80_FR_50756 80 FR 50595 - Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer

80 FR 50595 - Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 161 (August 20, 2015)

Page Range50595-50596
FR Document2015-20573

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of a parasitic wasp, Spathius galinae, into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of emerald ash borer infestations. Based on the finding of no significant impact, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 161 (Thursday, August 20, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50595-50596]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20573]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0094]


Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for the Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a final environmental assessment and 
finding of no significant impact relative to the release of a parasitic 
wasp, Spathius galinae, into the continental United States for use as a 
biological control agent to reduce the severity of emerald ash borer 
infestations. Based on the finding of no significant impact, we have 
determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Tichenor, Entomologist, 
Pest Permitting Branch, Regulations Permits and Manuals, Plant Health 
Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 851-2198.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus 
planipennis, is an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia threatening 
ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in the United States. EAB larvae feed on ash 
phloem, cutting off the movement of resources within the tree and 
killing the tree in 4-5 years. EAB is able to attack and kill healthy 
trees in both natural and urban environments and is well suited for 
climatic conditions in the continental United States. As a result, EAB 
infestations have been detected in 24 States: Arkansas, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, 
Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the field 
release of a parasitic wasp, Spathius galinae, into the continental 
United States to reduce the severity of EAB infestations.
    On February 12, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
7827, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0094) a notice \1\ in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed release of S. galinae into the continental 
United States.
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    \1\ To view the notice, the comments we received, the final EA, 
and the FONSI, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0094.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending March 16, 2015. 
We received 10 comments by that date. The comments were from a 
government agency, State departments of agriculture, an organization of 
state plant regulatory agencies, and private

[[Page 50596]]

citizens. Five commenters supported the action and five were opposed. 
The commenters who were opposed to the action raised issues related to 
the potential effects the release of S. galinae would have on human and 
environmental health and post-release monitoring methods. APHIS has 
provided responses to specific concerns raised by the comments in an 
appendix to the final EA.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of S. galinae into the 
continental United States for use as a biological control agent for 
EAB. The finding, which is based on the final EA, reflects our 
determination that release of this biological control agent will not 
have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
    The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on Regulations.gov Web site 
(see footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for 
public inspection at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect 
copies are requested to call ahead to (202) 799-7039 to facilitate 
entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by 
calling or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    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 1b); and (4) 
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of August 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20573 Filed 8-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

