Environmental Impact Statement; Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program: Record of Decision, 32702-32703 [2019-14539]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 32702 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 9, 2019 / Notices outside of the habitat of the southwestern willow flycatcher (SWFL, Empidonax traillii extimus). Greater than anticipated natural dispersion and intentional human-assisted movement of the beetle into SWFL habitat caused defoliation of saltcedar trees, hampering the flycatcher’s nesting success. After tamarisk leaf beetles were discovered in SWFL habitat, APHIS terminated its saltcedar biological control program in 2010 and canceled release permits because of concern about the potential adverse effects to SWFL. APHIS reinitiated consultation with USFWS on these actions, in compliance with section 7(a)(2) of the ESA and 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2), and USFWS concurred with APHIS’ determination that these actions were not likely to adversely affect the SWFL. On September 30, 2013, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against USDA, APHIS, ARS, the Department of the Interior (DOI), and USFWS alleging that the APHIS saltcedar biological control program violated the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the ESA. On May 3, 2016, the Court granted the plaintiff’s second of five claims, finding that APHIS did not comply with the ESA section 7(a)(1), which requires Federal agencies to consult with DOI and ‘‘utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of [the ESA] by carrying out programs for the conservation of endangered species and threatened species listed pursuant to [16 U.S.C. 1533]’’ 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1). On June 19, 2018, the Court ordered USDA and APHIS to publish proposed conservation program alternatives in compliance with ESA section 7(a)(1), solicit public comments on the proposed alternatives, then publish a draft environmental assessment for public comment, and complete review of all public comments, and issue final decision and final environmental assessment, or an environmental impact statement (EIS) should it be appropriate. On October 26, 2018, APHIS published in the Federal Register (83 FR 54080–54082, Docket No. APHIS– 2018–0064) a notice 1 informing the public of APHIS’ intent to conduct a scoping process and prepare an environmental assessment (EA). We solicited comments for 30 days ending on November 26, 2018. We received 23 comments by that date. After reviewing the comments, APHIS prepared the draft EA to examine the environmental effects 1 To view the notice and the comments we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket ?D=APHIS-2018-0064. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Jul 08, 2019 Jkt 247001 of possible program alternatives, including conservation measures available to USDA and APHIS as well as a ‘‘no action’’ alternative. The EA will be used for planning and decisionmaking and to inform the public about the environmental effects of the various conservation actions. We are announcing the availability of the draft EA that considers the potential environmental effects of the proposed conservation measures. We are requesting public comments on the listed conservation program alternatives to ensure that additional potential alternatives and environmental issues overlooked by USDA and APHIS in the draft EA can be identified and examined before it is finalized. Based on the comments that we receive, we may determine that we should prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of an EA. In that case, we would notify the public of our intent to prepare an EIS in a notice published in the Federal Register. Proposed Programmatic Alternatives The Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1508.25) require the scope of analysis to include a no action alternative in comparison to other reasonable courses of action. Under the no action alternative, APHIS would evaluate the current USDA programs benefitting the SWFL and would not develop any new conservation programs for the species. Under the proposed conservation program alternative, APHIS would assist existing conservation programs, contribute funding, monitor beetle impacts, and evaluate participation in additional current or future projects with the potential to benefit the flycatcher. APHIS received conservation program suggestions during the notice of intent comment period. These measures include: • Expanding the educational campaign to include discouraging human-aided distribution of the tamarisk leaf beetle near known flycatcher nesting sites; • Funding the construction, installation, and maintenance of cowbird traps in flycatcher-occupied riparian habitat to reduce nest parasitism; and • Funding additional development and testing of a tamarisk leaf beetle repellent by Montana State University. The EA will be prepared in accordance with: (1) NEPA, (2) CEQ’s regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA’s PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 372). In addition to publishing this notice in the Federal Register, APHIS will send the draft EA to 15 Tribal governments, the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the USFWS–Ecological Services and the National Wildlife Refuge System, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, 7 States, and dozens of individuals from non-governmental groups (conservation and academic researchers). APHIS requests that Federal, State, Tribal, or local government entities who manage areas, or have jurisdictional control over sites or actions under consideration as part of this conservation program, contribute to this environmental risk analysis and development of the final NEPA documents. Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of July 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–14538 Filed 7–8–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0031] Environmental Impact Statement; Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program: Record of Decision Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice advises the public of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s record of decision for the final programmatic environmental impact statement titled ‘‘Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program.’’ DATES: An official of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Plant Protection and Quarantine signed the record of decision on April 22, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may read the final environmental impact statement and record of decision 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09JYN1.SGM 09JYN1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 9, 2019 / Notices sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. The record of decision, final environmental impact statement, and supporting information may also be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/# !docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0031. To obtain copies of the documents, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the Fruit Fly Eradication Program, contact Dr. Richard Johnson, APHIS Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737; Richard.N.Johnson@usda.gov; (301) 851–2109. For questions related to the environmental impact statement, contact Dr. Jim Warren, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental and Risk Analysis Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737; Jim.E.Warren@ usda.gov; (202) 316–3216. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 12, 2016, we published in the Federal Register (81 FR 53398–53399) a notice 1 of intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and examine the environmental effects of control alternatives available to the agency, including a no action alternative, for the Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program. The notice solicited comments from the public for additional alternatives and environmental impacts that should be examined further in the EIS. We invited comments through September 26, 2016, and received seven comments during the 45-day comment period. On April 27, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice of availability for the draft EIS in the Federal Register (83 FR 18554). APHIS made the draft EIS available and invited public comment through June 11, 2018. Our responses to the two comments received are in the final EIS. On November 16, 2018, the EPA published a notice of availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register (83 FR 57726). APHIS published the final EIS with a review period of 30 days ending December 17, 2018. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations in 40 CFR 1506.10 require a minimum 30day waiting period between the time a final EIS is published and the time an agency makes a decision on an action 1 The notices, comments, draft and final EIS, record of decision, and supporting documents for this docket can be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2016-0031. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Jul 08, 2019 Jkt 247001 covered by the EIS. APHIS has reviewed the final EIS and comments received during the 30-day waiting period and has concluded that the final EIS fully analyzes the issues covered by the draft EIS and addresses the comments and suggestions submitted by commenters. This notice advises the public that the waiting period has elapsed, and APHIS has issued a record of decision (ROD) to implement the preferred alternative described in the final EIS. The ROD has been prepared in accordance with: (1) 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 3rd day of July 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–14539 Filed 7–8–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Information Collection Request; Online Registration for FSA-Hosted Events and Conferences Farm Service Agency, USDA. Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of the information collection associated with online registration for FSA-hosted events and conferences. The information collection is needed for FSA to obtain information from the respondents who register on the internet to make payment and reservations to attend any FSA-hosted conferences and events. DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 9, 2019. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the notice. In your comments, include date, OMB control number, volume, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32703 • Mail: Farm Service Agency, USDA, Director of Outreach, J. Latrice Hill, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0511, Washington, DC 20250– 0511. You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from J. Latrice Hill at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Latrice Hill; (202) 690–1700; email: latrice.hill@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description of Information Collection Title: Online Registration for FSAhosted Events and Conferences. OMB Number: 0560–0226. Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2019. Type of Request: . Abstract: The collection of information is necessary for people to register online to make payment and reservations to attend conferences and events. They can register on FSA’s Online Registration site on the internet. Respondents who do not have access to the internet can register by mail or fax. The information is collected by the FSA employees who host the conferences and events. FSA is collecting common elements from interested respondents such as name, organization, address, country, phone number, email address, State, city or town, payment options (credit card, check), special accommodations requests and how the respondent learned of the conference. The information collection element also includes race, ethnicity, gender and veteran status. The respondents are mainly individuals who will attend the FSA-hosted conferences or events. The information is used to collect payment, if applicable, from the respondents and make hotel reservations and other special arrangements as necessary. There are no changes to the burden hours since the last OMB approval. For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated average time per responses hours multiplied by the estimated total annual responses. Estimate of Annual Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response. (15 minutes) Type of Respondents: Individuals, Business or other for-profit, non-for- E:\FR\FM\09JYN1.SGM 09JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32702-32703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14539]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0031]


