81_FR_78783 81 FR 78567 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Biological Control of Giant Reed

81 FR 78567 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Biological Control of Giant Reed

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 216 (November 8, 2016)

Page Range78567-78568
FR Document2016-26937

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a draft environmental assessment relative to the control of giant reed (Arundo donax). The environmental assessment considers the effects of, and alternatives to, the field release of a gall-forming fly, Lasioptera donacis, into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of giant reed infestations. We are making the environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78567-78568]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26937]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0069]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Biological 
Control of Giant Reed

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a draft environmental assessment 
relative to the control of giant reed (Arundo donax). The environmental 
assessment considers the effects of, and alternatives to, the field 
release of a gall-forming fly, Lasioptera donacis, into the continental 
United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the 
severity of giant reed infestations. We are making the environmental 
assessment available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0069.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0069, 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-2016-
0069 or in our reading room, which is located in

[[Page 78568]]

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Colin D. Stewart, Assistant 
Director, Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits Permitting and 
Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2327, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Giant reed (Arundo donax), a native of the Mediterranean and Middle 
East, has become one of the most pervasive non-native plants to invade 
the riparian areas of the Southwest United States, especially in 
California and the Rio Grande area of Texas. Giant reed infestations in 
riparian habitats lead to loss of biodiversity, stream bank erosion, 
altered channel morphology, damage to bridges, increased costs for 
chemical and mechanical control along transportation corridors, and 
impediment of law enforcement activities on the international border. 
Many Federal and State agencies, as well as private entities, conduct 
programs to manage giant reed, as well as other invasive weeds. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to 
issue permits for the field release of a gall-forming fly, Lasioptera 
donacis, into the continental United States to reduce the severity of 
giant reed infestations.
    APHIS' review and analysis of the proposed action are documented in 
detail in a draft environmental assessment (EA) entitled ``Field 
release of the European leaf sheath mining midge, Lasioptera donacis 
Coutin (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), for biological control of giant reed, 
Arundo donax L. (Poales: Poaceae) in the Contiguous United States'' 
(April 2016). We are making the EA available to the public for review 
and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
the date listed under the heading DATES at the beginning of this 
notice.
    The 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 
request paper copies of the EA 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 has 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 2nd day of November 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26937 Filed 11-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2016 / Notices 78567 Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of forth the permit application On March 16, 2016, APHIS received November 2016. requirements and the notification a permit application from Cornell Kevin Shea, procedures for the importation, University (APHIS Permit Number 16– Administrator, Animal and Plant Health interstate movement, or release into the 076–101r) seeking the permitted field Inspection Service. environment of a regulated article. release of GE DBMs in both open and [FR Doc. 2016–26941 Filed 11–7–16; 8:45 am] Subsequent to a permit application caged releases. We are currently BILLING CODE 3410–34–P from Cornell University (APHIS Permit preparing an EA for this new Number 13–297–102r) seeking the application and will publish notices permitted field release of three strains of associated with the EA and FONSI (if DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GE diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella one is reached) in the Federal Register. xylostella, strains designated as Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of Animal and Plant Health Inspection OX4319L-Pxy, OX4319N-Pxy, and November 2016. Service OX4767A-Pxy, which have been Kevin Shea, [Docket No. APHIS–2014–0056] genetically engineered to exhibit red Administrator, Animal and Plant Health fluorescence (DsRed2) as a marker and Inspection Service. Withdrawal of an Environmental repressible female lethality, on August [FR Doc. 2016–26935 Filed 11–7–16; 8:45 am] Assessment for the Field Release of 28, 