80_FR_48224 80 FR 48070 - Notice of Availability of Treatment Evaluation Documents and Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Pesticide Use for the Imported Fire Ant Program

80 FR 48070 - Notice of Availability of Treatment Evaluation Documents and Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Pesticide Use for the Imported Fire Ant Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 154 (August 11, 2015)

Page Range48070-48071
FR Document2015-19700

We are advising the public that we have determined that it is necessary to add to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual two treatment options for use in controlling imported fire ant. We have prepared treatment evaluation documents that describe the new treatment options and provide justification as to why they are effective at neutralizing imported fire ant. In addition, we have prepared a supplemental environmental assessment to update the existing environmental assessment for imported fire ant treatments. We are making the treatment evaluation documents and the supplemental environmental assessment available for review and comment.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48070-48071]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19700]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0046]


Notice of Availability of Treatment Evaluation Documents and 
Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Pesticide Use for the 
Imported Fire Ant Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have determined that it is 
necessary to add to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment 
Manual two treatment options for use in controlling imported fire ant. 
We have prepared treatment evaluation documents that describe the new 
treatment options and provide justification as to why they are 
effective at neutralizing imported fire ant. In addition, we have 
prepared a supplemental environmental assessment to update the existing 
environmental assessment for imported fire ant treatments. We are 
making the treatment evaluation documents and the supplemental 
environmental assessment available for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0046.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0046, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-
0046 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

[[Page 48071]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles L. Brown, Imported Fire 
Ant Quarantine Policy Manager, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2119.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are 
intended, among other things, to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of plant pests and noxious weeds into or within the 
United States. Under the regulations, certain plants, fruits, 
vegetables, and other articles must be treated before they may be moved 
into the United States or interstate. The phytosanitary treatments 
regulations contained in part 305 of 7 CFR chapter III (referred to 
below as the regulations) set out standards for treatments required in 
parts 301, 318, and 319 of 7 CFR chapter III for fruits, vegetables, 
and other articles.
    Section 305.3 of the regulations sets forth a notice-based process 
for adding, revising, and removing the treatments from the Plant 
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) \1\ Treatment Manual. In that section, 
paragraph (b) sets out the process for adding, revising, or removing 
treatment schedules when there is an immediate need to make a change. 
The circumstances in which an immediate need exists are described in 
Sec.  305.3(b)(1).
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    \1\ The PPQ Treatment Manual is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by 
contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant 
Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, 
Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702.
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     PPQ has determined that an approved treatment schedule is 
ineffective at neutralizing the targeted plant pest(s);
     PPQ has determined that, in order to neutralize the 
targeted plant pest(s), the treatment schedule must be administered 
using a different process than was previously used;
     PPQ has determined that a new treatment schedule is 
effective, based on efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in an article 
or articles may be adversely impacted unless the new treatment schedule 
is approved for use; or
     The use of a treatment schedule is no longer authorized by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or by any other Federal 
entity.
    In order to limit the artificial spread of the imported fire ant 
(IFA), domestic movement of all nursery stock (containerized or balled-
and-burlapped) and grass sod from IFA-infested areas of the United 
States to uninfested areas is regulated under 7 CFR 301.81-2. 
Specifically, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
uses ant bait products in conjunction with chemical treatment to 
prevent the artificial spread and dissemination of IFA. The quarantine 
requirements involve the use of chemical treatments on commodities to 
insure that shipments from nurseries, sod farms, and field-growing 
nursery facilities are free of IFA. Changes in availability of 
insecticides that are effective against IFA, as well as ensuring a 
range of pest management options, requires APHIS to periodically 
evaluate new treatment options.
    Currently, ant bait products are used in conjunction with the 
application of a chlorpyrifos (insecticide) drench treatment to prevent 
the artificial spread of IFA. Although effective, we have determined 
that it is necessary to modify the technique used to apply drench 
treatment to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. In addition, 
we are adding two options to the list of insecticidal baits that are 
already approved for use for IFA. The additional insecticidal baits are 
being added to provide a broader range of chemical treatment options 
and are not being proposed as additional treatments beyond what is 
currently required in the quarantine program. Both products have 
commercial uses in nurseries and will give growers additional options 
for the bait treatment of field grown nursery stock or for use in the 
imported fire ant detection, control, exclusion, and enforcement 
program for nurseries producing containerized plants (7 CFR 301.81-11).
    Therefore, APHIS has added two additional insecticidal baits, 
Abamectin and Metaflumizone, to the list of chemicals already allowed 
in the IFA program and modified a drench treatment (Chlorpyrifos) for 
balled-and-burlapped nursery stock for use in control of IFA.
    The reasons for these changes are further described in two 
treatment evaluation documents (TEDs) we have prepared to support this 
action. In addition, we have prepared a supplemental environmental 
assessment (EA) to include the human and environmental impacts that can 
be reasonably expected to occur as a result of the new treatment 
options available for controlling IFA; as described in the new 
treatment evaluation documents. The TEDs and supplemental EA may be 
viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site 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 TEDs and EA by calling or writing to the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    After the close of the comment period, APHIS will publish a notice 
announcing our final determination and, if appropriate, any changes we 
made as a result of the comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 
136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of August 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19700 Filed 8-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

