Control of Russian Knapweed; Availability of an Environmental Assessment, 22127-22128 [E8-8892]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 80 / Thursday, April 24, 2008 / Notices records. IAS has been categorized as a moderate impact system as identified in Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 199. The security controls implemented within IAS will correspond with those published in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800–53, Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Technology Systems (Revision 1) for a moderate impact system. Users are granted system access only upon successful completion of security training and each user is supplied with a unique and strong userid and password. The user roles and access are restrictive and based on the principle of least privilege allowing for adequate performing of job functions and access to information based on a need to know. Due to the financial nature of IAS, the system also adheres to the security controls identified in the Federal Information Security Control Audit Manual (FISCAM). The mandatory requirements of FIPS 199 and FIPS 200 support the Federal Information Security Management Act and the FISCAM supports the mandated OMB Circular A–123, Management of Internal Controls. Moreover, system users and managers observe specific USDA security requirements set forth in the USDA Cyber Security Manuals including but not limited to: USDA Departmental Manual (DM) 3545–000 Personnel Security, and DM 3510–001 Physical Security Standards for Information Technology Restricted Space. RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: IAS records are retained and disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule 3—Procurement, Supply and Grant Records; and General Records Schedule 24—Information Technology Operations and Management Records; as appropriate. SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: Division Chief, DA/OPPM–PSD, 300 7th Street, SW., Room 262, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 401–1023. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: Direct inquiries as to whether this system contains a record pertaining to an individual to the Privacy Act Officer, Departmental Administration, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–9883. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES RECORDS ACCESS PROCEDURES: Direct access to a record pertaining to an individual should be directed to the Privacy Act Officer, Departmental Administration, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250– 9883. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:15 Apr 23, 2008 Jkt 214001 CONTESTING RECORDS PROCEDURES: Contesting a record pertaining to an individual should be directed to the Privacy Act Officer, Departmental Administration, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250– 9883. RECORDS SOURCE CATEGORIES: Employee name, contractor name, home address, contractor office phone number, contractor address, tax identification number and social security number are derived from a system account application. EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM: None. [FR Doc. E8–8917 Filed 4–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–93–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0042] Control of Russian Knapweed; Availability of an Environmental Assessment Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. 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 environmental release of the gall wasp Aulacidea acroptilonica for the biological control of Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens). The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with, and alternatives to, the release of this biological control agent. 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 May 27, 2008. You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS– 2008–0042 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2008–0042, Regulatory Analysis and Development, ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22127 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– 2008–0042. Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket 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. Robert S. Johnson, Branch Chief, Permits, Registrations, Imports and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 734–5055. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens) is an aggressive, long-lived perennial in the Asteraceae or sunflower family that thrives in both irrigated and arid environments, and in cropland, pastures, rangeland, shrubland, and wasteland. It is difficult to control in alfalfa, clover, other forage crops, and pastures. It reduces wildlife habitat and suppresses the growth of other plants. Russian knapweed has no known beneficial qualities. It is not utilized for forage because of its bitter taste, and may cause neurological disorders in horses if consumed. The quality of flour or other grain products that have been contaminated by Russian knapweed is reduced due to the bitter taste it imparts. Studies indicate that the spread of Russian knapweed may have a significant economic impact. Russian knapweed reproduces primarily vegetatively from a primary vertical root with numerous lateral roots. It is a strong competitor and produces compounds that exclude other plant species. Russian knapweed seeds may be spread through infested hay or crop seeds or through the movement of cattle, as the seeds are able to survive the digestive system of these animals. Estimated Russian knapweed acreage for the Western United States and Canada for the year 2000 totaled over 1,561,714 acres, with 80 percent of the affected acreage located in the States of Washington, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 22128 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 80 / Thursday, April 24, 2008 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Aulacidea acroptilonica is a small gall-forming wasp that has been demonstrated through specificity testing and field observations reported in scientific literature to attack only Russian knapweed. Gall induction diverts nutrients from flower formation, seed production, and the normal growth of plant tissues, thus reducing the plant’s competitive ability and seed production. APHIS’ review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the use of Aulacidea acroptilonica as an agent for the biological control of Russian knapweed are documented in detail in an environmental assessment entitled ‘‘Field Release of Aulacidea acroptilonica (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), an Insect for Biological Control of Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens) in the Continental United States’’ (January 22, 2008). 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 18th day of April 2008. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E8–8892 Filed 4–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:15 Apr 23, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Advisory Committee Meeting Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this constitutes notice of the upcoming meeting of the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee meets twice annually to advise GIPSA on the programs and services we deliver under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Recommendations by the committee help us to better meet the needs of our customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace. DATES: May 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and May 14, 2008, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ADDRESSES: The Advisory Committee meeting will take place at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, 30 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. Requests to address the Advisory Committee at the meeting or written comments may be sent to: Administrator, GIPSA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 3601, Washington, DC 20250–3601. Requests and comments may also be faxed to (202) 690–2173. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Henry, (202) 205–8281 or by email at Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the Administrator of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration with respect to the implementation of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.). Relevant information about the Advisory Committee is available on the GIPSA Web site. Go to https:// www.gipsa.usda.gov and under the section ‘‘I Want To * * *,’’ click on ‘‘Learn about the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee.’’ The agenda will include discussions about the agency’s financial status, the Agency’s work in assessing wheat functionality, the Agency’s work to capture first-point-of sale grading quality data via the Farm Gate Quality assessments; the status of export services contracts; a collaborative inspector training program; international trade issues; FGISonline, GIPSA’s initiative to bring modernized PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 business operations to the web to better serve our customers; and centralization of oversight programs. For a copy of the agenda please contact Terri Henry, (202) 205–8281 or by e-mail Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov. Public participation will be limited to written statements, unless permission is received from the Committee Chairman to orally address the Advisory Committee. The meeting will be open to the public. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information or related accommodations should contact Terri Henry, at the telephone number listed above. James E. Link, Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E8–8902 Filed 4–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Proposed Posting of Stockyards; Correction Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments; correction. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration published a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 15969) on March 26, 2008, announcing that 16 facilities now meet the definition of a stockyard under the Packers and Stockyards Act and that therefore we proposed to post signs identifying these facilities as posted stockyards. The document was published without indicating the date by which we expect those stockyards will be posted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Grasso, 202–720–7201. Correction In the Federal Register of March 26, 2008, in FR Doc. E8–6090, on page 15969, in the third column correct the second sentence of the first full paragraph to read: If we don’t receive comments about these facilities, we expect that they will be posted by May 27, 2008. James E. Link, Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. [FR Doc. E8–8901 Filed 4–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–KD–P E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 80 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22127-22128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8892]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0042]


