Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release of Bagous nodulosus for Biological Control of Flowering Rush in the Continental United States, 71250-71251 [2024-19639]

Download as PDF 71250 Notices Federal Register Vol. 89, No. 170 Tuesday, September 3, 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–2024–0049] National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee; Meeting Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: We are giving notice that the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee will be holding a public meeting. DATES: The public meeting will be held on October 29th and October 30th, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) each day. Public and Written Comments: Due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the discussions during the meeting: Written public comments will be accepted before and after the meeting but must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 15th, 2024. ADDRESSES: On October 29th and 30th the meeting will be held at the USDA office located at 2150 Centre Avenue, Building B: Fort Collins, CO 80526. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Joyce, Designated Federal Officer, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3999; carrie.e.joyce@ usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (the Committee) advises the Secretary of Agriculture concerning policies, program issues, and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services (WS) program. The Committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the WS program to have a voice in the program’s policies. The meeting will focus on operational and research activities conducted by the tkelley on LAP7H3WLY3PROD with NOTICES2 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:46 Aug 30, 2024 Jkt 262001 WS program. The committee will discuss pertinent WS operational, research, and program activities, to increase program effectiveness and ensure that WS remains an active participant in the protection of agriculture, property, natural resources, and human health and safety. The meeting will be open to the public. Attendees should arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. To gain access to the meeting, members of the public will need to pass through a security check that includes metal detection and have a valid Government issued photo identification. Public and Written Comments Due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the discussions during the meeting: Written public comments will be accepted before and after the meeting but must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 15th, 2024. Written comments may be filed with the Committee before or after the meeting by sending them to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Written comments may also be filed at the meeting. Please refer to Docket No. APHIS–2024–0049 when submitting your comments. Reasonable Accommodations If needed, please request reasonable accommodations no later than October 15, 2024, by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Requests made after that date may be considered, but it may not be possible to fulfill them. This notice of meeting is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10). USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. Equal opportunity practices, in accordance with USDA policies, will be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities. Date: August 26, 2024. Cikena Reid, USDA Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2024–19632 Filed 8–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2024–0032] Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release of Bagous nodulosus for Biological Control of Flowering Rush in the Continental United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment relative to permitting the release of the insect, Bagous nodulosus, for the biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) in the continental United States. Based on the environmental assessment and other relevant data, we have reached a preliminary determination that the release of this control agent within the continental United States will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. We are making the SUMMARY: U:\REGISTER\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1 tkelley on LAP7H3WLY3PROD with NOTICES2 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2024 / Notices environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 3, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 2024–0032 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–2024–0032, 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: Dr. Jinbo Wang, Assistant Director, Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits, Permitting and Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1238; (301) 851–2327; email: Jinbo.Wang@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the release of the insect, Bagous nodulosus, for the biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) in the continental United States. The action is proposed to reduce the severity of infestations of flowering rush in the continental United States. Flowering rush is an herbaceous aquatic perennial in the plant family Butomaceae. Native to Europe and Asia, flowering rush was introduced into North America by 1900, possibly both accidentally in ballast water and packing material and intentionally via the horticulture trade. It is now widely naturalized in wetlands, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving rivers in 23 States and nine provinces surrounding the United States/Canada border and is continuing to expand outward. Flowering rush displaces native plant species, impedes water flow, alters habitat structure and nutrient cycling, damages fishing, hunting, boating, and other recreational sectors, and is difficult to control. In western North America, it provides VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:46 Aug 30, 2024 Jkt 262001 habitat for highly damaging invasive and nuisance species. Permitting the release of B. nodulosus in the continental United States is necessary to help control invasive flowering rush. B. nodulosus, a semiaquatic weevil, is a highly specific and potentially very damaging biological control agent for flowering rush. Both adult and larval feeding of B. nodulosus have been shown to reduce the vigor of flowering rush and this agent attacks flowering rush very early during the field season (adults are active from April onwards) and over a long period of time (larvae can be found feeding in the plants from April to September), which should reduce the ability of the plant to compensate for the attack. Hostspecificity testing indicates B. nodulosus is unlikely to attack nontarget species. Flowering rush is very difficult to control. Conventional management strategies are often costly to implement, vary in their effectiveness, and sometimes result in extensive non-target damage. However, flowering rush is an excellent target for biological control because it is a perennial plant growing in stable habitats and because it is the only species in its family, Butomaceae, in North America. Classical biological control is a potentially useful management strategy for an invasive pest species whenever effective resident natural enemies are lacking in the new distribution range. APHIS’ review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release are documented in an environmental assessment (EA) titled ‘‘Field release of the weevil Bagous nodulosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for classical biological control of flowering rush (Butomaceae) in the continental United States’’ (May 2024). Based on our findings in the EA, we are proposing to issue permits for the release of the insect, B. nodulosus, as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of infestations of flowering rush. We are making the 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 EA may be viewed on the regulations.gov website or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may also request paper copies of the EA by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71251 refer to the title of the EA when requesting copies. The EA has 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) in effect as of the date of this notice, (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of August 2024. Michael Watson, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2024–19639 Filed 8–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Proposed Recreation Fee Site Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The National Forests in Florida are proposing to establish a recreation fee site. Proposed recreation fees collected at the proposed recreation fee site would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvement of the site. An analysis of nearby recreation fee sites with similar amenities shows the proposed recreation fees that would be charged at the proposed recreation fee site are reasonable and typical of similar recreation fee sites in the area. DATES: If approved, the proposed recreation fees would be established no earlier than six months following the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: National Forests of Florida, Attention: Recreation Fees, 325 John Knox Road Building F, Suite 210, Tallahassee, FL 32303. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derrick Washington, Recreation Program Manager, 850–523–8500 or derrick.washington@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6803(b)) requires the Forest Service to publish in the Federal Register a six-month advance notice of establishment of proposed recreation fee sites. In accordance with Forest Service Handbook 2309.13, chapter 30, the Forest Service will publish the proposed SUMMARY: U:\REGISTER\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71250-71251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19639]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0032]