48070 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 154 Tuesday, August 11, 2015 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER the collection of information unless it DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE contains documents other than rules or displays a currently valid OMB control proposed rules that are applicable to the number. Animal and Plant Health Inspection public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Service committee meetings, agency decisions and Food Safety and Inspection Service rulings, delegations of authority, filing of [Docket No. APHIS–2015–0046] Title: Requirements to Notify FSIS of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are Adulterated or Misbranded Product, Notice of Availability of Treatment examples of documents appearing in this Prepare and Maintain Written Recall Evaluation Documents and section. Procedures and Document Certain Supplemental Environmental HACCP Reassessments. Assessment for Pesticide Use for the OMB Control Number: 0583–0144. Imported Fire Ant Program DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Summary Of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Submission for OMB Review; been delegated the authority to exercise Inspection Service, USDA. Comment Request the functions of the Secretary as ACTION: Notice of availability. August 5, 2015. provided in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and SUMMARY: We are advising the public The Department of Agriculture has that we have determined that it is submitted the following information the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). These necessary to add to the Plant Protection collection requirement(s) to OMB for and Quarantine Treatment Manual two review and clearance under the statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat and treatment options for use in controlling Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, imported fire ant. We have prepared Public Law 104–13. Comments poultry products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and treatment evaluation documents that regarding (a) whether the collection of describe the new treatment options and information is necessary for the proper packaged. Section 11017 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 provide justification as to why they are performance of the functions of the effective at neutralizing imported fire agency, including whether the (Pub. L No. 110–246, 112 Stat 1651, 448–49), amended the FMIA and the ant. In addition, we have prepared a information will have practical utility; supplemental environmental assessment (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate PPIA by adding sections 12 and 13 to the FMIA and by amending section 10 to update the existing environmental of burden including the validity of the assessment for imported fire ant methodology and assumptions used; (c) of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 459). These sections require official establishments treatments. We are making the treatment ways to enhance the quality, utility and evaluation documents and the clarity of the information to be that believe, that product they have shipped or received, that may be supplemental environmental assessment collected; (d) ways to minimize the available for review and comment. burden of the collection of information misbranded or adulterated and has on those who are to respond, including entered into commerce are required to DATES: We will consider all comments through the use of appropriate notify the Secretary of Agriculture. that we receive on or before October 13, automated, electronic, mechanical, or Need and Use of the Information: 2015. other technological collection Official establishments are to document ADDRESSES: You may submit comments techniques or other forms of information each time they reassess their HACCP by either of the following methods: technology should be addressed to: Desk plans and make the reassessments • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to Officer for Agriculture, Office of available to FSIS officials for review and http://www.regulations.gov/ Information and Regulatory Affairs, copying. Official establishments are to #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0046. Office of Management and Budget notify the FSIS District Office that they • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: (OMB), OIRA_Submission@ have received or have shipped into Send your comment to Docket No. OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 commerce misbranded or adulterated APHIS–2015–0046, Regulatory Analysis and to Departmental Clearance Office, product. The information collected will and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, permit FSIS officials to monitor closely 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Washington, DC 20250–7602. establishments HACCP plan Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Comments regarding these information reassessments and to facilitate recalls or Supporting documents and any collections are best assured of having adulterated or misbranded product. comments we receive on this docket their full effect if received within 30 Description of Respondents: Business may be viewed at http:// days of this notification. Copies of the or other for-profit. www.regulations.gov/ submission(s) may be obtained by Number of Respondents: 6,300. #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0046 or calling (202) 720–8958. in our reading room, which is located in asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Frequency of Responses: Reporting: An agency may not conduct or On occasion. room 1141 of the USDA South Building, sponsor a collection of information Total Burden Hours: 47,475. 14th Street and Independence Avenue unless the collection of information SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading displays a currently valid OMB control Ruth Brown, room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., number and the agency informs Departmental Information Collection Monday through Friday, except potential persons who are to respond to Clearance Officer. holidays. To be sure someone is there to the collection of information that such [FR Doc. 2015–19637 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am] help you, please call (202) 799–7039 persons are not required to respond to BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P before coming. