Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Cotton Quality Research Station Land Transfer, 70529-70530 [2013-28238]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices
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personal protective equipment (PPE)
practices. NIOSH is mandated to
conduct research and make
recommendations for the prevention of
work-related disease and injury under
Section 20 of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 669 and
Section 501 of the Federal Mine Safety
and Health Act, 30 U.S.C. 951. General
authority for these data collection
activities by NASS is granted under
U.S.C. Title 7, Section 2204(a). This
pilot study project will concentrate on
assessing pesticide safety practices
among Pennsylvania crop farm
operators who have personally applied
pesticides for crop production using
methods other than aerial applications
and enclosed cab vehicles.
Need and Use of the Information: The
Pesticide Safety Practices among
Pennsylvania Farms Survey will use a
sampling universe defined as crop
growers in PA. The survey will be
conducted in a two step process. First,
the screening phrase will consist of an
information letter, blank screening form
and a postage paid return envelope.
Finally, operations will be selected from
the screening phase to conduct the
survey. The primary goals of the project
are: (1) To determine the extent to
which PA crop growers use appropriate
PPE practices; and (2) when applicable,
to identify the factors that cause
incorrect PPE practices, and (3) when
applicable, identify the factors that
would motivate a crop grower to start
using correct practices. Without this
information NIOSH is not able to verify
whether these applicators are using
correct practices and potentially at
increased risk for pesticide exposure
and related illnesses.
Description of Respondents: PA crop
producers who applied pesticides in the
past six months using a method other
than helicopters, airplanes, or
equipment pulled by enclosed cab
tractors or ATVs.
Number of Respondents: 3,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
One time.
Total Burden Hours: 822.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013–28307 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Availability for the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Finding No Significant Impact (FONSI)
for the Cotton Quality Research
Station Land Transfer
Agricultural Research Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) has made a FONSI for transferring
the land and real estate at the Cotton
Quality Research Station (CQRS) in
Clemson, SC, to Clemson University.
The FONSI document is based on
impact analysis documented in the EA
that was issued for 30-day public
comment beginning July 18, 2013, and
that was finalized on August 28, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cal
Mather, Environmental Protection
Specialist, USDA ARS SHEMB, NCAUR,
1815 North University Street, Room
2060, Peoria, Illinois 61604; Telephone:
309–681–6608 or email: cal.mather@
ars.usda.gov. You may contact Mr.
Mather for a copy of the FONSI
document. Copies of the Final EA and
FONSI are also available for public
inspection during normal business
hours at the following Web site and
locations:
• www.clemson.edu/usda-property
• Former CQRS, 133 Old Cherry
Road, Clemson, SC 29631
• Strom Thurmond Institute, Special
Collections, 230 Kappa St., Clemson, SC
29634
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976
(FLPMA), as amended, the United States
Department of Agriculture USDA has
prepared an EA for the proposed
transfer of approximately 10 acres of
land and facilities at the Cotton Quality
Research Station (CQRS) from the USDA
Agricultural Research Service ARS in
Clemson, South Carolina, to Clemson
University Research Farm Services. As a
condition of the transfer, Clemson
University is committed to using the
property for agricultural research for a
period of 25 years, supporting the
strategic goals of USDA and establishing
a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Program in accordance with the
Memorandum of Understanding,
effective March 27, 2013. Clemson
University will assume responsibility
SUMMARY:
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70529
and maintenance of the constructed
facilities and land to be conveyed from
USDA.
The property was developed to
function as a cotton gin and was
converted by USDA for use in the ARS
research program. USDA ARS and
Clemson University have both utilized
the property for agricultural research
and development programs since the
1970s. The facility was closed under
Public Law (PL) 112–55, Consolidated
and Further Continuing Appropriations
Act, 2012. In August 2012, a 5-year
revocable permit was issued between
USDA and Clemson University that
allows Clemson University to utilize the
Property for a Beginning Farmers and
Ranchers Program and conduct a wide
range of research, teaching, extension,
and demonstration activities. Since
August 2012 it has been operated by
Clemson University under this permit.
Under the terms of the PL, the Secretary
of Agriculture has the authority to
formally transfer the Property from
USDA to Clemson University.
The property transfer will be done
with no monetary cost to Clemson
University and a Quit Claim Deed will
be prepared by the USDA to convey the
title/property rights to the University.
The Quit Claim Deed will incorporate
any use restrictions identified by the
NEPA process, as well as the 25-year
use restriction for agricultural and
natural resources research as required
by Section 732 of the PL.
Two alternatives are analyzed in the
Final EA, the No Action Alternative and
the Proposed Action. The Final EA
addresses potential impacts of these
alternatives on the natural and human
environment.
• Alternative 1—No Action. The
USDA would retain possession of the 10
acres of land and facilities at the 133
Old Cherry Road Property. USDA would
no longer operate and/or maintain the
property and current research
operations at the property would cease.
