82 FR 25755 - National Monitoring Plan for Native Bees: Stakeholder and Public Listening Session
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 106 (June 5, 2017)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 106 (June 5, 2017)
| Page Range | 25755-25756 | |
| FR Document | 2017-11554 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 106 (Monday, June 5, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 25755-25756] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-11554] ======================================================================== 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. 82, No. 106 / Monday, June 5, 2017 / Notices [[Page 25755]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary National Monitoring Plan for Native Bees: Stakeholder and Public Listening Session AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Office of the Secretary, USDA. ACTION: Notice of listening session and request for stakeholder input. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pollinator Health Working Group, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will host a Listening Session to discuss a strategy to monitor native bees in the United States. DATES: The session will occur on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST). Regardless of attendance, anyone interested may submit written comments. Those comments are due to Andrew Clark at [email protected] by July 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the USDA South Building Caf[eacute] Conference Center A-C located at 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. All participants must report to the Independence Avenue and 12th Street entrance and must present a valid government-issued I.D. (e.g., state driver's license or identification card) for admission. RSVP and Registration: Individuals wishing to attend the event must RSVP no later than June 14, 2017 by emailing Andrew Clark at [email protected]. In-person participation is limited to the first 100 individuals who register. Everyone is welcome to participate in the listening session by webinar. A few days before the event, NIFA's Web site will include details about the webinar at https://nifa.usda.gov/resources?f%5B0%5D=field_resource_type%3A18. Onsite participants may provide a five-minute oral presentation addressing the following:Why is a national monitoring plan for native bees important; What kind of information/data is needed; and How would the information be used? Registrants wishing to provide an oral presentation must provide a two to three sentence overview of the questions above. PowerPoint presentation are allowed but not required. If interested, please email your overview and PowerPoint to Andrew Clark at [email protected] by 2:00 p.m., EST on June 23. Individuals scheduled to provide an oral presentation will receive notification of an assigned time by June 28. A written transcript of each presentation is required by July 6. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Clark, Program Specialist, NIFA at (202) 401-6550 or by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose: Several species of animal pollinators in the United States have experienced significant population declines. The most economically important pollinators include managed bees (e.g., European honey bee, bumble bees, alfalfa leafcutter bee, etc.) as well as wild native bees. Numerous biotic and abiotic causes are responsible for these declines. Frequently reported factors include: Invasive pests, parasites, and diseases; Increased exposure to pesticides, pollutants or toxins; Nutritional deficits; Extreme weather events; Agricultural intensification and habitat loss; Reduced genetic diversity; and Changes in pollinator or crop management practices. The loss of both managed and wild bees would have severe impacts on crops that depend on pollinators, and would ultimately impact food security. This loss would also negatively impact natural ecosystem services dependent on pollinators. In June 2014, a Presidential memorandum directed the formation of a National Pollinator Task Force chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Task Force released a Pollinator Research Action Plan in May 2015. The Plan included actions needed to assess native bee populations, including developing baseline data, assessing trends in pollinator populations, expanding bee identification capacities, and expanding collaboration between government and university scientists. During 2015, Senators Barbara Boxer, Kristen Gillibrand, and Diane Feinstein asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review USDA and EPA efforts to protect bee health. In their 2016 report, a key GAO findings was, ``USDA has increased monitoring of honey bee colonies managed by beekeepers to better estimate losses nationwide but does not have a mechanism in place to coordinate the monitoring of wild, native bees.'' The GAO Report recommended that USDA coordinate with members of the Pollinator Task Force to develop a monitoring plan that would: Establish roles and responsibilities of lead and support agencies; Establish shared outcomes and goals; and Obtain input from relevant stakeholders, such as states. A first step towards developing a national monitoring plan, the listening session will gather input from a diverse range of people who are interested in native bee diversity, abundance, and large scale national monitoring strategies. Prospectus: The morning portion of the listening session will include brief introductions and opening remarks by USDA leaders and relevant federal agencies followed by five-minute oral presentations. Approximately 15 minutes of questions and discussion will follow every fifth presentation. After lunch, public presentations will continue, followed by closing remarks. The NIFA Web site (www.nifa.usda.gov) will include a link to a detailed schedule approximately a week before the listening session. [[Page 25756]] Done at Washington, DC, May 30, 2017. Sonny Ramaswamy, Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2017-11554 Filed 6-2-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
![25756 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 106 / Monday, June 5, 2017 / Notices
Done at Washington, DC, May 30, 2017. 202–502–8659. The eLibrary link also a plan for the responsible official to
Sonny Ramaswamy, provides access to the texts of formal provide notice ‘‘about which
Director, National Institute of Food and documents issued by the FERC such as substantive requirements of §§ 219.8
Agriculture. orders, notices, and rulemakings. through 219.11 are likely to be directly
[FR Doc. 2017–11554 Filed 6–2–17; 8:45 am] For information related specifically to related to the amendment’’ (36 CFR
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
the new information provided in this 219.13(b)(2), 81 FR at 90738). Whether
Notice, please contact Karen Overcash, a rule provision is directly related to an
Forest Planner, George Washington and amendment is determined by any one of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Jefferson National Forests, at 540–265– the following: The purpose for the
5175 or kovercash@fs.fed.us. amendment, a beneficial effect of the
Forest Service SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: amendment, a substantial adverse effect
Background of the amendment, or a lessening of plan
Notice of Updated Information protections by the amendment.