50595 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 161 Thursday, August 20, 2015 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER the collection of information unless it agent to reduce the severity of emerald contains documents other than rules or displays a currently valid OMB control ash borer infestations. Based on the proposed rules that are applicable to the number. finding of no significant impact, we public. Notices of hearings and investigations, have determined that an environmental committee meetings, agency decisions and Foreign Agricultural Service impact statement need not be prepared. rulings, delegations of authority, filing of Title: Agriculture Wood Apparel petitions and applications and agency FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. statements of organization and functions are Manufacturers Trust Fund. Robert Tichenor, Entomologist, Pest examples of documents appearing in this OMB Control Number: 0551–0045. Permitting Branch, Regulations Permits section. Summary of Collection: Section 12315 and Manuals, Plant Health Programs, of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (P.L. PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 113–79) authorizes distribution out of Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 851– DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the Agriculture Wood Apparel 2198. Manufacturers Trust Fund (‘‘Agriculture SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Submission for OMB Review; Wool Trust Fund’’) in each of calendar emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus Comment Request years 2014 through 2019, payable to planipennis, is an invasive wood-boring qualifying claimants. Eligible claimants beetle from Asia threatening ash trees August 13, 2015. are directed to submit a notarized (Fraxinus spp.) in the United States. The Department of Agriculture has affidavit, following the statutory EAB larvae feed on ash phloem, cutting submitted the following information procedures specified Section 12314 (c) off the movement of resources within collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the or (d) of the Act. the tree and killing the tree in 4–5 years. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Need and Use of the Information: The EAB is able to attack and kill healthy Public Law 104–13. Comments Foreign Agricultural Service will use trees in both natural and urban regarding (a) whether the collection of the information provided in the environments and is well suited for information is necessary for the proper affidavits to certify the claimants’ climatic conditions in the continental performance of the functions of the eligibility and to authorize payment United States. As a result, EAB agency, including whether the from the Agriculture Wood Trust Fund. infestations have been detected in 24 information will have practical utility; Description of Respondents: Business States: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate or other-for-profit. Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, of burden including the validity of the Number of Respondents: 55. Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, methodology and assumptions used; (c) Frequency of Responses: Record Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New ways to enhance the quality, utility and keeping, Reporting: Annually. Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, clarity of the information to be Total Burden Hours: 165. North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, collected; (d) ways to minimize the Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ruth Brown, burden of the collection of information Wisconsin. The Animal and Plant Departmental Information Collection on those who are to respond, including Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is Clearance Officer. through the use of appropriate proposing to issue permits for the field [FR Doc. 2015–20432 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am] automated, electronic, mechanical, or release of a parasitic wasp, Spathius BILLING CODE 3410–10–P galinae, into the continental United other technological collection techniques or other forms of information States to reduce the severity of EAB technology should be addressed to: Desk infestations. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE On February 12, 2015, we published Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, in the Federal Register (80 FR 7827, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Office of Management and Budget Docket No. APHIS–2014–0094) a Service (OMB), OIRA_Submission@ notice 1 in which we announced the OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 [Docket No. APHIS–2014–0094] availability, for public review and and to Departmental Clearance Office, comment, of an environmental Availability of a Final Environmental assessment (EA) that examined the USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Assessment and Finding of No Washington, DC 20250–7602. potential environmental impacts Significant Impact for the Biological associated with the proposed release of Comments regarding these information Control of Emerald Ash Borer collections are best assured of having S. galinae into the continental United their full effect if received within 30 AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health States. days of this notification. Copies of the Inspection Service, USDA. We solicited comments on the EA for submission(s) may be obtained by 30 days ending March 16, 2015. We ACTION: Notice. calling (202) 720–8958. received 10 comments by that date. The An agency may not conduct or SUMMARY: We are advising the public comments were from a government agency, State departments of tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES sponsor a collection of information that the Animal and Plant Health unless the collection of information Inspection Service has prepared a final agriculture, an organization of state displays a currently valid OMB control environmental assessment and finding plant regulatory agencies, and private number and the agency informs of no significant impact relative to the 1 To view the notice, the comments we received, potential persons who are to respond to release of a parasitic wasp, Spathius the final EA, and the FONSI, go to http:// the collection of information that such galinae, into the continental United www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS- persons are not required to respond to States for use as a biological control 2014-0094. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Aug 19, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1

