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)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 26 (February 9, 2016)
| Page Range | 6828-6828 | |
| FR Document | 2016-02526 |
[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.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Feb 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_6854/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:30:05
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:30:05
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability. | |
| 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. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 6828 |
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