Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Old World Climbing Fern, 34664-34665 [E7-12240]

Download as PDF 34664 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 121 / Monday, June 25, 2007 / Notices The regulation issued under the Export Grape and Plum Act (7 CFR part 35) covers fresh grapes grown in the United States and shipped to foreign destinations, except Canada and Mexico. Need and Use of the Information: Persons who ship fresh apples and grapes grown in the U.S. to foreign destinations must have such shipment inspected and certified by Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service (FSIS) inspectors. Agriculture Marketing Service administers the FSIS. Official FSIS inspection certificates and phytosanitary certificates issued by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provide the needed information for USDA. Export carriers are required to keep on file for three years copies of inspection certificates for apples and grapes. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms. Number of Respondents: 100. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; on occasion, monthly, annually. Total Burden Hours: 25. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7–12260 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES June 20, 2007. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget VerDate Aug<31>2005 23:08 Jun 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Farm Service Agency Title: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. OMB Control Number: 0560–0175. Summary of Collection: The Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 7333 and implemented under regulations issued at 7 CFR Part 1437. The collection of crop planting and production data is necessary for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to calculate the producer’s approved yield on the basis of actual production history. Information collection relative to the occurrence of crop damage or loss production and application for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is necessary for CCC to accept and consider a request for assistance under NAP and to facilitate eligibility determinations. NAP provides eligible producers of eligible crops with protection to the catastrophic risk protection plan of crop insurance. It helps reduce production risks faced by producers of crops for which Federal crop insurance is not available. It also reduces financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause a catastrophic loss of production or prevented planting of an eligible crop. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using several forms. Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the producer’s name, address identification number, farm and tract, acreage, ownership, location, crop history, planted acreage, production, yield, share, etc. The information will be used to identify eligible NAP participants, acreage and location, crop and commodities. If information is not collected FSA will not be able to identify and determine eligible participants and crops being planted or PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 produced, or provide assistance to agricultural producers who as a result of natural disaster have suffered catastrophic losses of agricultural crops or commodities. Description of Respondents: Individuals or household. Number of Respondents: 291,500. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Weekly; monthly; annually. Total Burden Hours: 2,143,562. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7–12261 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2006–0076] Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Old World Climbing Fern Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of a nonindigenous gall mite, Floracarus perrepae, for the biological control of Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, in the continental United States. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert V. Flanders, Chief, Pest Permit Evaluation Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1228; (301) 734–5930. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, is a climbing fern that has a large native range that extends through much of the Old World tropics. It has become established in central and southern peninsular Florida, where it grows in a number of wetland and mesic (having a moderate supply of moisture) habitats including hammocks, cypress swamps, flatwoods, bayheads, and disturbed sites. E:\FR\FM\25JNN1.SGM 25JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 121 / Monday, June 25, 2007 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES The climbing fern is a highly invasive, exotic weed that climbs over plants, including tall trees, to form massive walls of vegetation. It also forms thick mats on the ground that smother native plants. New infestations can arise great distances from existing populations because the weed produces millions of spores that are spread by wind and other physical carriers. A single spore is capable of starting a new infestation. In addition, dense strands of Old World climbing fern present a major fire hazard. The biocontrol agent that is the subject of this notice, Floracarus perrepae, is a gall mite in the insect family Eriophyidae and is native to Australia and tropical Asia. The adult mites feed on young leaflets of the target weed, L. microphyllum, inducing the leaf margins to curl into galls. Female mites lay an average 60 eggs inside a gall. The eggs hatch in 5 days and immature mites feed on the specialized tissue within the gall, requiring 4 days to become adults. Galled leaflets are often infected by secondary ambient pathogens and have reduced life spans. Plants infested with the mite have slower rates of growth than uninfested plants. The mite is also host specific. Host specificity tests conducted in Australia indicate that F. perrepae is specific to only two Lygodium species (the target weed L. microphyllum and the Australian fern Lygodium reticulatum). On May 23, 2006, we published in the Federal Register (71 FR 29607–29608, Docket No. APHIS–2006–0076) a notice 1 in which we announced the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release of this biological control agent into the continental United States. We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending June 22, 2006. We did not receive any comments by that date. In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of the nonindigenous gall mite F. perrepae as a biological control agent to reduce the severity and extent of Old World climbing fern infestation in the continental United States. The finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our 1 To view the notice, environmental assessment, and finding of no significant impact, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, click on the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ tab, and select ‘‘Docket Search.’’ In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS–2006–0076, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ Clicking on the Docket ID link in the search results page will produce a list of all documents in the docket. VerDate Aug<31>2005 23:08 Jun 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 determination that release of this biological control agent will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 690–2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The EA and FONSI have 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 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of June 2007. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E7–12240 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Mendocino Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Mendocino County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet July 20, 2007 in Willits, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Approval of minutes, (2) Public Comment, (3) Extension of RAC (4) Discussion—items of interest (5) Discussion/approval of projects, (6) next agenda items and meeting date. DATES: The meeting will be held on July 20, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Mendocino County Museum, located at 400 E. Commercial St., Willits, California. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta Hurt, Committee Coordinator, USDA, Mendocino National Forest, Covelo Ranger District, 78150 Covelo PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34665 Road, Covelo, CA 95428. (707) 983– 8503; email rhurt@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Persons who wish to bring matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff by July 10, 2007. Public will have the opportunity to address the committee at the meeting. Dated: June 14, 2007. Jim Ruhl, Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 07–3073 Filed 6–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Purchase of Mid-Iowa (IA) and Amendment to Its Area Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) designated Intercontinental Grain Inspection Inc. (Intercontinental), a subsidiary of Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) North America Inc., to provide domestic official inspection services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA). Intercontinental’s designation terminates September 30, 2007, therefore; GIPSA asked interested persons to submit an application for designation in the March 7, 2007, Federal Register (72 FR 10138). However, SGS North America Inc. purchased Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa), a currently designated agency providing official inspection services. Intercontinental will be merged into Mid-Iowa. Accordingly, GIPSA is not proceeding further with the request for applications for designation in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area, which is currently designated to Intercontinental. The designation of Mid-Iowa has been amended to include this geographic area. DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Guagliardo at 202–720–7312, email Karen.W.Guagliardo@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(f)(1) of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA), authorizes GIPSA’s Administrator to designate a qualified applicant to provide official services in a specified E:\FR\FM\25JNN1.SGM 25JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 121 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34664-34665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12240]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0076]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Old World 
Climbing Fern