USDA does not have adequate resources
to operate and/or maintain the property,
which would likely fall into disrepair.
• Alternative 2—Proposed Action.
The USDA would formally transfer 10
acres of land at the 133 Old Cherry Road
Property to Clemson University. As a
condition of the transfer, Clemson
University would commit to using the
Property for agricultural and natural
resources research for a period of 25
years, supporting the strategic goals of
USDA and establishing a Beginning
Farmers and Ranchers Program.
Clemson University would assume
responsibility and maintenance of the
constructed facilities and land to be
conveyed from USDA.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices
In addition, one alternative was
considered in the Final EA but
eliminated from detailed study. In this
alternative, USDA would retain
possession of the land and it would be
transferred to the General Services
Administration for disposal. Since it
cannot reasonably be determined who
would ultimately take possession of the
property and how it would be utilized,
it was not analyzed in detail in the EA.
The USDA used and coordinated the
NEPA commenting process to satisfy the
public involvement process for Section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as
provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). One
public comment was received during
the public comment period but it did
not identify any substantial evidence
regarding adverse environmental
impacts resulting from the proposed
land transfer and did not warrant a
change in the Final EA.
Based on its analysis of the Final EA for
the property transfer, ARS has found
that transferring the land and buildings
to Clemson University would have no
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment. Therefore, ARS
will not prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for this proposed
action.
Dated: November 19, 2013.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–28238 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0064]
Notice of Determination; New and
Revised Treatments for the Imported
Fire Ant Program
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that we are adding or revising certain
treatment schedules for the Imported
Fire Ant Program in the Plant Protection
and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment
Manual. In a previous notice, we made
available to the public for review and
comment a treatment evaluation
document that discussed the existing
treatment schedules, described the new
treatment schedules, and explained why
these changes are necessary. We also
made available an environmental
assessment that explained pesticide use
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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in the new and revised treatments in the
imported fire ant program. Based on the
treatment evaluation document, the
environmental assessment, and the
comments we received, we are
announcing our determination to add
those new and revised treatments to the
PPQ Treatment Manual.
DATES: Effective Date: November 26,
2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Charles Brown, Director, Emergency
Management, Emergency and Domestic
Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 135, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236;
(301) 851–2119.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The imported fire ant, Solenopsis
invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri
Forel, is an aggressive, stinging insect
that, in large numbers, can seriously
injure or even kill livestock, pets, and
humans. The imported fire ant feeds on
crops and builds large, hard mounds
that damage farm and field machinery.
Imported fire ants are notorious
hitchhikers and are readily transported
long distances when articles such as soil
and nursery stock are shipped outside
the infested area.
The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) works to
prevent further imported fire ant spread
by enforcing a Federal quarantine and
cooperating with imported fire antinfested States to mitigate the risks
associated with the movement of
regulated articles such as nursery stock
and used soil-moving equipment.
The regulations in ‘‘Subpart—
Imported Fire Ant’’ (7 CFR 301.81
through 301.81–11, referred to below as
the regulations) are intended to prevent
the imported fire ant from spreading
throughout its ecological range within
the country. The regulations quarantine
infested States or infested areas within
States and restrict interstate movement
of regulated articles to prevent the
artificial spread of the imported fire ant.
Sections 301.81–4 and 301.81–5 of the
regulations provide, among other things,
that regulated articles requiring
treatment prior to interstate movement
must be treated in accordance with 7
CFR part 305, which contains our
phytosanitary treatment regulations.
In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that
approved treatment schedules are set
out in the Plant Protection and
Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.1
1 The PPQ Treatment Manual is available on the
Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_
export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by
contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Manuals
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Section 305.3 sets out a process for
adding, revising, or removing treatment
schedules in the PPQ Treatment
Manual. In that section, paragraph (a)
sets out the process for adding, revising,
or removing treatment schedules when
there is no immediate need to make a
change.
In accordance with § 305.3(a)(1), we
published a notice 2 in the Federal
Register on March 6, 2013 (78 FR
14510–14511, Docket No. APHIS–2012–
0064), in which we announced the
availability, for review and comment, of
a treatment evaluation document (TED)
we prepared to discuss the existing
treatment schedules, describe the new
treatment schedules, and explain why
certain changes were necessary. In
addition, we prepared an environmental
assessment (EA) entitled, ‘‘Pesticide Use
in the Imported Fire Ant Program’’
(March 2012) to document our review
and analysis of the environmental
impacts associated with the new
pesticides and new uses for previously
approved pesticides.
We solicited comments on the notice
for 60 days ending on May 6, 2013. We
received four comments by that date,
from a State agriculture department, an
organization of State plant pest
regulatory agencies, an industry
association, and a private citizen. All
four commenters supported the changes
to the PPQ Treatment Manual described
in the TED. Therefore, in accordance
with § 305.3, we are announcing the
Administrator’s determination to add
the new and revised treatment
schedules for use for the imported fire
ant program to the PPQ Treatment
Manual.
