81_FR_6854 81 FR 6828 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

81 FR 6828 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 26 (February 9, 2016)

Page Range6828-6828
FR Document2016-02526

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 a national approach for the control of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks within the United States. Based on the environmental assessment and our review of all public comments received, we have concluded that such an approach will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 6828]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02526]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 6828]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0058]


Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Availability of Final 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 a national approach for 
the control of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks within the 
United States. Based on the environmental assessment and our review of 
all public comments received, we have concluded that such an approach 
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lori Miller, PE, Senior Staff 
Officer and Environmental Engineer, APHIS Veterinary Services, 4700 
River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3512. Copies of the 
final EA and FONSI may be obtained by contacting Ms. Michelle Gray, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, ERAS/PPD/APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is 
a significant and often fatal zoonotic disease of poultry. In December 
2014, two H5 viruses of HPAI were discovered in the United States. 
These viruses were subsequently detected in both migratory waterfowl 
and domestic poultry and significantly affected domestic poultry 
production within the United States. Two poultry production sectors, 
commercial meat turkeys and laying chickens, were heavily impacted by 
the disease, resulting in the loss or destruction of over 48 million 
birds between December 2014 and June 2015.
    Disease eradication efforts, northern migration of wild waterfowl, 
and the natural disinfecting effect of summer heat have largely halted 
the spread of the disease within the United States. However, subsequent 
migrations of potentially infected wild waterfowl could precipitate a 
new round of outbreaks requiring additional actions by the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to control them.
    On September 4, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
53485, Docket No. APHIS-2015-0058) a notice \1\ in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment (EA), titled ``High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Control in 
Commercial Poultry Operations--A National Approach,'' and finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) relative to a national approach for the 
control of HPAI outbreaks within the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice, final EA, FONSI, and comments, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0058.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EA recommends an approach in which APHIS uses its centralized 
management of carcass disposal activities to ensure consistency in 
responses to HPAI outbreaks throughout the United States. Under this 
approach, APHIS provides information and other support to State and 
local authorities to help them determine which depopulation, disposal, 
and cleaning and disinfection methods are most appropriate for the 
situation.
    We solicited comments for 30 days ending October 5, 2015. We 
received 3 comments by that date, from national animal welfare 
organizations and a member of the public. We carefully considered the 
comments we received on the EA and determined that none raise issues 
that APHIS had not already considered. Accordingly, APHIS has decided 
to implement this approach and concluded that it will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The 
comments we received are addressed in an appendix to the final EA.
    The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web 
site (see footnote 1). Copies 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 appropriate person 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 3rd day of February 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-02526 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P?>



                                                  6828

                                                  Notices                                                                                                       Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                Vol. 81, No. 26

                                                                                                                                                                Tuesday, February 9, 2016



                                                  This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    commercial meat turkeys and laying                      The final EA and FONSI may be
                                                  contains documents other than rules or                  chickens, were heavily impacted by the                viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site
                                                  proposed rules that are applicable to the               disease, resulting in the loss or                     (see footnote 1). Copies are also
                                                  public. Notices of hearings and investigations,         destruction of over 48 million birds                  available for public inspection at USDA,
                                                  committee meetings, agency decisions and                between December 2014 and June 2015.                  Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street
                                                  rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
                                                                                                            Disease eradication efforts, northern               and Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                  petitions and applications and agency
                                                  statements of organization and functions are            migration of wild waterfowl, and the                  Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and
                                                  examples of documents appearing in this                 natural disinfecting effect of summer                 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,
                                                  section.                                                heat have largely halted the spread of                except holidays. Persons wishing to
                                                                                                          the disease within the United States.                 inspect copies are requested to call
                                                                                                          However, subsequent migrations of                     ahead to (202) 799–7039 to facilitate
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               potentially infected wild waterfowl                   entry into the reading room. In addition,
                                                                                                          could precipitate a new round of                      copies may be obtained by calling or
                                                  Animal and Plant Health Inspection                      outbreaks requiring additional actions                writing to the appropriate person listed
                                                  Service                                                 by the Animal and Plant Health                        under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                                          Inspection Service (APHIS) to control                 CONTACT.
                                                  [Docket No. APHIS–2015–0058]
                                                                                                          them.                                                   The EA and FONSI have been
                                                  Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza;                        On September 4, 2015, we published                  prepared in accordance with: (1) The
                                                  Availability of Final Environmental                     in the Federal Register (80 FR 53485,                 National Environmental Policy Act of
                                                  Assessment and Finding of No                            Docket No. APHIS–2015–0058) a                         1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
                                                  Significant Impact                                      notice 1 in which we announced the                    4321 et seq.); (2) regulations of the
                                                                                                          availability, for public review and                   Council on Environmental Quality for
                                                  AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health                                                                              implementing the procedural provisions
                                                  Inspection Service, USDA.                               comment, of an environmental
                                                                                                          assessment (EA), titled ‘‘High                        of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3)
                                                  ACTION: Notice of availability.
                                                                                                          Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Control                 USDA regulations implementing NEPA
                                                                                                          in Commercial Poultry Operations—A                    (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
                                                  SUMMARY:   We are advising the public                                                                         Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
                                                  that the Animal and Plant Health                        National Approach,’’ and finding of no
                                                                                                          significant impact (FONSI) relative to a              372).
                                                  Inspection Service has prepared a final
                                                                                                          national approach for the control of                    Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of
                                                  environmental assessment and finding                                                                          February 2016.
                                                  of no significant impact relative to a                  HPAI outbreaks within the United
                                                                                                          States.                                               Kevin Shea,
                                                  national approach for the control of
                                                                                                            The EA recommends an approach in                    Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
                                                  highly pathogenic avian influenza
                                                                                                          which APHIS uses its centralized                      Inspection Service.
                                                  outbreaks within the United States.
                                                                                                          management of carcass disposal                        [FR Doc. 2016–02526 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  Based on the environmental assessment
                                                  and our review of all public comments                   activities to ensure consistency in                   BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

