Wildlife Services Policy on Wildlife Damage Management in Urban Areas, 49445-49446 [2013-19831]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2013 / Notices and West Virginia. 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. Mr. Richard Chipman, Rabies Program Coordinator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 59 Chennell Drive, Suite 7, Concord, NH 03301; (603) 223–9623. To obtain copies of the supplement to the environmental assessment or finding of no significant impact, contact Ms. Beth Kabert, Environmental Coordinator, Wildlife Services, 140–C Locust Grove Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867; (908) 735–5654, fax (908) 735–0821, email: beth.e.kabert@aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The Wildlife Services (WS) program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) cooperates with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and private individuals to research and implement the best methods of managing conflicts between wildlife and human health and safety, agriculture, property, and natural resources. Wildlife-borne diseases that can affect domestic animals and humans are among the types of conflicts that APHIS–WS addresses. Wildlife is the dominant reservoir of rabies in the United States. On August 16, 2012, APHIS–WS published in the Federal Register (77 FR 49409–49410, Docket No. APHIS– 2012–0052) a notice 1 announcing the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) pertaining to the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of a field trial to test the safety and efficacy of an experimental oral rabies vaccine for wildlife in New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia. Based on the FONSI, we determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. On June 5, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 33798–33799, Docket No. APHIS–2013–0046) a notice 2 in which we announced the availability, for public review and comment, of a supplement to the earlier 1 To view the notice, the EA and the comments we received on it, and the FONSI, go to https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012 -0052. The comments, and APHIS’ responses to the comments, are presented in an appendix to the EA. 2 To view the June 2013 notice, the comment we received on it, and the supplement to the EA, go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail; D=APHIS-2013-0046. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:16 Aug 13, 2013 Jkt 229001 EA. Our objectives in issuing the supplement to the EA were as follows: • To examine the potential environmental impacts of expanding the geographic range of the field trial zone in New York; • To examine the potential environmental impacts of the field trial in relation to new information that has become available from public comments, research findings, and data gathering since the issuance of the 2012 FONSI; • To clearly communicate to the public our analysis of the individual and cumulative impacts of the field trial since 2012; and • To document our analysis of our field-trial activities in New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia since the 2012 FONSI was issued to ensure that program activities remain within the impact parameters analyzed in the original EA. We solicited comments on the supplement to the EA for 30 days ending July 5, 2013. We received one comment by that date. It was from a private citizen who had already submitted five comments on the original EA. The comment contained no new information. In this document, we are advising the public of the availability of an updated FONSI regarding the potential environmental impact associated with our oral rabies vaccine field trial. The finding, which is based on the EA and the supplement to the EA, reflects our determination that the distribution of this experimental wildlife rabies vaccine will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The supplement to the EA and the updated FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see footnote 2) or in our reading room, which 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) 799–7039 before coming. This notice and the supplemental environmental assessment are also posted on the APHIS Web site at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/ws/ws_ nepa_environmental_documents.shtml. In addition, copies may be obtained from the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The supplement to the EA and FONSI have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 49445 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 12th day of August 2013. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–19835 Filed 8–13–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2013–0056] Wildlife Services Policy on Wildlife Damage Management in Urban Areas Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services (APHIS–WS) program is making a policy decision on how to define ‘‘urban rodent control,’’ as referred to in the Act of December 22, 1987. This action is necessary to make it clearer when APHIS–WS may or may not conduct activities and enter into agreements in order to control nuisance rodent species or those rodent species that are reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William H. Clay, Deputy Administrator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, 20250; 202–799–7095. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background Wildlife is a publicly owned natural resource in the United States, and State and Federal wildlife agencies have an affirmative duty and responsibility to administer, protect, manage and conserve fish and wildlife. The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services (APHIS–WS) program is to provide Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. This includes determining and implementing both research of and methods for controlling animal species that are injurious to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, endangered and threatened species, other natural E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 49446 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2013 / Notices resources, property, and that create a risk to human health and safety. To this end, APHIS–WS cooperates with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and private individuals to research and implement the best methods of managing conflicts between wildlife and human health and safety, agriculture, property, and natural resources. Under the Act of December 22, 1987 (7 U.S.C. 426c), APHIS–WS is authorized, except for urban rodent control, to conduct activities and enter into agreements to control nuisance bird and mammal species or those bird and mammal species that are reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. While the Act makes an exception for urban rodent control, it does not define the term. This has led to confusion about when APHIS–WS may provide wildlife damage control assistance and has created an overlap in services with private sector pest control companies in urban and suburban areas. The term ‘‘rodent’’ refers to the group of mammals that includes rats, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, porcupines, and groundhogs, among other species. Therefore, to maximize Federal resources and reduce duplication of services, we are considering ‘‘urban rodent control,’’ for the purposes of activities authorized by the Act of December 22, 1987, to mean actions to directly control mice, rats, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, and woodchucks/groundhogs in a city or town with a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants, as well as the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town. There are some categories of actions for which APHIS will continue to consider requests for operational assistance. Specifically, actions involving Federal agencies; government entities engaged in a cooperative service agreement with APHIS to provide direct control of rodents as of October 1, 2013; a State in which direct control of the rodent species has been expressly authorized by State law, rulemaking, or a local jurisdiction’s ordinance promulgated by public notice and an opportunity for public comment or as otherwise promulgated as required and authorized by the respective State or local law; and railways and airport air sides areas are excluded from this definition. Otherwise, APHIS will refer all requests for operational assistance with urban rodent control from private entities such as home and business owners and associations to private sector pest control companies. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:16 Aug 13, 2013 Jkt 229001 Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of 2013. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–19831 Filed 8–13–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Lyon-Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meetings. AGENCY: ACTION: The Lyon-Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Yerrington, Nevada. The RAC is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110– 343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The RAC’s purpose is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consisent with Title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the reduced funding and possible distribution for the 5th year Title II projects. DATES: The meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m. on the following dates: • September 3rd, 2013 • September 11th, 2013 • September 25th, 2013 ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Commissioners Meeting Room, Lyon County Administration Complex, 27 South Main Street, Yerington, Nevada. Written comments may be submitted as described under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at https:// fs.usda.gov/goto/htnf/rac. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Crawley, RAC Designated Federal Official, Bridgeport Ranger District, 760–932–7070. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accomodation for access to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the facility or procedings by contacting the person listed FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following business will be conducted at the meetings: (1) Discussion of reduced 5th year funding and possible distribution for Title II projects; and (2) Public Comments. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should request in writing by August 30th to be scheduled on the agenda. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Mike Crawley, RAC Designated Federal Officer, Bridgeport Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, HC 62 Box 1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517, or by email to mcrawley@fs.fed.us or via facsimile to 760–932–5899. Dated: August 5, 2013. William A. Dunkelberger, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. [FR Doc. 2013–19752 Filed 8–13–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Business-Cooperative Service Notice of Funds Availability for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2013 Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This Notice announces the funds available for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) pursuant to 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D for fiscal year (FY) 2013. SUMMARY: Total Funding: $12,224,613.35 Technical Assistance (TA) Only Grants: $300,000 Microlender TA Grants: $1,209,696.97 Loans: $10,714,916.38 The minimum loan amount a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) may borrow under this program is $50,000. The maximum loan any MDO may borrower in any given year is $500,000. The maximum amount of Technical Assistance (TA)only grants in FY 2013 is $30,000 per grantee and total TA-only grants funding will not exceed 10 percent of E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49445-49446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19831]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0056]