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release 
of Bagous nodulosus for Biological Control of Flowering Rush in the 
Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment relative to 
permitting the release of the insect, Bagous nodulosus, for the 
biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) in the 
continental United States. Based on the environmental assessment and 
other relevant data, we have reached a preliminary determination that 
the release of this control agent within the continental United States 
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment. We are making the

[[Page 71251]]

environmental assessment available to the public for review and 
comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0032 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-2024-0032, 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: Dr. Jinbo Wang, Assistant Director, 
Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits, Permitting and Compliance 
Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1238; (301) 851-2327; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the release of the 
insect, Bagous nodulosus, for the biological control of flowering rush 
(Butomus umbellatus) in the continental United States. The action is 
proposed to reduce the severity of infestations of flowering rush in 
the continental United States.
    Flowering rush is an herbaceous aquatic perennial in the plant 
family Butomaceae. Native to Europe and Asia, flowering rush was 
introduced into North America by 1900, possibly both accidentally in 
ballast water and packing material and intentionally via the 
horticulture trade. It is now widely naturalized in wetlands, lakes, 
ditches, and slow-moving rivers in 23 States and nine provinces 
surrounding the United States/Canada border and is continuing to expand 
outward. Flowering rush displaces native plant species, impedes water 
flow, alters habitat structure and nutrient cycling, damages fishing, 
hunting, boating, and other recreational sectors, and is difficult to 
control. In western North America, it provides habitat for highly 
damaging invasive and nuisance species.
    Permitting the release of B. nodulosus in the continental United 
States is necessary to help control invasive flowering rush. B. 
nodulosus, a semi-aquatic weevil, is a highly specific and potentially 
very damaging biological control agent for flowering rush. Both adult 
and larval feeding of B. nodulosus have been shown to reduce the vigor 
of flowering rush and this agent attacks flowering rush very early 
during the field season (adults are active from April onwards) and over 
a long period of time (larvae can be found feeding in the plants from 
April to September), which should reduce the ability of the plant to 
compensate for the attack. Host-specificity testing indicates B. 
nodulosus is unlikely to attack non-target species.
    Flowering rush is very difficult to control. Conventional 
management strategies are often costly to implement, vary in their 
effectiveness, and sometimes result in extensive non-target damage. 
However, flowering rush is an excellent target for biological control 
because it is a perennial plant growing in stable habitats and because 
it is the only species in its family, Butomaceae, in North America. 
Classical biological control is a potentially useful management 
strategy for an invasive pest species whenever effective resident 
natural enemies are lacking in the new distribution range.
    APHIS' review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed release are documented in an environmental 
assessment (EA) titled ``Field release of the weevil Bagous nodulosus 
(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for classical biological control of 
flowering rush (Butomaceae) in the continental United States'' (May 
2024). Based on our findings in the EA, we are proposing to issue 
permits for the release of the insect, B. nodulosus, as a biological 
control agent to reduce the severity of infestations of flowering rush. 
We are making the 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 EA may be viewed on the regulations.gov website or in our 
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to regulations.gov and 
information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may 
also request paper copies of the EA by calling or writing to the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title 
of the EA when requesting copies.
    The EA has 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) 
in effect as of the date of this notice, (3) USDA regulations 
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of August 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-19639 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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