Environmental Impact Statement; Fruit Fly Cooperative Control 
Program: Record of Decision

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service's record of decision for the final programmatic 
environmental impact statement titled ``Fruit Fly Cooperative Control 
Program.''

DATES: An official of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-
Plant Protection and Quarantine signed the record of decision on April 
22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may read the final environmental impact statement and 
record of decision 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

[[Page 32703]]

sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before 
coming. The record of decision, final environmental impact statement, 
and supporting information may also be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0031. To obtain copies 
of the documents, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the Fruit Fly 
Eradication Program, contact Dr. Richard Johnson, APHIS Fruit Fly 
Cooperative Control Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
26, Riverdale, MD 20737; [email protected]; (301) 851-2109. 
For questions related to the environmental impact statement, contact 
Dr. Jim Warren, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental and 
Risk Analysis Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 149, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; [email protected]; (202) 316-3216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 12, 2016, we published in the 
Federal Register (81 FR 53398-53399) a notice \1\ of intent to prepare 
a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and 
examine the environmental effects of control alternatives available to 
the agency, including a no action alternative, for the Fruit Fly 
Cooperative Control Program. The notice solicited comments from the 
public for additional alternatives and environmental impacts that 
should be examined further in the EIS. We invited comments through 
September 26, 2016, and received seven comments during the 45-day 
comment period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The notices, comments, draft and final EIS, record of 
decision, and supporting documents for this docket can be viewed at 
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0031.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On April 27, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
published a notice of availability for the draft EIS in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 18554). APHIS made the draft EIS available and invited 
public comment through June 11, 2018. Our responses to the two comments 
received are in the final EIS. On November 16, 2018, the EPA published 
a notice of availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register (83 
FR 57726). APHIS published the final EIS with a review period of 30 
days ending December 17, 2018.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing 
regulations in 40 CFR 1506.10 require a minimum 30-day waiting period 
between the time a final EIS is published and the time an agency makes 
a decision on an action covered by the EIS. APHIS has reviewed the 
final EIS and comments received during the 30-day waiting period and 
has concluded that the final EIS fully analyzes the issues covered by 
the draft EIS and addresses the comments and suggestions submitted by 
commenters. This notice advises the public that the waiting period has 
elapsed, and APHIS has issued a record of decision (ROD) to implement 
the preferred alternative described in the final EIS.
    The ROD has been prepared in accordance with: (1) 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 3rd day of July 2019.
 Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-14539 Filed 7-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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