Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Emergency Response for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in the United States Migratory Bird Flyways, 103769-103770 [2024-30256]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Notices
and use of international and regional
plant health standards, including
through the use of APHIS Stakeholder
Registry notices 7 and the APHIS public
website. Plant health stakeholders are
strongly encouraged to comment on
draft standards, documents, and
specifications during consultation
periods. APHIS posts links to draft
standards on the website as they become
available and provides information on
the due dates for comments.8 Additional
information on NAPPO standards
(including the NAPPO work program,
calls for projects, expert groups, the
standard-setting process, and adopted
standards) is available on the NAPPO
website.9
For the most current information on
official U.S. participation in NAPPO
activities, including U.S. positions on
standards being considered, contact
Stephanie Dubon (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above). Those
wishing to provide comments on any of
the areas of work being undertaken at
NAPPO may do so at any time by
responding to this notice (see
ADDRESSES above) or by providing
comments through Stephanie Dubon.
Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of
December 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–30318 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2022–0031]
Notice of Availability of a Final
Supplemental Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for Emergency
Response for Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza Outbreaks in the United
States Migratory Bird Flyways
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that we have prepared a final
supplemental environmental assessment
(EA) and finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) relative to our
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
7 To sign up for the Stakeholder Registry, go to:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/
USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new.
8 For more information on NAPPO consultation:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/internationalstandards/plant-health-standards/draft.
9 NAPPO website: https://nappo.org.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:08 Dec 18, 2024
Jkt 265001
emergency response activities for highly
pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in
commercial and backyard poultry
operations located in the four migratory
bird flyways in the United States. This
final supplemental EA supplements the
initial EA and FONSI we published in
September 2022, which evaluated the
environmental impacts associated with
the first seven States where highly
pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks
occurred. Based on our FONSI, we have
determined that an environmental
impact statement need not be prepared
for the proposed action as described in
this final supplemental EA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Chelsea Bare, Chief of Staff, Veterinary
Services, APHIS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Whitten Building Room 318–E,
Washington, DC 20250; (515) 337–6128;
chelsea.j.bare@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
Veterinary Services (VS), has been
delegated the authority under the
Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
8301–8322) to protect the health of
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture
populations in the United States by
preventing the introduction and
interstate spread of serious diseases and
pests of livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture, and eradicating such
diseases within the United States when
feasible. Highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) is an extremely
infectious disease and often fatal to
poultry.1 Avian influenza (AI) viruses
may circulate freely in wild bird
populations without the birds appearing
sick. As these birds migrate, they carry
HPAI and other AI viruses with them
and may subsequently transmit AI to
domestic birds. HPAI can rapidly spread
within and between domestic poultry
flocks and wild bird (especially
waterfowl) populations. It is APHIS’
objective to stamp out HPAI as rapidly
as possible at locations where it has
been found. Preventing the entry of
diseased birds and eggs into the United
States, monitoring AI in migratory birds,
identifying AI strains occurring
primarily in migratory waterbird
species, as well as backyard and
commercial poultry flocks, and
stamping out HPAI as it arises in
1 Domestic poultry that can be affected include
chickens; turkeys; ring-necked pheasants; ducks;
geese; common, Japanese, or bobwhite quail; Indian
peafowl; chukar or grey partridge; pigeons; ostrich;
and guinea fowl.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
103769
domestic poultry is important for the
long-term maintenance of disease-free
United States poultry stocks.
In response to outbreaks of the HPAI
H5N1 (AI strain) virus subtype in
commercial and backyard poultry flocks
that began on February 8, 2022, we
published a draft environmental
assessment (EA) and draft finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) in April
2022 to allow VS to carry out emergency
response activities in seven States
(Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, New York,
Maine, Delaware, and Michigan). A final
EA titled ‘‘Emergency Response for
HPAI Outbreaks in Seven States’’ and
final FONSI were published in
September 2022.2
Since the preparation and publication
of the final EA and FONSI for the initial
seven States, HPAI outbreaks have
continued to occur across the United
States. As of November 21, 2024, the
virus was confirmed in 538 commercial,
661 backyard, and 32 other types (e.g.,
live bird markets, rehabilitation
facilities) of flocks, affecting
approximately 110 million birds in 49
States.3 As HPAI outbreaks have been
stamped out, new outbreaks emerge and
are likely to continue with seasonal (i.e.,
spring and fall) bird migrations. For this
reason, we prepared a supplemental EA
titled ‘‘Emergency Response for Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks
in the United States Migratory Bird
Flyways’’ to cover HPAI emergency
response activities in other impacted
States in the four North American
migratory bird flyways (i.e., the
Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyways).
On August 24, 2023, we published in
the Federal Register (88 FR 57923–
57924, Docket No. APHIS–2022–0031) a
notice in which we announced the
availability, for public review and
comment, of a draft supplemental EA
and draft FONSI that examined the
potential environmental impacts
associated with HPAI response activities
for additional outbreaks in commercial
and backyard poultry operations in
other impacted States in the four North
American migratory bird flyways.4
We solicited comments on the draft
supplemental EA and FONSI for 30 days
2 To view the draft EA, draft FONSI, the
comments we received, the final EA, and the final
FONSI, go to www.regulations.gov and enter
APHIS–2022–0031 in the Search field.
