Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Lophodiplosis indentata for Biological Control of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) in the Contiguous United States, 65312 [2024-17674]
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Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 89, No. 154
Friday, August 9, 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–2021–0049]
Notice of Availability of Final
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
Release of Lophodiplosis indentata for
Biological Control of Melaleuca
quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) 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
Lophodiplosis indentata for the
biological control of Melaleuca
quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) 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, a fly,
Lophodiplosis indentata in the
contiguous United States for the
biological control of Melaleuca
quinquenervia (Myrtaceae), hereinafter
referred to as melaleuca.
Melaleuca, a large tree native to
Australia, New Caledonia, and Papua
New Guinea, was imported into Florida
in the late 19th century. It was planted
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:21 Aug 08, 2024
Jkt 262001
extensively in Palm Beach, Broward,
Collier, and Miami-Dade Counties.
Unsuccessful treatment campaigns
during the 1970s and 1980s culminated
in Federal and State listing of melaleuca
as a noxious weed. By the 1990s,
melaleuca covered more than 200,000
hectares of wetlands in south Florida. It
dramatically disrupted normal water
cycles, fire cycles, disturbance recovery
cycles, nutrient cycling, light
availability, and tree canopy.
Permitting the release of the fly,
Lophodiplosis indentata, a gall-forming
melaleuca specialist that lays eggs on
new foliage of the tree, will add to the
impact of three previously released
biological control agents in reducing
severity of melaleuca infestations. When
the eggs of L. indentata hatch, the
emerging larva bore into leaf tissue,
instigating the gall (an abnormal growth)
to form around them. These galls distort
young foliage and result in reduced
sapling height.
On December 16, 2021, we published
in the Federal Register (86 FR 71417,
Docket No. APHIS–2021–0049) 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 L.
indentata in the contiguous United
States for the biological control of
melaleuca. Comments on the notice
were required to be received on or
before January 18, 2022. We received
five comments on the EA by that date,
as noted on page 6 of the final EA. Four
comments were in favor of the
environmental release of L. indentata,
and one comment was neither for nor
against it and raised no concerns.
In this document, we are advising the
public of our finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) regarding the field
release of the fly, L. indentata, for
biological control of melaleuca in the
contiguous United States. Our finding,
which is based on the EA, reflects our
determination that release of L.
indentata for the biological control of
melaleuca in the contiguous United
States will not have a significant impact
on the quality of the human
environment. Based on this finding, we
1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and
the comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2021–0049
in the Search field.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
have issued a permit for the release of
L. indentata for the biological control of
melaleuca 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 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. 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)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of
July 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–17674 Filed 8–8–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. Codex Office
Codex Alimentarius Commission:
Meeting of the Codex Committee on
Food Labelling
U.S. Codex Office, USDA.
Notice of public meeting and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The U.S. Codex Office is
sponsoring a public meeting on October
9, 2024. The objective of the public
meeting is to provide information and
receive public comments on agenda
items and draft U.S. positions to be
discussed at the 48th Session of the
Codex Committee on Food Labelling
(CCFL48) of the Codex Alimentarius
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM
09AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 65312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17674]
========================================================================
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. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 65312]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0049]
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Lophodiplosis indentata
for Biological Control of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) 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 Lophodiplosis indentata for the
biological control of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) 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, a
fly, Lophodiplosis indentata in the contiguous United States for the
biological control of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae), hereinafter
referred to as melaleuca.
Melaleuca, a large tree native to Australia, New Caledonia, and
Papua New Guinea, was imported into Florida in the late 19th century.
It was planted extensively in Palm Beach, Broward, Collier, and Miami-
Dade Counties. Unsuccessful treatment campaigns during the 1970s and
1980s culminated in Federal and State listing of melaleuca as a noxious
weed. By the 1990s, melaleuca covered more than 200,000 hectares of
wetlands in south Florida. It dramatically disrupted normal water
cycles, fire cycles, disturbance recovery cycles, nutrient cycling,
light availability, and tree canopy.
Permitting the release of the fly, Lophodiplosis indentata, a gall-
forming melaleuca specialist that lays eggs on new foliage of the tree,
will add to the impact of three previously released biological control
agents in reducing severity of melaleuca infestations. When the eggs of
L. indentata hatch, the emerging larva bore into leaf tissue,
instigating the gall (an abnormal growth) to form around them. These
galls distort young foliage and result in reduced sapling height.
On December 16, 2021, we published in the Federal Register (86 FR
71417, Docket No. APHIS-2021-0049) 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 L. indentata in the contiguous United
States for the biological control of melaleuca. Comments on the notice
were required to be received on or before January 18, 2022. We received
five comments on the EA by that date, as noted on page 6 of the final
EA. Four comments were in favor of the environmental release of L.
indentata, and one comment was neither for nor against it and raised no
concerns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments
we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2021-
0049 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 fly, L.
indentata, for biological control of melaleuca in the contiguous United
States. Our finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our
determination that release of L. indentata for the biological control
of melaleuca 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 L. indentata
for the biological control of melaleuca 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 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.
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) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part
1b); and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of July 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17674 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