Wildlife Services Policy on Wildlife Damage Management in Urban 
Areas

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service's Wildlife Services (APHIS-WS) program is making a 
policy decision on how to define ``urban rodent control,'' as referred 
to in the Act of December 22, 1987. This action is necessary to make it 
clearer when APHIS-WS may or may not conduct activities and enter into 
agreements in order to control nuisance rodent species or those rodent 
species that are reservoirs for zoonotic diseases.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William H. Clay, Deputy 
Administrator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, 20250; 202-799-7095.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Wildlife is a publicly owned natural resource in the United States, 
and State and Federal wildlife agencies have an affirmative duty and 
responsibility to administer, protect, manage and conserve fish and 
wildlife. The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service's Wildlife Services (APHIS-WS) program is to provide Federal 
leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. This includes 
determining and implementing both research of and methods for 
controlling animal species that are injurious to agriculture, 
horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, endangered and threatened 
species, other natural

[[Page 49446]]

resources, property, and that create a risk to human health and safety. 
To this end, APHIS-WS cooperates with Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and private individuals to research and implement the best 
methods of managing conflicts between wildlife and human health and 
safety, agriculture, property, and natural resources.
    Under the Act of December 22, 1987 (7 U.S.C. 426c), APHIS-WS is 
authorized, except for urban rodent control, to conduct activities and 
enter into agreements to control nuisance bird and mammal species or 
those bird and mammal species that are reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. 
While the Act makes an exception for urban rodent control, it does not 
define the term. This has led to confusion about when APHIS-WS may 
provide wildlife damage control assistance and has created an overlap 
in services with private sector pest control companies in urban and 
suburban areas.
    The term ``rodent'' refers to the group of mammals that includes 
rats, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, porcupines, and groundhogs, among 
other species. Therefore, to maximize Federal resources and reduce 
duplication of services, we are considering ``urban rodent control,'' 
for the purposes of activities authorized by the Act of December 22, 
1987, to mean actions to directly control mice, rats, voles, squirrels, 
chipmunks, gophers, and woodchucks/groundhogs in a city or town with a 
population greater than 50,000 inhabitants, as well as the urbanized 
area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town.
    There are some categories of actions for which APHIS will continue 
to consider requests for operational assistance. Specifically, actions 
involving Federal agencies; government entities engaged in a 
cooperative service agreement with APHIS to provide direct control of 
rodents as of October 1, 2013; a State in which direct control of the 
rodent species has been expressly authorized by State law, rulemaking, 
or a local jurisdiction's ordinance promulgated by public notice and an 
opportunity for public comment or as otherwise promulgated as required 
and authorized by the respective State or local law; and railways and 
airport air sides areas are excluded from this definition. Otherwise, 
APHIS will refer all requests for operational assistance with urban 
rodent control from private entities such as home and business owners 
and associations to private sector pest control companies.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19831 Filed 8-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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