Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Environmental Monitoring, 8793-8794 [2023-02814]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2023 / Notices
decision-making for producers seeking
to protect themselves against future
infection.
Without information on the most
likely routes of disease introduction,
flock managers are unable to implement
updated science-informed approaches to
preventing infection and/or spread.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit; State, local or Tribal
government.
Number of Respondents: 270.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 155.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–02869 Filed 2–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2023–0003]
Notice of Request for Revision to and
Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Environmental
Monitoring
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and extension of
approval of an information collection;
comment request.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service’s intention to
request a revision to and extension of
approval of an information collection
associated with environmental
monitoring.
SUMMARY:
We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before April 11,
2023.
DATES:
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–
2023–0003 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select the
Comment button in the list of
documents.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2023–0003, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at regulations.gov or in
our reading room, which is located in
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Feb 09, 2023
Jkt 259001
room 1620 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on environmental
monitoring, contact Mr. Kai Caraher,
Biological Scientist-Staff Officer,
Permitting and Compliance
Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD
20737; (301) 851–2345; kai.caraher@
usda.gov. For information on the
information collection reporting
process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey,
APHIS’ Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, at (301) 851–2483;
joseph.moxey@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Environmental Monitoring.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0117.
Type of Request: Revision to and
extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) provides leadership in ensuring
the health and care of animals and
plants, improves agricultural
productivity and competitiveness, and
contributes to the national economy and
the public health.
APHIS is committed to accomplishing
its mission in a manner that promotes
and protects the integrity of the
environment. This includes APHIS’
compliance with all applicable
environmental statutes and regulations,
including the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) the Council
on Environmental Quality’s NEPAimplementing regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508), (3) USDA’s NEPAimplementing regulations (7 CFR part
1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPAImplementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
APHIS engages in environmental
monitoring for certain activities that we
conduct to control or eradicate certain
pests and diseases. We monitor those
activities that have the greatest potential
for harm to the human environment to
ensure that the mitigation measures
developed to avoid that harm are
enforced and effective. In many cases,
monitoring is required where APHIS
programs are conducted close to
habitats of endangered and threatened
species. This monitoring is developed in
coordination with the U.S. Department
of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8793
Service, in compliance with the
Endangered Species Act (50 U.S.C.
17.11 and 17.12). APHIS field personnel
and State cooperators jointly use an
APHIS-provided environmental
monitoring form to collect information
concerning the effects of pesticide use
in these sensitive areas. The goal of
environmental monitoring is to track the
potential impact that APHIS activities
may have on the environment and to
use this knowledge in making any
necessary adjustments in future program
actions.
We are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
approve our use of this information
collection activity, as described, for an
additional 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 0.20 hours per
response.
Respondents: Growers, pesticide
appliers, and State department of
agriculture personnel.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 10.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 3.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 25.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 5 hours. (Due to averaging,
the total annual burden hours may not
equal the product of the annual number
of responses multiplied by the reporting
burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
8794
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2023 / Notices
Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of
February 2023.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–02814 Filed 2–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2019–0002]
Notice of Availability of a
Supplemental Environmental
Assessment for Release of Aphalara
itadori From Murakami, Japan for the
Biological Control of Japanese, Giant,
and Bohemian Knotweeds in the
Contiguous United States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared a
supplemental environmental assessment
(EA) relative to a 2020 EA for the release
of Aphalara itadori for the biological
control of Japanese, Giant, and
Bohemian knotweeds (Fallopia
japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x
bohemica), significant invasive weeds,
within the contiguous United States.
This supplement analyzes the potential
impacts of the release of A. itadori from
Murakami, Japan, that may be more
effective than the present Hokkaido and
Kyushu lines of A. itadori in reducing
infestations of knotweeds, particularly
hybrid knotweed, which is the most
abundant type of knotweed in the
United States. We are making the
supplemental EA available to the public
for review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before March 13,
2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• FederaleRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–
2019–0002 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select the
Comment button in the list of
documents.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2019–0002, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
The supplemental environmental
assessment and any comments we
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Feb 09, 2023
Jkt 259001
receive on this docket may be viewed at
www.regulations.gov or in our reading
room, which is located in room 1620 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Robert S. Pfannenstiel, Acting Assistant
Director, Pests, Pathogens and
Biocontrol Permitting, Plant Health
Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231;
(301) 851–2198; email:
bob.pfannenstiel@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Invasive
knotweeds in North America are a
complex of three closely related species
in the family Polygonaceae that were
introduced from Japan during the late
19th century. They include Fallopia
japonica (Japanese knotweed), F.
sachalinensis (Giant knotweed), and the
hybrid between the two, F. x bohemica
(Bohemian knotweed). These large
herbaceous perennials have spread
throughout much of North America,
with the greatest infestations in the
Pacific Northwest, the northeast of the
United States, and eastern Canada.
