Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Arundo donax, 21311-21312 [E9-10632]
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21311
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 74, No. 87
Thursday, May 7, 2009
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
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ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC
PRESERVATION
Notice of Meeting
Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation (ACHP) will meet
Thursday, May 14, 2009. The meeting
will be held in Room M09 in the Old
Post Office Building, 1100 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC at 9 a.m.
The ACHP was established by the
National Historic Preservation Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) to advise the
President and Congress on national
historic preservation policy and to
comment upon Federal, federally
assisted, and federally licensed
undertakings having an effect upon
properties listed in or eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of
Historic Places. The ACHP’s members
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Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture,
Defense, Housing and Urban
Development, Commerce, Education,
Veterans Affairs, and Transportation;
the Administrator of the General
Services Administration; the Chairman
of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation; the President of the
National Conference of State Historic
Preservation Officers; a Governor; a
Mayor; a Native American; and eight
non-Federal members appointed by the
President.
The agenda for the meeting includes
the following:
Call To Order—9 a.m.
I. Chairman’s Welcome.
II. Preserve America and Chairman’s
Award Presentation.
III. Native American Activities.
A. Native American Advisory Group.
B. Native American Program Report.
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IV. Historic Preservation and the
American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.
V. Implementing ACHP
Recommendations on the Structure
of the Federal Preservation
Program.
VI. Preserve America Program
Implementation.
A. Current Status.
B. Implementing the Preserve
America/Save America’s Treasures
Authorizing Legislation.
C. Preserve America Summit
Recommendations: Looking to the
Future.
VII. Preservation Initiatives Committee.
A. Legislative Update.
VIII. Federal Agency Programs
Committee.
A. Section 3 Report to the President:
Follow Up.
B. Section 106 Case Updates.
IX. Communications, Education, and
Outreach Committee.
A. Service Learning Initiative.
X. Chairman’s Report.
A. ACHP Alumni Foundation.
B. Transition.
XI. Executive Director’s Report.
A. Staff Changes and Recruitment.
B. Diversity Initiative.
XII. New Business.
XIII. Adjourn.
Note: The meetings of the ACHP are open
to the public.
If you need special accommodations
due to a disability, please contact the
Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation, 1100 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Room 803, Washington,
DC, 202–606–8503, at least seven (7)
days prior to the meeting. For further
information: Additional information
concerning the meeting is available from
the Executive Director, Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, 1100
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., #803,
Washington, DC 20004.
Dated: April 30, 2009.
John Fowler,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. E9–10514 Filed 5–6–09; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2008–0141]
Availability of an Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Biological
Control Agent for Arundo donax
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 wasp, Tetramesa romana,
into the continental United States for
use as a biological control agent to
reduce the severity of Arundo donax
infestations. 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.
Carmen Soileau, Senior Entomologist,
Evaluation and Permitting of Regulated
Organisms and Soil, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD
20737–1237; (301) 734–5302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Arundo donax is a highly invasive,
bamboo-like weed that was introduced
to North America in the early 1500s for
its fiber uses. It is among the fastest
growing plants in the continental
United States, making it a severe threat
to riparian areas, where it causes
erosion, damages bridges, alters channel
morphology, increases costs for
chemical and mechanical control along
transportation corridors, and impedes
law enforcement activities along
international borders. Additionally, A.
donax consumes excessive amounts of
water, competing for water resources in
arid regions where these resources are
critical to the environment, agriculture,
and municipal users.
The proposed biological control agent,
Tetramesa romana, is a wasp in the
insect family Eurytomidae. It has a
widespread presence around the
Mediterranean basin, from Turkey to
Spain and Morocco, and was also found
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07MYN1
21312
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 87 / Thursday, May 7, 2009 / Notices
at one site in southern Africa and one
site in China. Two populations of T.
romana have recently been discovered
near Santa Barbara, CA, and in Austin,
TX. The establishment of T. romana in
Texas indicates that the wasp has a
moderate level of cold hardiness and is
therefore expected to establish
throughout the range of A. donax.
On March 6, 2009, we published in
the Federal Register (74 FR 9779–9780,
Docket No. APHIS–2008–0141) 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 April 6, 2009. We
received 10 comments by that date. A
written response to all comments
received on the EA can be found in
appendix 3 of the final EA (see footnote
1).