3 Current HPAI outbreak data can be accessed at
APHIS’ website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-diseaseinformation/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai (last
visited November 21, 2024).
4 To view the draft supplemental EA, draft
FONSI, and the comment we received, go to
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS–2022–0031
in the Search field.
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
19DEN1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
103770
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Notices
ending September 25, 2023. We
received one comment on the draft
supplemental EA by that date. Besides
commenting on specific outbreak
information not included in the draft
supplemental EA and the timeliness of
publication, the commenter raised
several concerns regarding the draft
supplemental EA. These concerns
included whether APHIS appropriately
consulted with other Federal agencies as
required by the Endangered Species Act;
that APHIS has not considered the
significant effects that outbreak
response actions will cause to the
natural environment, nearby
communities, wildlife and ecological
resources, particularly threatened and
endangered wildlife populations; and
that reasonable alternatives were not
considered, especially restricting certain
disposal options that the commenter felt
would limit the potential exposure of
threatened and endangered species to
HPAI-infected domestic poultry.
We reviewed and considered the
concerns raised by the commenter. We
have both revised the draft
supplemental EA where appropriate and
provided responses to concerns
expressed. Our full responses can be
found in Appendix E of the final
supplemental EA.
We are also advising the public of our
final FONSI regarding the final
supplemental EA for our emergency
response activities for HPAI in the
United States migratory bird flyways.
The FONSI, which is based on the final
supplemental EA, reflects our
determination that the methods used as
part of HPAI emergency outbreak
response activities will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment.
The final supplemental EA and
FONSI may be viewed on the
Regulations.gov website (see footnote 4).
Copies of the final supplemental EA and
FONSI are also available for public
inspection in our reading room located
in Room 1620 of the USDA South
Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250.
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. In addition, copies
may be obtained by calling or writing to
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
The final supplemental EA and
FONSI were prepared in accordance
with: (1) 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:08 Dec 18, 2024
Jkt 265001
1500 through 1508) in effect prior to
July 1, 2024, (3) USDA’s NEPAimplementing regulations (7 CFR part
1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of
December 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–30256 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2024–0048]
Notice of Request for Reinstatement of
an Information Collection; National
Animal Health Monitoring System;
Poultry 2025 Small Enterprise Study
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Reinstatement 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 the reinstatement of an
information collection associated with
conducting the National Animal Health
Monitoring System’s small enterprise
poultry study in 2025.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before February
18, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–
2024–0048 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–2024–0048, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
2C–10.16, 4700 River Road, Unit 25,
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.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
For
information on the Poultry 2025 Small
Enterprise Study, contact Ms. Nia
Washington-Plaskett, Program Analyst,
Center for Epidemiology and Animal
Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Ave.,
Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; phone:
(866) 907–8190; email: nia.washingtonplaskett@usda.gov or vs.sp.ceah.pci@
usda.gov. For more detailed information
on the information collection process,
contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS’
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator,
at (301) 851–2533, or email:
joseph.moxey@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Animal Health
Monitoring System; Poultry 2025 Small
Enterprise Study.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0260.
Type of Request: Reinstatement of a
previously approved information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.),
the Secretary of Agriculture is
authorized to protect the health of the
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture
populations in the United States by
preventing the introduction and
interstate spread of serious diseases and
pests of livestock, and for eradicating
such diseases from the United States
when feasible. This authority has been
delegated to the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
In connection with this mission,
APHIS operates the National Animal
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS),
which collects on a national basis
statistically valid and scientifically
sound data on the prevalence and
economic importance of livestock,
poultry, and aquaculture disease risk
factors.
NAHMS’ studies have evolved into a
collaborative industry and government
initiative to help determine the most
effective means of preventing and
controlling diseases of poultry. NAHMS
is the only agency responsible for
collecting data on poultry health.
Participation in any NAHMS study is
voluntary, and all data are confidential.
NAHMS plans to conduct the Poultry
2025 Small Enterprise Study as part of
an ongoing series of NAHMS studies on
the U.S. poultry population. This study
will support the following objectives: (1)
Establish baselines for animal health
and management practices on U.S.
