[Federal Register: December 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 239)]
[Notices]
[Page 76376]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12de02-23]
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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.
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[[Page 76376]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 02-060-2]
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment
and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the control of rush
skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea). The environmental assessment
considers the effects of, and alternatives to, the release of a
nonindigenous organism, Chondrilla root moth (Bradyrrhoa gilveolella),
into the environment for use as a biological control agent to reduce
the severity of rush skeletonweed infestations. Based on its finding of
no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be
prepared.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no
significant impact are available for public inspection in our reading
room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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) 690-2817 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert V. Flanders, Branch Chief,
Pest Permit Evaluation, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1228; (301) 734-5930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
considering an application from the University of Montana for a permit
to release a nonindigenous organism, Chondrilla root moth (Bradyrrhoa
gilveolella), to reduce the severity of rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla
juncea) in the continental United States.
Native to Eurasia, rush skeletonweed has become established in the
District of Columbia and several States including California, Delaware,
Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New
York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
This invasive weed infests roadsides, railways, rangelands, pastures,
grain fields, coastal sand dunes, and shaley hillsides in mountainous
regions. Rush skeletonweed causes losses in infested grain fields,
reduces rangeland forage production, and reduces plant and animal
diversity.
On July 25, 2002, we published in the Federal Register (67 FR
48610-48611, Docket No. 02-060-1) a notice in which we announced the
availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental
assessment (EA) that examined the potential effects of the release of
the Chondrilla root moth into the environment for use as a biological
control agent to reduce the severity of rush skeletonweed infestations.
Chondrilla root moth larvae feed on the roots of rush skeletonweed,
causing the plant to die or increasing its susceptibility to pathogenic
fungi.
We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending on August 26,
2002. We received one comment by that date. The commenter supported the
proposed action.
In this document, we are advising the public of APHIS' record of
decision and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding the
proposed field release of the Chondrilla root moth into the environment
for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of rush
skeletonweed infestations. The decision, which is based on the analysis
found in the EA, reflects our determination that release of the
organism will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment.
The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact
may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq by
following the link for ``Documents/Forms Retrieval System'' then
clicking on the triangle beside ``6--Permits--Environmental
Assessments,'' and selecting document number 0037. You may request
paper copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no
significant impact by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the
environmental assessment when requesting copies. The environmental
assessment and finding of no significant impact are also available for
review in our reading room (information on the location and hours of
the reading room is listed under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning
of this notice).
The 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 1), and (4)
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC this 6th day of December 2002.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31308 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P