2014, the Animal and Plant Health BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Genetically Engineered Diamondback Inspection Service (APHIS) published in Moths the Federal Register a notice 1 (79 FR 51299–51300, Docket No. APHIS–2014– DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 0056) in which we announced the Inspection Service, USDA. availability, for public review and Animal and Plant Health Inspection ACTION: Notice. comment, of an environmental Service assessment (EA) that examined the SUMMARY: We are advising the public potential environmental impacts [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0069] that we are withdrawing an associated with the proposed release of environmental assessment that was Availability of an Environmental the GE DBMs. Assessment for the Biological Control prepared by the Animal and Plant We solicited comments on the EA for Health Inspection Service relative to a of Giant Reed 30 days ending September 29, 2014. We permitted environmental release of received 287 comments by that date. AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health diamondback moths which have been The comments were from industry Inspection Service, USDA. genetically engineered for repressible organizations, environmental and ACTION: Notice of availability and female lethality and to express red consumer advocacy groups, researchers, request for comments. fluorescence as a marker. While we and private citizens. reached a finding of no significant Based upon analysis described in the SUMMARY: We are advising the public impact (FONSI) in connection with this EA and a thorough review of the that the Animal and Plant Health action and posted that FONSI on our comments we received, APHIS Inspection Service has prepared a draft Web site, the public was not notified of determined that release of the GE DBMs environmental assessment relative to the FONSI via publication of an would not have a significant impact on the control of giant reed (Arundo associated notice in the Federal the quality of the human environment. donax). The environmental assessment Register. We are therefore withdrawing This finding of no significant impact considers the effects of, and alternatives the environmental assessment and (FONSI) was posted on the APHIS Web to, the field release of a gall-forming fly, FONSI. site. Lasioptera donacis, into the continental FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. In November 2014, APHIS issued United States for use as a biological Chessa Huff-Woodard, Biotechnology Permit Number 13–297–102r, which control agent to reduce the severity of Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River allowed for open field release of the GE giant reed infestations. We are making Road Unit 146, Riverdale, MD 20737– DBMs. No open field releases took place the environmental assessment available 1236; (301) 851–3943. under this permit. In July 2015, the to the public for review and comment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The initial permit was amended to add DATES: We will consider all comments regulations in 7 CFR part 340, caged releases to the list of allowable that we receive on or before December ‘‘Introduction of Organisms and actions (APHIS Permit Number 13–297– 8, 2016. Products Altered or Produced Through 102r–a1). Caged releases pursuant to the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant amended permit occurred between July by either of the following methods: Pests or Which There Is Reason to 2015 and March 11, 2016, when the • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to Believe Are Plant Pests,’’ regulate, permit was withdrawn. http://www.regulations.gov/ among other things, the introduction Although, as mentioned previously, #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0069. (importation, interstate movement, or we posted the FONSI on our Web site, • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: release into the environment) of we failed to formally advise the public Send your comment to Docket No. organisms and products altered or of our FONSI regarding the release of GE APHIS–2016–0069, Regulatory Analysis produced through genetic engineering DBMs via publication of a second notice and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station that are plant pests or that there is in the Federal Register. Therefore, we 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES reason to believe are plant pests. Such are withdrawing the EA and FONSI Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. genetically engineered (GE) organisms associated with the August 28, 2014, Supporting documents and any and products are considered ‘‘regulated notice. comments we receive on this docket articles.’’ A permit must be obtained or 1 To view the notice, supporting documents, and may be viewed at http:// a notification acknowledged before a comments we received, go to http:// www.regulations.gov/ regulated article may be released into www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS- #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0069 or the environment. The regulations set 2014-0056. in our reading room, which is located in VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:27 Nov 07, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1