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of a 
nonindigenous gall mite, Floracarus perrepae, for the biological 
control of Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, in the 
continental United States. Based on its finding of no significant 
impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined 
that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert V. Flanders, Chief, Pest 
Permit Evaluation Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1228; (301) 734-5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, is a climbing fern 
that has a large native range that extends through much of the Old 
World tropics. It has become established in central and southern 
peninsular Florida, where it grows in a number of wetland and mesic 
(having a moderate supply of moisture) habitats including hammocks, 
cypress swamps, flatwoods, bayheads, and disturbed sites.

[[Page 34665]]

    The climbing fern is a highly invasive, exotic weed that climbs 
over plants, including tall trees, to form massive walls of vegetation. 
It also forms thick mats on the ground that smother native plants. New 
infestations can arise great distances from existing populations 
because the weed produces millions of spores that are spread by wind 
and other physical carriers. A single spore is capable of starting a 
new infestation. In addition, dense strands of Old World climbing fern 
present a major fire hazard.
    The biocontrol agent that is the subject of this notice, Floracarus 
perrepae, is a gall mite in the insect family Eriophyidae and is native 
to Australia and tropical Asia. The adult mites feed on young leaflets 
of the target weed, L. microphyllum, inducing the leaf margins to curl 
into galls. Female mites lay an average 60 eggs inside a gall. The eggs 
hatch in 5 days and immature mites feed on the specialized tissue 
within the gall, requiring 4 days to become adults. Galled leaflets are 
often infected by secondary ambient pathogens and have reduced life 
spans. Plants infested with the mite have slower rates of growth than 
uninfested plants.
    The mite is also host specific. Host specificity tests conducted in 
Australia indicate that F. perrepae is specific to only two Lygodium 
species (the target weed L. microphyllum and the Australian fern 
Lygodium reticulatum).
    On May 23, 2006, we published in the Federal Register (71 FR 29607-
29608, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0076) a notice \1\ in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed release of this biological control agent 
into the continental United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice, environmental assessment, and finding of 
no significant impact, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on 
the ``Advanced Search'' tab, and select ``Docket Search.'' In the 
Docket ID field, enter APHIS-2006-0076, then click ``Submit.'' 
Clicking on the Docket ID link in the search results page will 
produce a list of all documents in the docket.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending June 22, 2006. 
We did not receive any comments by that date.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of the nonindigenous 
gall mite F. perrepae as a biological control agent to reduce the 
severity and extent of Old World climbing fern infestation in the 
continental United States. The finding, which is based on the EA, 
reflects our determination that release of this biological control 
agent will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment.
    The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public 
inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect 
copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate 
entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by 
writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The EA and FONSI have 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 1b), and (4) 
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of June 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-12240 Filed 6-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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