Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Arundo donax, 8708 [2011-3368]
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8708
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Notices
finding of no significant impact with
regard to the preferred alternative
identified in the EA.
Determination
Based on APHIS’ analysis of field,
greenhouse, and laboratory data
submitted by Syngenta, references
provided in the petition, information
analyzed in the EA, the plant pest risk
assessment, comments provided by the
public, and information provided in
APHIS’ response to those public
comments, APHIS has determined that
Syngenta’s Event 3272 corn is unlikely
to pose a plant pest risk and should be
granted nonregulated status.
Copies of the signed determination
document, as well as copies of the
petition, plant pest risk assessment, EA,
finding of no significant impact, and
response to comments are available as
indicated in the ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections
of this notice.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of
February 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–3504 Filed 2–14–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2010–0108]
Availability of an Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for a Biological
Control Agent for Arundo donax
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that a final environmental assessment
and finding of no significant impact
have been prepared by the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service relative
to a proposed biological control program
for Arundo donax (giant reed, Carrizo
cane). The environmental assessment
documents our review and analysis of
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed biological control
program. 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.
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:51 Feb 14, 2011
Jkt 223001
Dr.
Shirley A. Wager-Page, Chief, Pest
Permitting Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD
20737–1237; (301) 734–8453.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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 habitats and irrigation canals
of the Rio Grande River Basin and the
Southwestern United States, 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. A. donax also
consumes excessive amounts of water in
arid regions where scarce water supplies
are critical to the environment,
agriculture, and municipal users.
Existing A. donax management options
include herbicides, prescribed fires,
biomass removal, and other control
methods, but these measures are
expensive, temporary, and have impacts
on species other than A. donax.
The proposed biological control agent,
Arundo scale (Rhizaspidiotus donacis
(Hemiptera: Diaspididae)), is one of the
most damaging insects to A. donax in its
native range. Arundo scale attacks the
rhizome and developing underground
buds of A. donax by feeding on cells
that carry out photosynthesis and
cellular respiration, resulting over time
in gradual thinning, leaf reduction, and
a sickly, yellowish-clouded appearance
of the weed. While Arundo scale may
not be singularly successful in reducing
the A. donax population in the
continental United States, its use is
expected to be effective in combination
with other control methods or biological
control agents that may be released in
the future.
On November 12, 2010, we published
in the Federal Register (75 FR 69396,
Docket No. APHIS–2010–0108) a
notice 1 announcing the availability for
public review and comment of an
environmental assessment (EA), in
which we considered the effects of, and
alternatives to, the release of Arundo
scale into the continental United States
for use as a biological control agent to
reduce the severity of A. donax
1 To view the notice, the environmental
assessment, the finding of no significant impact,
and the comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS–2010–0108.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
infestations. The EA evaluated two
alternatives: (1) No action and (2) a
biological control program (the
preferred action).
We solicited comments concerning
the environmental assessment for 30
days ending December 13, 2010. We
received 12 comments by that date from
farmers, State and local government
officials, scientists, and the general
public. Eleven commenters were in
favor of the release of Arundo scale. The
remaining commenter expressed general
disapproval of APHIS activities but did
not provide any substantive concerns
regarding Arundo scale that required
additional consideration in the EA.
In this document, we are advising the
public of our decision and finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) regarding a
proposed program for the control of A.
donax. This decision is based upon the
final EA, entitled ‘‘Field Release of the
Arundo Scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis
(Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an Insect for
Biological Control of Arundo donax
(Poaceae) in the Continental United
States’’ (December 2010).
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 9th day of
February 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–3368 Filed 2–14–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
15FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 8708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3368]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0108]
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 a final environmental
assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed
biological control program for Arundo donax (giant reed, Carrizo cane).
The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of
environmental impacts associated with the proposed biological control
program. 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. Shirley A. Wager-Page, Chief, Pest
Permitting Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD
20737-1237; (301) 734-8453.
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 habitats and irrigation canals of
the Rio Grande River Basin and the Southwestern United States, 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. A. donax also consumes excessive amounts of water in arid
regions where scarce water supplies are critical to the environment,
agriculture, and municipal users. Existing A. donax management options
include herbicides, prescribed fires, biomass removal, and other
control methods, but these measures are expensive, temporary, and have
impacts on species other than A. donax.
The proposed biological control agent, Arundo scale (Rhizaspidiotus
donacis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)), is one of the most damaging insects
to A. donax in its native range. Arundo scale attacks the rhizome and
developing underground buds of A. donax by feeding on cells that carry
out photosynthesis and cellular respiration, resulting over time in
gradual thinning, leaf reduction, and a sickly, yellowish-clouded
appearance of the weed. While Arundo scale may not be singularly
successful in reducing the A. donax population in the continental
United States, its use is expected to be effective in combination with
other control methods or biological control agents that may be released
in the future.
On November 12, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR
69396, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0108) a notice \1\ announcing the
availability for public review and comment of an environmental
assessment (EA), in which we considered the effects of, and
alternatives to, the release of Arundo scale into the continental
United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the
severity of A. donax infestations. The EA evaluated two alternatives:
(1) No action and (2) a biological control program (the preferred
action).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, the environmental assessment, the
finding of no significant impact, and the comments we received, go
to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0108.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments concerning the environmental assessment for
30 days ending December 13, 2010. We received 12 comments by that date
from farmers, State and local government officials, scientists, and the
general public. Eleven commenters were in favor of the release of
Arundo scale. The remaining commenter expressed general disapproval of
APHIS activities but did not provide any substantive concerns regarding
Arundo scale that required additional consideration in the EA.
In this document, we are advising the public of our decision and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding a proposed program
for the control of A. donax. This decision is based upon the final EA,
entitled ``Field Release of the Arundo Scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis
(Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an Insect for Biological Control of Arundo
donax (Poaceae) in the Continental United States'' (December 2010).
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 9th day of February 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3368 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