78568 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2016 / Notices room 1141 of the USDA South Building, refer to the title of the EA when following identifier: ‘‘HMS AP 14th Street and Independence Avenue requesting copies. Nominations.’’ SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading The EA has been prepared in • Mail: Margo Schulze-Haugen, room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., accordance with: (1) The National Highly Migratory Species Management Monday through Friday, except Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Division, NMFS SF1, 1315 East-West holidays. To be sure someone is there to (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. help you, please call (202) 799–7039 seq.); (2) regulations of the Council on FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: before coming. Environmental Quality for Peter Cooper at (301) 427–8503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. implementing the procedural provisions SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Colin D. Stewart, Assistant Director, of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA Introduction Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits Permitting and Compliance (7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part Conservation and Management Act Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 372). (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 1231; (301) 851–2327, email: Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of et seq., as amended by the Sustainable Colin.D.Stewart@aphis.usda.gov. November 2016. Fisheries Act, Public Law 104–297, Kevin Shea, provided that the Secretary may SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: establish Advisory Panels to assist in Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Giant reed (Arundo donax), a native the collection and evaluation of Inspection Service. of the Mediterranean and Middle East, information relevant to the development [FR Doc. 2016–26937 Filed 11–7–16; 8:45 am] has become one of the most pervasive of any Fishery Management Plan (FMP) BILLING CODE 3410–34–P non-native plants to invade the riparian or FMP amendment for any highly areas of the Southwest United States, migratory species fishery that is under especially in California and the Rio the Secretary’s authority. NMFS has Grande area of Texas. Giant reed DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE consulted with the HMS AP on: infestations in riparian habitats lead to Amendment 1 to the Billfish FMP (April loss of biodiversity, stream bank National Oceanic and Atmospheric 1999); the HMS FMP (April 1999); erosion, altered channel morphology, Administration Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP damage to bridges, increased costs for (December 2003); the 2006 Consolidated RIN 0648–XE985 HMS FMP (October 2006); Amendments chemical and mechanical control along transportation corridors, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (April impediment of law enforcement Advisory Panel activities on the international border. and October 2008, February and Many Federal and State agencies, as AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries September 2009, May and September well as private entities, conduct Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 2010, April and September 2011, March programs to manage giant reed, as well Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and September 2012, January and as other invasive weeds. The Animal Commerce. September 2013, April and September and Plant Health Inspection Service ACTION: Notice; solicitation of 2014, March and September 2015, and (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits nominations. March and September 2016); among for the field release of a gall-forming fly, other relevant fishery management Lasioptera donacis, into the continental SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations issues. United States to reduce the severity of for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Procedures and Guidelines giant reed infestations. Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). NMFS consults with and considers the A. Nomination Procedures for APHIS’ review and analysis of the comments and views of the HMS AP Appointments to the Advisory Panel proposed action are documented in detail in a draft environmental when preparing and implementing Nomination packages should include: assessment (EA) entitled ‘‘Field release Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) or 1. The name of the nominee and a of the European leaf sheath mining FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, description of his/her interest in HMS midge, Lasioptera donacis Coutin swordfish, sharks, and billfish. or HMS fisheries, or in particular (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), for biological Nominations are being sought to fill species of sharks, swordfish, tunas, or control of giant reed, Arundo donax L. approximately one-third (11) of the seats billfish; (Poales: Poaceae) in the Contiguous on the HMS AP for a 3-year 2. Contact information, including United States’’ (April 2016). We are appointment. Individuals with definable mailing address, phone, and email of making the EA available to the public interests in the recreational and the nominee; commercial fishing and related 3. A statement of background and/or for review and comment. We will industries, environmental community, qualifications; consider all comments that we receive 4. A written commitment that the on or before the date listed under the academia, and non-governmental organizations are considered for nominee shall actively participate in heading DATES at the beginning of this good faith, and consistent with ethics notice. membership on the HMS AP. obligations, in the meetings and tasks of The EA may be viewed on the DATES: Nominations must be received the HMS AP; and Regulations.gov Web site or in our on or before December 8, 2016. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 5. A list of outreach resources that the reading room (see ADDRESSES above for ADDRESSES: You may submit nominee has at his/her disposal to a link to Regulations.gov and nominations and requests for the communicate HMS issues to various information on the location and hours of Advisory Panel Statement of interest groups. the reading room). You may request Organization, Practices, and Procedures paper copies of the EA by calling or by any of the following methods: Qualifications for HMS AP Membership writing to the person listed under FOR • Email: HMSAP.Nominations@ Qualification for membership FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the includes one or more of the following: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:27 Nov 07, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1


Document Created: 2018-02-14 08:23:53
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 08:23:53
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 and request for comments.
DatesWe will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 8, 2016.
ContactDr. Colin D. Stewart, Assistant Director, Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits Permitting and Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2327, email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 78567 
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