Control of Russian Knapweed; 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 environmental release of the gall wasp Aulacidea 
acroptilonica for the biological control of Russian knapweed 
(Acroptilon repens). The environmental assessment documents our review 
and analysis of environmental impacts associated with, and alternatives 
to, the release of this biological control agent. 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 May 
27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0042 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0042, 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-2008-0042.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket 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. Robert S. Johnson, Branch Chief, 
Permits, Registrations, Imports and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5055.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens) is an aggressive, long-lived 
perennial in the Asteraceae or sunflower family that thrives in both 
irrigated and arid environments, and in cropland, pastures, rangeland, 
shrubland, and wasteland. It is difficult to control in alfalfa, 
clover, other forage crops, and pastures. It reduces wildlife habitat 
and suppresses the growth of other plants.
    Russian knapweed has no known beneficial qualities. It is not 
utilized for forage because of its bitter taste, and may cause 
neurological disorders in horses if consumed. The quality of flour or 
other grain products that have been contaminated by Russian knapweed is 
reduced due to the bitter taste it imparts. Studies indicate that the 
spread of Russian knapweed may have a significant economic impact.
    Russian knapweed reproduces primarily vegetatively from a primary 
vertical root with numerous lateral roots. It is a strong competitor 
and produces compounds that exclude other plant species. Russian 
knapweed seeds may be spread through infested hay or crop seeds or 
through the movement of cattle, as the seeds are able to survive the 
digestive system of these animals.
    Estimated Russian knapweed acreage for the Western United States 
and Canada for the year 2000 totaled over 1,561,714 acres, with 80 
percent of the affected acreage located in the States of Washington, 
Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming.

[[Page 22128]]

    Aulacidea acroptilonica is a small gall-forming wasp that has been 
demonstrated through specificity testing and field observations 
reported in scientific literature to attack only Russian knapweed. Gall 
induction diverts nutrients from flower formation, seed production, and 
the normal growth of plant tissues, thus reducing the plant's 
competitive ability and seed production.
    APHIS' review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the use of Aulacidea acroptilonica as an agent for the 
biological control of Russian knapweed are documented in detail in an 
environmental assessment entitled ``Field Release of Aulacidea 
acroptilonica (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), an Insect for Biological 
Control of Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens) in the Continental 
United States'' (January 22, 2008). 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 18th day of April 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-8892 Filed 4-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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