Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Psyllaephagus euphyllurae for Biological Control of Olive Psyllid in the Contiguous United States, 12812 [2024-03378]
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12812
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 89, No. 34
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2022–0015]
Notice of Availability of Final
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
Release of Psyllaephagus euphyllurae
for Biological Control of Olive Psyllid
in the Contiguous United States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that we have prepared a final
environmental assessment and finding
of no significant impact relative to
permitting the release of the insect
Psyllaephagus euphyllurae for
biological control of olive psyllid
(Euphyllura olivina) in the contiguous
United States. Based on our finding of
no significant impact, we have
determined that an environmental
impact statement need not be prepared.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Robert S. Pfannenstiel, Ph.D., Senior
Entomologist, Biological Control, 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: The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) is issuing permits for
the release of the insect Psyllaephagus
euphyllurae in the contiguous United
States for the biological control of olive
psyllid (Euphyllura olivina).
The olive psyllid is native to southern
Europe. It was first detected in North
America in 2007. By the time this
psyllid was found on olives in southern
California, it was widespread in the
region. This pest feeds exclusively on
the flower blossoms and growing tissue
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:54 Feb 16, 2024
Jkt 262001
of olives, causing reductions in fruit set,
with reductions in fruit yield as high as
60 percent reported in some parts of the
Mediterranean Basin.
Permitting the release of P.
euphyllurae is necessary to reduce the
severity of damage to olives from
infestations of olive psyllid. P.
euphyllurae is a small, stingless
parasitoid wasp specific only to olive
psyllid. The adult wasp lays an egg
inside the olive psyllid. The egg hatches
and consumes the olive psyllid host.
The P. euphyllurae then goes into
prolonged dormancy as a preadult in the
host mummy’s remains until the
following spring. The wasp poses no
risk to humans, livestock, or wildlife.
On March 31, 2022, we published in
the Federal Register (87 FR 18764,
Docket No. 2022–0015) a notice 1 in
which we announced the availability,
for public review and comment, of an
environmental assessment (EA) that
examined the potential environmental
impacts associated with the release of P.
euphyllurae (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae)
in the contiguous United States for the
biological control of olive psyllid
(Euphyllura olivine, Hemiptera:
Liviidae). Comments on the notice were
required to be received on or before May
2, 2022. We received one comment on
the EA by that date. It was in favor of
the environmental release of P.
euphyllurae.
In this document, we are advising the
public of our finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) regarding the field
release of the insect, P. euphyllurae, for
biological control of olive psyllid in the
contiguous United States. Our finding,
which is based on the EA, reflects our
determination that release of P.
euphyllurae for the biological control of
olive psyllid in the contiguous United
States will not have a significant impact
on the quality of the human
environment. Based on this finding, we
have issued a permit for the release of
P. euphyllurae for the biological control
of olive psyllid in the contiguous United
States.
The final EA and FONSI may be
viewed on the Regulations.gov website
(see footnote 1). Copies of the final EA
and FONSI are also available for public
inspection at 1620 of the USDA South
1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and
the comment we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2022–0015
in the Search field.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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. Persons wishing to inspect
copies are requested to call ahead on
(202) 799–7039 to facilitate entry into
the reading room. In addition, copies
may be obtained by calling or writing to
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
The final 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)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR
part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of
February 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–03378 Filed 2–16–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Child Nutrition Programs: Income
Eligibility Guidelines
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
Department’s annual adjustments to the
Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used
in determining eligibility for free and
reduced price meals, free milk, and
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer
benefits for the period from July 1, 2024
through June 30, 2025. These guidelines
are used by schools, institutions, and
facilities participating in the National
School Lunch Program (and Commodity
School Program), School Breakfast
Program, Special Milk Program for
Children, Child and Adult Care Food
Program, and Summer Food Service
Program. Beginning in 2024, they will
also be used by States and Indian Tribal
Organizations that administer the
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM
20FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 12812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03378]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 12812]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0015]
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Psyllaephagus
euphyllurae for Biological Control of Olive Psyllid in the Contiguous
United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a final
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative
to permitting the release of the insect Psyllaephagus euphyllurae for
biological control of olive psyllid (Euphyllura olivina) in the
contiguous United States. Based on our finding of no significant
impact, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need
not be prepared.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert S. Pfannenstiel, Ph.D.,
Senior Entomologist, Biological Control, Pests, Pathogens and
Biocontrol Permitting, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2198; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) is issuing permits for the release of the insect
Psyllaephagus euphyllurae in the contiguous United States for the
biological control of olive psyllid (Euphyllura olivina).
The olive psyllid is native to southern Europe. It was first
detected in North America in 2007. By the time this psyllid was found
on olives in southern California, it was widespread in the region. This
pest feeds exclusively on the flower blossoms and growing tissue of
olives, causing reductions in fruit set, with reductions in fruit yield
as high as 60 percent reported in some parts of the Mediterranean
Basin.
Permitting the release of P. euphyllurae is necessary to reduce the
severity of damage to olives from infestations of olive psyllid. P.
euphyllurae is a small, stingless parasitoid wasp specific only to
olive psyllid. The adult wasp lays an egg inside the olive psyllid. The
egg hatches and consumes the olive psyllid host. The P. euphyllurae
then goes into prolonged dormancy as a preadult in the host mummy's
remains until the following spring. The wasp poses no risk to humans,
livestock, or wildlife.
On March 31, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR
18764, Docket No. 2022-0015) a notice \1\ in which we announced the
availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental
assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts
associated with the release of P. euphyllurae (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae)
in the contiguous United States for the biological control of olive
psyllid (Euphyllura olivine, Hemiptera: Liviidae). Comments on the
notice were required to be received on or before May 2, 2022. We
received one comment on the EA by that date. It was in favor of the
environmental release of P. euphyllurae.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comment we
received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2022-0015
in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the field release of the insect,
P. euphyllurae, for biological control of olive psyllid in the
contiguous United States. Our finding, which is based on the EA,
reflects our determination that release of P. euphyllurae for the
biological control of olive psyllid in the contiguous United States
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. Based on this finding, we have issued a permit for the
release of P. euphyllurae for the biological control of olive psyllid
in the contiguous United States.
The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website
(see footnote 1). Copies of the final EA and FONSI are also available
for public inspection at 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.
Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202)
799-7039 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies
may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The final 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) U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of February 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-03378 Filed 2-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