While capable of growing in diverse
habitats, the knotweeds have become
especially problematic along the banks
and floodplains of rivers and streams,
where they crowd out native plants and
potentially affect stream nutrients and
food webs. While several States have
active control programs against
knotweeds, the inaccessibility of some
of the infestations and the difficulty
with which the plants are killed suggest
that complete eradication of knotweeds
within the United States is unlikely.
Previously, the Hokkaido and Kyushu
biotypes of the insect, Aphalara itadori,
were chosen as potential biological
control organisms. The biotypes were
expected to reduce the severity of
infestations of Japanese, Giant, and
Bohemian knotweed, and they are
known to be highly host specific due to
their intimate relationship with their
host plants.
On May 28, 2019, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
published in the Federal Register (84
FR 24463–24464, Docket No. APHIS–
2019–0002) 1 a notice in which we
announced the availability, for public
review and comment, of an
1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and
the comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–2019–0002 in
the Search field.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
environmental assessment (EA) that
examined the potential environmental
impacts associated with the release of A.
itadori from Kyushu and Hokkaido,
Japan, for the biological control of
Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian
knotweed within the contiguous United
States. After soliciting and reviewing
comments on the EA, we prepared a
finding of no significant impact
(FONSI). On November 30, 2020, we
published in the Federal Register (85
FR 76515–76516, Docket No. APHIS–
2019–0002) a notice in which we
announced the availability of the final
EA and FONSI.
In June 2021, APHIS received a
request to issue permits for the
environmental release of A. itadori
sourced from Murakami, Japan, into the
contiguous United States.
Environmental release of the Murakami
line of A. itadori may be more effective
than the Hokkaido and Kyushu lines. It
is native to a climate and photoperiod
better matched to the primary target
knotweed regions of the United States.
It is recently collected and thus fieldadapted (not lab-adapted as are
currently permitted lines). It also
performs particularly well on hybrid
knotweed (F. x bohemica), the most
abundant knotweed type in the United
States.
Before permits are issued for the
release of A. itadori from Murakami,
Japan, APHIS needs to analyze the
potential impacts of the release of A.
itadori from Murakami, Japan.
Accordingly, APHIS has prepared a
supplemental EA titled ‘‘Field Release
of the Knotweed Psyllid Aphalara
itadori (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) from
Murakami, Japan for Classical Biological
Control of Japanese, Giant, and
Bohemian Knotweeds, Fallopia
japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x
bohemica (Polygonaceae), in the
Contiguous United States, Supplemental
Environmental Assessment’’ (November
2022).
We are making the supplemental EA
available to the public for review and
comment. We will consider all
comments that we receive on or before
the date listed under the heading
DATES at the beginning of this notice.
The supplemental EA may be viewed
on the Regulations.gov website or in our
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for
instructions accessing Regulations.gov
and information on the location and
hours of the reading room). In addition,
paper copies may be obtained by calling
or writing to the individual listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The supplemental EA has been
prepared in accordance with: (1) The
National Environmental Policy Act of
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8793-8794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02814]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0003]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Environmental Monitoring
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information
collection; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection associated with environmental monitoring.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April
11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov.
Enter APHIS-2023-0003 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab,
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2023-0003, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located
in room 1620 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on environmental
monitoring, contact Mr. Kai Caraher, Biological Scientist-Staff
Officer, Permitting and Compliance Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2345;
[email protected]. For information on the information collection
reporting process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction
Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Environmental Monitoring.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership in
ensuring the health and care of animals and plants, improves
agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and contributes to the
national economy and the public health.
APHIS is committed to accomplishing its mission in a manner that
promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This includes
APHIS' compliance with all applicable environmental statutes and
regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) the Council on
Environmental Quality's NEPA-implementing regulations (40 CFR parts
1500-1508), (3) USDA's NEPA-implementing regulations (7 CFR part 1b),
and (4) APHIS' NEPA-Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
APHIS engages in environmental monitoring for certain activities
that we conduct to control or eradicate certain pests and diseases. We
monitor those activities that have the greatest potential for harm to
the human environment to ensure that the mitigation measures developed
to avoid that harm are enforced and effective. In many cases,
monitoring is required where APHIS programs are conducted close to
habitats of endangered and threatened species. This monitoring is
developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior's
Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the Endangered Species
Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12). APHIS field personnel and State
cooperators jointly use an APHIS-provided environmental monitoring form
to collect information concerning the effects of pesticide use in these
sensitive areas. The goal of environmental monitoring is to track the
potential impact that APHIS activities may have on the environment and
to use this knowledge in making any necessary adjustments in future
program actions.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of this information collection activity, as described, for an
additional 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection.
These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated,
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.20 hours per response.
Respondents: Growers, pesticide appliers, and State department of
agriculture personnel.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
Estimated annual number of responses: 25.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5 hours. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per
response.)
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
[[Page 8794]]
Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of February 2023.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02814 Filed 2-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