We are also announcing that we have
prepared a finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) for this action. The
FONSI, which is based on the EA and
the comments we received, documents
our conclusion that the updates to the
PPQ Treatment Manual will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment.
The EA and FONSI were 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
Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200,
Frederick, MD 21702.
2 To view the notice, the treatment evaluation
document, the environmental assessment, and the
comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2012-0064.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70529-70530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28238]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Assessment
(EA) and Finding No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Cotton Quality
Research Station Land Transfer
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has made a FONSI for
transferring the land and real estate at the Cotton Quality Research
Station (CQRS) in Clemson, SC, to Clemson University. The FONSI
document is based on impact analysis documented in the EA that was
issued for 30-day public comment beginning July 18, 2013, and that was
finalized on August 28, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cal Mather, Environmental Protection
Specialist, USDA ARS SHEMB, NCAUR, 1815 North University Street, Room
2060, Peoria, Illinois 61604; Telephone: 309-681-6608 or email:
cal.mather@ars.usda.gov. You may contact Mr. Mather for a copy of the
FONSI document. Copies of the Final EA and FONSI are also available for
public inspection during normal business hours at the following Web
site and locations:
www.clemson.edu/usda-property
Former CQRS, 133 Old Cherry Road, Clemson, SC 29631
Strom Thurmond Institute, Special Collections, 230 Kappa
St., Clemson, SC 29634
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the United
States Department of Agriculture USDA has prepared an EA for the
proposed transfer of approximately 10 acres of land and facilities at
the Cotton Quality Research Station (CQRS) from the USDA Agricultural
Research Service ARS in Clemson, South Carolina, to Clemson University
Research Farm Services. As a condition of the transfer, Clemson
University is committed to using the property for agricultural research
for a period of 25 years, supporting the strategic goals of USDA and
establishing a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program in accordance
with the Memorandum of Understanding, effective March 27, 2013. Clemson
University will assume responsibility and maintenance of the
constructed facilities and land to be conveyed from USDA.
The property was developed to function as a cotton gin and was
converted by USDA for use in the ARS research program. USDA ARS and
Clemson University have both utilized the property for agricultural
research and development programs since the 1970s. The facility was
closed under Public Law (PL) 112-55, Consolidated and Further
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012. In August 2012, a 5-year revocable
permit was issued between USDA and Clemson University that allows
Clemson University to utilize the Property for a Beginning Farmers and
Ranchers Program and conduct a wide range of research, teaching,
extension, and demonstration activities. Since August 2012 it has been
operated by Clemson University under this permit. Under the terms of
the PL, the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to formally
transfer the Property from USDA to Clemson University.
The property transfer will be done with no monetary cost to Clemson
University and a Quit Claim Deed will be prepared by the USDA to convey
the title/property rights to the University. The Quit Claim Deed will
incorporate any use restrictions identified by the NEPA process, as
well as the 25-year use restriction for agricultural and natural
resources research as required by Section 732 of the PL.
Two alternatives are analyzed in the Final EA, the No Action
Alternative and the Proposed Action. The Final EA addresses potential
impacts of these alternatives on the natural and human environment.
Alternative 1--No Action. The USDA would retain possession
of the 10 acres of land and facilities at the 133 Old Cherry Road
Property. USDA would no longer operate and/or maintain the property and
current research operations at the property would cease. USDA does not
have adequate resources to operate and/or maintain the property, which
would likely fall into disrepair.
Alternative 2--Proposed Action. The USDA would formally
transfer 10 acres of land at the 133 Old Cherry Road Property to
Clemson University. As a condition of the transfer, Clemson University
would commit to using the Property for agricultural and natural
resources research for a period of 25 years, supporting the strategic
goals of USDA and establishing a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Program. Clemson University would assume responsibility and maintenance
of the constructed facilities and land to be conveyed from USDA.
[[Page 70530]]
In addition, one alternative was considered in the Final EA but
eliminated from detailed study. In this alternative, USDA would retain
possession of the land and it would be transferred to the General
Services Administration for disposal. Since it cannot reasonably be
determined who would ultimately take possession of the property and how
it would be utilized, it was not analyzed in detail in the EA.
The USDA used and coordinated the NEPA commenting process to
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3)). One public comment was received during the public comment
period but it did not identify any substantial evidence regarding
adverse environmental impacts resulting from the proposed land transfer
and did not warrant a change in the Final EA.
Based on its analysis of the Final EA for the property transfer, ARS
has found that transferring the land and buildings to Clemson
University would have no significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. Therefore, ARS will not prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for this proposed action.
Dated: November 19, 2013.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-28238 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0518-03-P