poultry operations with 1,000 to 74,999
table egg layers inventory, 1,000 to
99,999 broilers sold or moved annually,
and 1,000 to 29,999 meat turkeys sold
or moved annually; (2) describe
management and biosecurity practices
of small enterprise operations with a
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
19DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103769-103770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30256]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0031]
Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Emergency Response
for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in the United States
Migratory Bird Flyways
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a final
supplemental environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) relative to our emergency response
activities for highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in
commercial and backyard poultry operations located in the four
migratory bird flyways in the United States. This final supplemental EA
supplements the initial EA and FONSI we published in September 2022,
which evaluated the environmental impacts associated with the first
seven States where highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks
occurred. Based on our FONSI, we have determined that an environmental
impact statement need not be prepared for the proposed action as
described in this final supplemental EA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Bare, Chief of Staff,
Veterinary Services, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Whitten Building Room 318-E, Washington, DC
20250; (515) 337-6128; [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), has
been delegated the authority under the Animal Health Protection Act (7
U.S.C. 8301-8322) to protect the health of livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture populations in the United States by preventing the
introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, and eradicating such diseases
within the United States when feasible. Highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) is an extremely infectious disease and often fatal to
poultry.\1\ Avian influenza (AI) viruses may circulate freely in wild
bird populations without the birds appearing sick. As these birds
migrate, they carry HPAI and other AI viruses with them and may
subsequently transmit AI to domestic birds. HPAI can rapidly spread
within and between domestic poultry flocks and wild bird (especially
waterfowl) populations. It is APHIS' objective to stamp out HPAI as
rapidly as possible at locations where it has been found. Preventing
the entry of diseased birds and eggs into the United States, monitoring
AI in migratory birds, identifying AI strains occurring primarily in
migratory waterbird species, as well as backyard and commercial poultry
flocks, and stamping out HPAI as it arises in domestic poultry is
important for the long-term maintenance of disease-free United States
poultry stocks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Domestic poultry that can be affected include chickens;
turkeys; ring-necked pheasants; ducks; geese; common, Japanese, or
bobwhite quail; Indian peafowl; chukar or grey partridge; pigeons;
ostrich; and guinea fowl.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to outbreaks of the HPAI H5N1 (AI strain) virus subtype
in commercial and backyard poultry flocks that began on February 8,
2022, we published a draft environmental assessment (EA) and draft
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) in April 2022 to allow VS to
carry out emergency response activities in seven States (Indiana,
Kentucky, Virginia, New York, Maine, Delaware, and Michigan). A final
EA titled ``Emergency Response for HPAI Outbreaks in Seven States'' and
final FONSI were published in September 2022.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ To view the draft EA, draft FONSI, the comments we received,
the final EA, and the final FONSI, go to www.regulations.gov and
enter APHIS-2022-0031 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the preparation and publication of the final EA and FONSI for
the initial seven States, HPAI outbreaks have continued to occur across
the United States. As of November 21, 2024, the virus was confirmed in
538 commercial, 661 backyard, and 32 other types (e.g., live bird
markets, rehabilitation facilities) of flocks, affecting approximately
110 million birds in 49 States.\3\ As HPAI outbreaks have been stamped
out, new outbreaks emerge and are likely to continue with seasonal
(i.e., spring and fall) bird migrations. For this reason, we prepared a
supplemental EA titled ``Emergency Response for Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza Outbreaks in the United States Migratory Bird Flyways'' to
cover HPAI emergency response activities in other impacted States in
the four North American migratory bird flyways (i.e., the Atlantic,
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Current HPAI outbreak data can be accessed at APHIS' website
at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai (last visited
November 21, 2024).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 24, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR
57923-57924, Docket No. APHIS-2022-0031) a notice in which we announced
the availability, for public review and comment, of a draft
supplemental EA and draft FONSI that examined the potential
environmental impacts associated with HPAI response activities for
additional outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations in
other impacted States in the four North American migratory bird
flyways.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ To view the draft supplemental EA, draft FONSI, and the
comment we received, go to www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2022-
0031 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments on the draft supplemental EA and FONSI for 30
days
[[Page 103770]]
ending September 25, 2023. We received one comment on the draft
supplemental EA by that date. Besides commenting on specific outbreak
information not included in the draft supplemental EA and the
timeliness of publication, the commenter raised several concerns
regarding the draft supplemental EA. These concerns included whether
APHIS appropriately consulted with other Federal agencies as required
by the Endangered Species Act; that APHIS has not considered the
significant effects that outbreak response actions will cause to the
natural environment, nearby communities, wildlife and ecological
resources, particularly threatened and endangered wildlife populations;
and that reasonable alternatives were not considered, especially
restricting certain disposal options that the commenter felt would
limit the potential exposure of threatened and endangered species to
HPAI-infected domestic poultry.
We reviewed and considered the concerns raised by the commenter. We
have both revised the draft supplemental EA where appropriate and
provided responses to concerns expressed. Our full responses can be
found in Appendix E of the final supplemental EA.
We are also advising the public of our final FONSI regarding the
final supplemental EA for our emergency response activities for HPAI in
the United States migratory bird flyways. The FONSI, which is based on
the final supplemental EA, reflects our determination that the methods
used as part of HPAI emergency outbreak response activities will not
have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
The final supplemental EA and FONSI may be viewed on the
Regulations.gov website (see footnote 4). Copies of the final
supplemental EA and FONSI are also available for public inspection in
our reading room located in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th
Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250. 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. In addition, copies may be obtained by calling
or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
The final supplemental EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance
with: (1) 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 through
1508) in effect prior to July 1, 2024, (3) USDA's NEPA-implementing
regulations (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of December 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30256 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P