[Federal Register: June 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 38284]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jn03-39]
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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 38284]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-034-2]
Ivy Gourd; 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 a proposed field
release of a nonindigenous leaf-mining weevil, Acythopeus cocciniae,
into Guam and Saipan for the biological control of ivy gourd (Coccinia
grandis). The environmental assessment documents our review and
analysis of environmental impacts associated with widespread release of
this agent. 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. Tracy A. Horner, Ecologist,
Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-5213.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
considering several applications for permits to release the
nonindigenous leaf-mining weevil Acythopeus cocciniae in order to
reduce the severity and extent of ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis)
infestations in Guam and Saipan.
Ivy gourd is native to Africa, Asia, Fiji, and northern Australia.
This invasive weed is a rapidly growing, climbing or trailing vine that
forms thick mats, overgrowing trees and other vegetation, walls,
fences, and utility poles. Ivy gourd also serves as a host for numerous
pests of cucurbitaceous crops, including black leaf-footed bug
(Leptoglossus australis), leafminers (Liriomyza spp.), melon aphid
(Aphis gossypii), melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae), pumpkin
caterpillar (Diaphania indica), red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora
foveicollis), and whiteflies (Bemisia spp.).
Ivy gourd has been detected in the United States in Guam, Hawaii,
and Saipan. In July 1999, we prepared an environmental assessment (EA)
that examined the potential release of A. cocciniae and another weevil
of the same genus, A. burkhartorum, into the environment for use as
biological control agents to reduce the severity and extent of ivy
gourd infestations in the State of Hawaii. APHIS has subsequently
received permit applications for additional releases of A. cocciniae
beyond the area considered in the 1999 EA. The applicants propose to
release A. cocciniae in Guam and Saipan to reduce the severity and
extent of ivy gourd infestation on those islands.
A. cocciniae is native to Africa. Adults live up to 200 days and
feed on the leaves of the ivy gourd, creating numerous holes in the
lamina. Eggs are laid singly by insertion into the lamina of the
leaves. The eggs hatch in about 8 days, and the larvae mine the leaves
for 9 to 10 days thereafter. Pupation takes place within the mine and
lasts for 15 days. Adult feeding and larval mining can cause drying of
the leaves and eventual defoliation.
On April 8, 2003, we published in the Federal Register (68 FR
17007-17008, Docket No. 03-034-1) a notice in which we announced the
availability, for public review and comment, of an EA that examined the
potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release of
A. cocciniae in Guam and Saipan for the biological control of ivy
gourd.
We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending on May 8, 2003.
We received one comment by that date, from a State agricultural agency.
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
release of the nonindigenous leaf-mining weevil A. cocciniae into Guam
and Saipan for the biological control of ivy gourd.
The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/
by following the link for ``Document/Forms
Retrieval System'' then clicking on the triangle beside ``6--Permits--
Environmental Assessments,'' and selecting document number 0034. You
may request paper copies of the EA and FONSI 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 and FONSI 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 23rd day of June, 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-16298 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P