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Aug 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM 11AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices 48071 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Health Inspection Service (APHIS) uses under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Charles L. Brown, Imported Fire Ant ant bait products in conjunction with CONTACT. Quarantine Policy Manager, Plant chemical treatment to prevent the After the close of the comment period, Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 artificial spread and dissemination of APHIS will publish a notice announcing River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD IFA. The quarantine requirements our final determination and, if 20737; (301) 851–2119. involve the use of chemical treatments appropriate, any changes we made as a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The on commodities to insure that result of the comments. regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are shipments from nurseries, sod farms, Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– intended, among other things, to and field-growing nursery facilities are 7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, prevent the introduction or free of IFA. Changes in availability of 2.80, and 371.3. dissemination of plant pests and insecticides that are effective against Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of noxious weeds into or within the United IFA, as well as ensuring a range of pest August 2015. States. Under the regulations, certain management options, requires APHIS to Kevin Shea, plants, fruits, vegetables, and other periodically evaluate new treatment options. Administrator, Animal and Plant Health articles must be treated before they may Inspection Service. be moved into the United States or Currently, ant bait products are used in conjunction with the application of a [FR Doc. 2015–19700 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am] interstate. The phytosanitary treatments regulations contained in part 305 of 7 chlorpyrifos (insecticide) drench BILLING CODE 3410–34–P CFR chapter III (referred to below as the treatment to prevent the artificial spread regulations) set out standards for of IFA. Although effective, we have determined that it is necessary to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE treatments required in parts 301, 318, and 319 of 7 CFR chapter III for fruits, modify the technique used to apply Animal and Plant Health Inspection vegetables, and other articles. drench treatment to increase the Service Section 305.3 of the regulations sets effectiveness of the treatment. In forth a notice-based process for adding, addition, we are adding two options to [Docket No. APHIS–2013–0031] revising, and removing the treatments the list of insecticidal baits that are from the Plant Protection and already approved for use for IFA. The Feral Swine Damage Management Quarantine (PPQ) 1 Treatment Manual. additional insecticidal baits are being Final Environmental Impact Statement; In that section, paragraph (b) sets out added to provide a broader range of Record of Decision the process for adding, revising, or chemical treatment options and are not removing treatment schedules when being proposed as additional treatments AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health there is an immediate need to make a beyond what is currently required in the Inspection Service, USDA. change. The circumstances in which an quarantine program. Both products have ACTION: Notice. immediate need exists are described in commercial uses in nurseries and will § 305.3(b)(1). give growers additional options for the SUMMARY: This notice advises the public • PPQ has determined that an bait treatment of field grown nursery of the Animal and Plant Health approved treatment schedule is stock or for use in the imported fire ant Inspection Service’s record of decision ineffective at neutralizing the targeted detection, control, exclusion, and for the final environmental impact plant pest(s); enforcement program for nurseries statement titled ‘‘Feral Swine Damage • PPQ has determined that, in order producing containerized plants (7 CFR Management: A National Approach.’’ to neutralize the targeted plant pest(s), 301.81–11). DATES: Effective August 11, 2015. the treatment schedule must be Therefore, APHIS has added two ADDRESSES: You may read the final administered using a different process additional insecticidal baits, Abamectin environmental impact statement and the than was previously used; and Metaflumizone, to the list of record of decision in our reading room. • PPQ has determined that a new chemicals already allowed in the IFA The reading room is located in room treatment schedule is effective, based on program and modified a drench 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in treatment (Chlorpyrifos) for balled-and- Street and Independence Avenue SW., an article or articles may be adversely burlapped nursery stock for use in Washington, DC. Normal reading room impacted unless the new treatment control of IFA. hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday schedule is approved for use; or The reasons for these changes are through Friday, except holidays. To be • The use of a treatment schedule is further described in two treatment sure someone is there to help you, no longer authorized by the U.S. evaluation documents (TEDs) we have please call (202) 799–7039 before Environmental Protection Agency or by prepared to support this action. In coming. any other Federal entity. addition, we have prepared a supplemental environmental assessment The record of decision, final In order to limit the artificial spread environmental impact statement, and of the imported fire ant (IFA), domestic (EA) to include the human and environmental impacts that can be supporting information may also be movement of all nursery stock found by visiting the APHIS feral swine (containerized or balled-and-burlapped) reasonably expected to occur as a result of the new treatment options available environmental impact statement Web and grass sod from IFA-infested areas of page at www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife- the United States to uninfested areas is for controlling IFA; as described in the new treatment evaluation documents. damage/fseis. To obtain copies of the asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES regulated under 7 CFR 301.81–2. documents, contact the person listed Specifically, the Animal and Plant The TEDs and supplemental EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 1 The PPQ Treatment Manual is available at or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/ above for a link to Regulations.gov and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. manuals/index.shtml or by contacting the Animal information on the location and hours of Kimberly Wagner, USDA–APHIS and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 the reading room). You may also request Wildlife Services, 732 Lois Drive, Sun Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200, Frederick, MD paper copies of the TEDs and EA by Prairie, WI; (608) 837–2737; 21702. calling or writing to the person listed kimberly.k.wagner@aphis.usda.gov. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Aug 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM 11AUN1


Document Created: 2016-09-27 22:25:01
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 22:25:01
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability.
DatesWe will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 13, 2015.
ContactMr. Charles L. Brown, Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Policy Manager, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2119.
FR Citation80 FR 48070 
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