In this document, we are advising the
public of our finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) regarding the release of
a wasp, Tetramesa romana, into the
continental United States for use as a
biological control agent to reduce the
severity of A. donax infestations. 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 1st day of
May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9–10632 Filed 5–6–09; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2009–0015]
Notice of Availability of an Evaluation
of the Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza Subtype H5N1 Status of
Suffolk and Norfolk Counties in
England
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an
evaluation of the animal health status of
Suffolk and Norfolk Counties, England,
relative to the H5N1 subtype of highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The
evaluation presents our assessment of
the HPAI H5N1 detection, control, and
eradication measures in place in Suffolk
and Norfolk Counties, England, during
outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in 2007, as
well as our assessment of the present
status of Suffolk and Norfolk Counties,
England, with respect to HPAI subtype
H5N1. We are making this evaluation
available to the public for review and
comment. If, after the close of the
comment period, APHIS can identify no
additional risk factors that would
indicate that domestic poultry in
Suffolk and Norfolk Counties in
England continue to be affected with
HPAI H5N1, we would conclude that
the importation of live birds, poultry
carcasses, parts of carcasses, and eggs
(other than hatching eggs) of poultry,
game birds, or other birds from the
affected regions of Suffolk and Norfolk
Counties in England presents a low risk
of introducing HPAI H5N1 into the
United States.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before June 8,
2009.
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/
component/
ADDRESSES:
1 To
view the notice, environmental assessment,
finding of no significant impact, and the comments
we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&
d=APHIS-2008-0141.
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main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS2009–0015 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–2009–0015,
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–
2009–0015.
Reading Room: You may read any
comments that we receive on the
evaluation 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.
Ingrid Kotowski, Import Risk Analyst,
Regionalization Evaluation Services
International, National Center for Import
and Export, VS, APHIS, 920 Main
Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC
27606; (919) 855–7732.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the Animal Health Protection
Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) has the authority to prohibit or
restrict the importation into the United
States of animals, animal products, and
other articles in order to prevent the
introduction of diseases and pests into
the U.S. livestock and poultry
populations.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) is a zoonotic disease of poultry.
The H5N1 subtype of HPAI is an
extremely infectious and fatal form of
the disease. HPAI can strike poultry
quickly without any warning signs of
infection and, once established, can
spread rapidly from flock to flock. HPAI
viruses can also be spread by manure,
equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates,
and people whose clothing or shoes
have come in contact with the virus.
HPAI viruses can remain viable at
moderate temperatures for long periods
in the environment and can survive
indefinitely in frozen material. The
H5N1 subtype of HPAI has been of
particular concern because it has
crossed the species barrier and caused
disease in humans.
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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 87 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21311-21312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10632]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0141]
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Arundo donax
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 wasp,
Tetramesa romana, into the continental United States for use as a
biological control agent to reduce the severity of Arundo donax
infestations. 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. Carmen Soileau, Senior
Entomologist, Evaluation and Permitting of Regulated Organisms and
Soil, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237;
(301) 734-5302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Arundo donax is a highly invasive, bamboo-like weed that was
introduced to North America in the early 1500s for its fiber uses. It
is among the fastest growing plants in the continental United States,
making it a severe threat to riparian areas, where it causes erosion,
damages bridges, alters channel morphology, increases costs for
chemical and mechanical control along transportation corridors, and
impedes law enforcement activities along international borders.
Additionally, A. donax consumes excessive amounts of water, competing
for water resources in arid regions where these resources are critical
to the environment, agriculture, and municipal users.
The proposed biological control agent, Tetramesa romana, is a wasp
in the insect family Eurytomidae. It has a widespread presence around
the Mediterranean basin, from Turkey to Spain and Morocco, and was also
found
[[Page 21312]]
at one site in southern Africa and one site in China. Two populations
of T. romana have recently been discovered near Santa Barbara, CA, and
in Austin, TX. The establishment of T. romana in Texas indicates that
the wasp has a moderate level of cold hardiness and is therefore
expected to establish throughout the range of A. donax.
On March 6, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR 9779-
9780, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0141) 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, finding of no
significant impact, and the comments we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0141.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending April 6, 2009.
We received 10 comments by that date. A written response to all
comments received on the EA can be found in appendix 3 of the final EA
(see footnote 1).
In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of a wasp, Tetramesa
romana, into the continental United States for use as a biological
control agent to reduce the severity of A. donax infestations. 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 1st day of May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10632 Filed 5-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