                                                  received, we have concluded that such                   responses to HPAI outbreaks throughout
                                                  an approach will not have a significant                 the United States. Under this approach,
                                                                                                          APHIS provides information and other                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                                  impact on the quality of the human
                                                  environment.                                            support to State and local authorities to
                                                                                                                                                                Rural Utilities Service
                                                                                                          help them determine which
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:      Ms.               depopulation, disposal, and cleaning
                                                  Lori Miller, PE, Senior Staff Officer and                                                                     Information Collection Activity;
                                                                                                          and disinfection methods are most                     Comment Request
                                                  Environmental Engineer, APHIS                           appropriate for the situation.
                                                  Veterinary Services, 4700 River Road                                                                                Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
                                                                                                                                                                AGENCY:
                                                                                                            We solicited comments for 30 days
                                                  Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301)                                                                                 Notice and request for
                                                                                                                                                                ACTION:
                                                                                                          ending October 5, 2015. We received 3
                                                  851–3512. Copies of the final EA and                                                                          comments.
                                                                                                          comments by that date, from national
                                                  FONSI may be obtained by contacting
                                                                                                          animal welfare organizations and a
                                                  Ms. Michelle Gray, Environmental                                                                              SUMMARY:   In accordance with the
                                                                                                          member of the public. We carefully
                                                  Protection Specialist, ERAS/PPD/                                                                              Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
                                                                                                          considered the comments we received
                                                  APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149,                                                                              U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the
                                                                                                          on the EA and determined that none
                                                  Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3146.                                                                          Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
                                                                                                          raise issues that APHIS had not already
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Highly                                                                             comments on this information
                                                                                                          considered. Accordingly, APHIS has
                                                  pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a                                                                        collection for which approval from the
                                                                                                          decided to implement this approach and
                                                  significant and often fatal zoonotic                                                                          Office of Management and Budget
                                                                                                          concluded that it will not have a
                                                                                                                                                                (OMB) will be requested.
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                                                  disease of poultry. In December 2014,                   significant impact on the quality of the
                                                  two H5 viruses of HPAI were discovered                                                                        DATES: Comments on this notice must be
                                                                                                          human environment. The comments we
                                                  in the United States. These viruses were                received are addressed in an appendix                 received by April 11, 2016.
                                                  subsequently detected in both migratory                 to the final EA.                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  waterfowl and domestic poultry and                                                                            Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
                                                  significantly affected domestic poultry                   1 To view the notice, final EA, FONSI, and          Program Development and Regulatory
                                                  production within the United States.                    comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#          Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service,
                                                  Two poultry production sectors,                         !docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0058.                      1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:30:05
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:30:05
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.
ContactMs. Lori Miller, PE, Senior Staff Officer and Environmental Engineer, APHIS Veterinary Services, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3512. Copies of the final EA and FONSI may be obtained by contacting Ms. Michelle Gray, Environmental Protection Specialist, ERAS/PPD/APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3146.
FR Citation81 FR 6828 

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