Concerning the Atlantic Coast Pipeline This Notice is specific to the Forest The following descriptions of the
Project and Supply Header Project and Service. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline proposed or potential LRMP
the Associated Forest Service Land route would cross 5.1 miles of lands amendments that are anticipated to be
and Resource Management Plan managed by the Monongahela National addressed in the Final EIS include a
Amendments Forest (MNF), in Pocahontas County, description of the ‘‘substantive
West Virginia and 15.9 miles of lands requirements of §§ 219.8 through
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
managed by the George Washington 219.11’’ likely to be directly related to
ACTION: Notice; updating information. National Forest (GWNF), in Highland, each amendment.
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service Bath, and Augusta Counties, Virginia.
The Supply Header Project would not New Information for LRMP
(Forest Service) is participating as a
affect the Monongahela or George Amendments and Relationship to
cooperating agency with the Federal
Washington National Forests. Substantive Requirements in the
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The FERC is the NEPA Lead Federal Planning Rule
in the preparation of the Atlantic Coast
Agency for the environmental analysis
Pipeline (ACP) and Supply Header The FERC’s Draft EIS for the ACP and
of the construction and operation of the
Project Environmental Impact Statement the Notice of Availability published in
proposed ACP and Supply Header
(EIS). On January 6, 2017, the Forest the Federal Register on January 6, 2017
Project. The Forest Service is the
Service published in the Federal included the consideration of a Forest
Federal agency responsible for
Register (82 FR 1685) a Notice of Service authorization for construction
authorizing this use and issuing special
Availability of the Atlantic Coast and operation of the ACP across NFS
use permits for natural gas pipelines
Pipeline and Supply Header Project lands and the associated Forest Service
across National Forest System (NFS)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement lands under its jurisdiction. As a LRMP amendments that would be
and the Draft of Amendments to the condition of issuing a Special Use needed to make the project consistent
George Washington and Monongahela Permit (SUP) for ACP to construct, with the respective LRMPs if the Forest
National Forests’ Land and Resource operate, maintain, and eventually Service were to approve the
Management Plans (LRMPs) to allow for decommission a natural gas authorization (36 CFR 219.15).
the ACP to cross through these National transmission pipeline that crosses NFS The Draft EIS identified ‘‘project-
Forests. Since that publication, the lands, the Forest Service would include specific plan amendments’’ that would
Forest Service determined there is a such terms and conditions deemed be needed for the construction and
need to disclose the following: New necessary to protect Federal property operation of the ACP that otherwise
information relating to the proposed and otherwise protect the public could not, or potentially could not, meet
LRMP amendments; a change in the interest. certain standards in the MNF or GWNF
Responsible Officials for the The Forest Service intends to adopt LRMPs. These amendments are
amendments; and the substantive FERC’s EIS for its decision to authorize considered project-specific amendments
provisions in the planning regulations the construction and operation of ACP, because they would apply only to ACP
that are likely to be directly related to along with the necessary project-specific and would not change LRMP
the proposed amendments. In addition, amendments to the LRMPs, if the requirements for other projects.
a proposed change to one of the LRMP analysis provides sufficient evidence to Since the Draft EIS, the Forest Service
amendments will result in a change to support those decisions and the Forest has reconsidered whether a project-
the administrative review procedures as Service is satisfied that its comments specific amendment would still be
outlined in the January 6, 2017 Federal and suggestions have been addressed. necessary to ensure the ACP was
Register Notice. consistent with some of the LRMP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Planning Rule Requirements for LRMP standards, has identified the need for a
Information about the ACP Project is Amendments project-specific amendment with
available from the FERC’s Office of On December 15, 2016 the respect to several other LRMP
External Affairs at 866–208–FERC Department of Agriculture Under standards, and has determined that a
(3372), or on the FERC Web site Secretary for Natural Resources and management prescription reallocation
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
(www.ferc.gov). On the FERC’s Web site, Environment issued a final rule that would not be necessary to approve the
go to ‘‘Documents & Filings,’’ click on amended the 36 CFR 219 regulations project.
the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, click on ‘‘General pertaining to National Forest System
Monongahela National Forest
Search’’ and enter the docket number Land Management Planning (the
CP15–554. Be sure you have selected an planning rule) (81 FR 90723, 90737). The following potential amendment
appropriate date range. For assistance, The amendment to the 219 planning to the MNF LRMP would be a project-
please contact FERC Online Support at rule clarified the Department’s direction specific amendment, applicable only to
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or toll free for amending LRMPs. The Department the ACP Project. This amendment
at 866–208–3676, or for TTY, contact also added a requirement for amending would not change the applicability of
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Document Created: 2018-11-14 10:00:29
Document Modified: 2018-11-14 10:00:29
| 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 listening session and request for stakeholder input. | |
| Dates | The session will occur on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST). Regardless of attendance, anyone interested may submit written comments. Those comments are due to Andrew Clark at [email protected] by July 6, 2017. | |
| Contact | Andrew Clark, Program Specialist, NIFA at (202) 401-6550 or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 25755 |
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