50596 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 161 / Thursday, August 20, 2015 / Notices citizens. Five commenters supported the SUMMARY: The Land Between The Lakes copies to be provided to the members action and five were opposed. The Advisory Board (Board) will meet in for this meeting. Board members will commenters who were opposed to the Golden Pond, Kentucky. The Board is review written comments received, and action raised issues related to the authorized under section 450 of the at their request, oral clarification may be potential effects the release of S. galinae Land Between The Lakes Protection Act requested for a future meeting. would have on human and of 1998 (Act) and operates in Meeting Accommodations: If you are environmental health and post-release compliance with the Federal Advisory a person requiring reasonable monitoring methods. APHIS has Committee Act. The purpose of the accommodation, please make requests provided responses to specific concerns Board is to advise the Secretary of in advance for sign language raised by the comments in an appendix Agriculture on the means of promoting interpreting, assistive listening devices to the final EA. public participation for the land and or other reasonable accommodation for In this document, we are advising the resource management plan for the access to the facility or proceedings by public of our finding of no significant recreation area; and environmental contacting the person listed in the impact (FONSI) regarding the release of education. Additional Board section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION S. galinae into the continental United information, including the meeting CONTACT. All reasonable States for use as a biological control agenda and the meeting summary/ accommodation requests are managed agent for EAB. The finding, which is minutes can be found at the following on a case by case basis. based on the final EA, reflects our Web site: http:// Dated: August 13, 2015. determination that release of this www.landbetweenthelakes.us/about/ Tina R. Tilley, biological control agent will not have a working-together/. Area Supervisor, Land Between The Lakes. significant impact on the quality of the DATES: The meeting will be held at 9:00 [FR Doc. 2015–20570 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am] human environment. a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2015. BILLING CODE 3411–15–P The final EA and FONSI may be All Board meetings are subject to viewed on Regulations.gov Web site (see cancellation. For status of meeting prior footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI to attendance, please contact the person DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE are also available for public inspection listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, CONTACT. Forest Service 14th Street and Independence Avenue ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. the Land Between The Lakes Boundary Description and Final Map and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Administration Building, 100 Van for Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic except holidays. Persons wishing to Morgran Drive, Golden Pond, Kentucky. River, Umatilla National Forest (OR and inspect copies are requested to call Written comments may be submitted WA), Wallowa Whitman National Forest ahead to (202) 799–7039 to facilitate as described under SUPPLEMENTARY (WA) and Bureau of Land Management entry into the reading room. In addition, INFORMATION. All comments, including (WA). copies may be obtained by calling or names and addresses when provided, AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. writing to the individual listed under are placed in the record and are FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. available for public inspection and ACTION: Notice of availability. The EA and FONSI have been copying. The public may inspect SUMMARY: In accordance with section prepared in accordance with: (1) The comments received at Land Between 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, National Environmental Policy Act of The Lakes Adminstrative Building. the USDA Forest Service, Washington 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. Please call ahead to facilitate entry into Office, is transmitting the final 4321 et seq.); (2) regulations of the the building. boundary description and map of the Council on Environmental Quality for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River to implementing the procedural provisions Rosemary Bray, Acting Board Congress. of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3) Coordinator, by phone at 270–924–2017 DATES: The boundaries and USDA regulations implementing NEPA or via email at rosemaryhbray@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use classification of the Grande Ronde Wild (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA and Scenic River shall not become Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information effective until ninety (90) days after they 372). have been forwarded to the President of Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of the Senate and the Speaker of the House between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., August 2015. of Representatives. In accordance with Eastern Standard Time, Monday Kevin Shea, Section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic through Friday. Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Rivers Act (82 Stat. 906 as amended; 16 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Inspection Service. U.S.C. 1274), the detailed boundary purpose of the meeting is: [FR Doc. 2015–20573 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am] 1. Discuss Environmental Education; descriptions and final maps were BILLING CODE 3410–34–P and forwarded on August 11, 2015. 2. Effectively communicate future ADDRESSES: Documents may be viewed land management plan activities. at USDA Forest Service, Yates Federal DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The meeting is open to the public. Building, 201 14th Street SW., Board discussion is limited to Forest Washington, DC 20250; at the Forest Service tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Service staff and Board members. Supervisors Office of the Umatilla Land Between The Lakes Advisory Written comments are invited and National Forest 72510 Coyote Road, Board should be sent to Tina Tilley, Area Pendleton, OR 97801; at the Supervisors Supervisor, Land Between The Lakes, Office of the Wallowa-Whitman AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, National Forest, 1550 Dewey Ave, Suite Kentucky 42211; and must be received A, Baker City, OR 97814; and at the ACTION: Notice of meeting. by September 4, 2015, in order for Bureau of Land Management Public VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Aug 19, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:08:17
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:08:17
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.
ContactMr. Robert Tichenor, Entomologist, Pest Permitting Branch, Regulations Permits and Manuals, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737- 1231; (301) 851-2198.
FR Citation80 FR 50595 
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