting is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of May 2007. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–9896 Filed 5–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0049] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee; Meeting Office of the Secretary Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES AGENCY: [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0065] Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency Because of Plum Pox Virus SUMMARY: We are giving notice of a meeting of the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee. DATES: The meeting will be held on June 19 and 20, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Utah State University Inn, Room 507, 4300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Joanne Garrett, Director, Operational Support Staff, WS, APHIS, 4700 River VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:32 May 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 An exotic plant virus, plum pox virus, has been confirmed in New York and Michigan. Plum pox virus is the most devastating viral disease of stone fruit worldwide, causing yield losses to growers and reducing the marketability of fruit. Previously, the disease was known to be present in the United States only in portions of several counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Plum pox virus is the cause of an extremely serious plant disease, PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 affecting a number of Prunus species, including peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, and almond. Infection eventually results in severely reduced fruit production, and the fruit that is produced is often misshapen and blemished. There is no cure or treatment for the disease once a tree becomes infected. In Europe, where plum pox has been present for a number of years, the disease is considered to be the most serious disease affecting susceptible Prunus species. The disease is spread over short distances by a number of different aphid species, and over longer distances through the movement of infected budwood and nursery stock. Since the detection of plum pox virus in Pennsylvania in 1999, an aggressive eradication program has been conducted in that State, involving a cooperative effort between APHIS and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The program in Pennsylvania has resulted in significant success, with no spread of the disease outside of the general area in which it was first found in 1999, and with only trace amounts of plum pox virus being detected in 2005 and 2006. Following the detection of plum pox virus in Pennsylvania, APHIS has worked with States in which there was commercial production of peaches and other stone fruit to conduct a series of national surveys. Prior to 2006, the result of these surveys has always been negative. As a result of a cooperative survey conducted by APHIS and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, plum pox virus was confirmed in Niagara County, NY, on July 7, 2006. A total of three infected trees were discovered in two commercial orchard locations. Cooperative surveys were also conducted in Michigan, in this case involving APHIS and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. As a result of these surveys, plum pox virus was detected in a single plum tree at the Michigan State University’s Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center, a State-operated facility, on August 11, 2006. In order to prevent the spread of plum pox virus from these new detection sites, an aggressive eradication program will be necessary. The eradication program will involve removal of all infected trees and of all host trees within 500 meters, conducting delimiting and detection surveys over a period of several years to ensure that there are no additional infestations, and establishing appropriate safeguards to ensure that additional spread of plum pox virus does not occur while the eradication program is being completed. Following consultation with State E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM 23MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28947-28948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9895]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0060]


Emerald Ash Borer; Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
relative to the release of three insect parasitoid species for the 
biological control of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis. The 
environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of 
environmental impacts associated with the release of these biological 
control agents. We are making this environmental assessment available 
to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
22, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the 
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2007-0060 to submit or view public 
comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0060, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0060.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the 
environmental assessment in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Juli Gould, Entomologist, Otis 
Pest Survey, Detection, and Exclusion Laboratory, PPQ, APHIS, Building 
1398, Otis ANGB, MA 02542-5008; (508) 563-9303 ext. 220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) is a destructive 
woodboring insect that attacks ash trees (Fraxinus spp., including 
green ash, white ash, black ash, and several horticultural varieties of 
ash). The insect, which is indigenous to Asia and known to occur in 
China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, Taiwan, and 
Canada, eventually kills healthy ash trees after it bores beneath their 
bark and disrupts their vascular tissues.
    The EAB regulations in 7 CFR 301.53-1 through 301.53-9 restrict the 
interstate movement of regulated articles from quarantined areas to 
prevent the artificial spread of EAB into noninfested areas of the 
United States. The States of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and portions 
of the State of Michigan are currently designated as quarantined areas. 
We are also in the process of establishing a quarantine in Prince 
George's County, MD.
    Despite State and Federal quarantines designed to contain EAB, the 
lack of effective methods to detect EAB-infested trees and the large 
area of EAB infestation has resulted in a shift in strategy by 
regulatory agencies from area-wide eradication to eradication in 
outlying areas and containment in the core infestation area. In the 
United States, EAB eradication efforts involve the removal of all ash 
trees within a specified radius around known infestations. However, by 
the time an infestation is discovered and treated, EAB has usually 
already dispersed outside the eradication zone. Besides natural 
dispersal, the spread of EAB has been accelerated through human-
assisted movement of infested ash firewood, timber, solid wood packing 
materials, and nursery stock. As EAB spreads throughout North America, 
regulatory agencies, land managers, and the public are seeking 
sustainable management tools such as biological control to reduce EAB 
population densities and to slow its spread.
    APHIS has completed an environmental assessment that examines the 
potential effects on the quality of the human environment that may be 
associated with the release of three specific biological control agents 
to control infestations of EAB within the continental United States. 
APHIS and the Forest Service propose to release the three parasitoids 
into the environment of the continental United States for the purpose 
of reducing EAB populations. These parasitoids are known to attack EAB 
consistently in its native habitat in China. Initial releases of each 
parasitoid are planned for summer 2007. Post-release monitoring of the 
spread and establishment of each parasitoid species and impacts on EAB 
and non-target wood-boring beetles will also be conducted.
    APHIS' review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts 
associated with this biological control action are documented in detail 
in an environmental assessment entitled ``Proposed Release of Three 
Parasitoids for the Biological Control of the Emerald

[[Page 28948]]

Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the Continental United States'' 
(April 2, 2007). We are making this environmental assessment available 
to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments 
that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading DATES at 
the beginning of this notice.
    The environmental assessment may be viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions 
for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours 
of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the environmental 
assessment by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the environmental 
assessment when requesting copies.
    The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: 
(1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (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 1), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 
372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of May 2007 .
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9895 Filed 5-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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