82 FR 57424 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release of Aceria drabae
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 232 (December 5, 2017)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 232 (December 5, 2017)
| Page Range | 57424-57425 | |
| FR Document | 2017-26154 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 57424-57425] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-26154] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS-2017-0086] Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release of Aceria drabae for Biological Control of Hoary Cress 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 an environmental assessment relative to permitting the release of Aceria drabae for biological control of hoary cress in the continental United States. The environmental assessment considers the effects of, and alternatives to, the field release of a mite, Aceria drabae, into the contiguous United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of hoary cress 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 January 4, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0086. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2017-0086, 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-2017- 0086 or in our reading room, which is located in 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) 851-2237; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hoary cress species (Lepidium draba, L. appelianum, and L. chalapense) are herbaceous, perennial plants that grow in a variety of habitat and soil types. The hoary cress complex of invasive weeds is native to the Balkans, the Caspian Sea region of southwestern Asia, and the Middle East, and is found throughout Europe. Hoary cress was introduced into the United States from Europe in the late 19th century either with ship ballast or contaminated alfalfa, grass, or grain. Since then, hoary cress has spread to all regions of the United States except the Southeast. Hoary cress is a perennial weed that reproduces from seeds and a spreading root system. The root system consists of vertical and lateral roots from which rosettes and shoots arise. Hoary cress inhibits and diminishes recreational opportunities, directly impedes crop production, minimizes grazing potential of affected rangelands, degrades wildlife habitat and native plant communities, and restricts waterfowl use of wetlands and stream banks. As a result, farmers, ranchers, recreationists, sportsmen, hunters, and the general public are adversely affected by hoary cress. Aceria drabae, a mite, was chosen as a potential biological control agent to combat hoary cress due to its very narrow host range and impact on its host, and since the mite is relatively widespread in Europe, it should adapt to varying environmental conditions in North America. The applicant's purpose for releasing A. drabae is to reduce the severity of infestations of invasive hoary cress in the contiguous United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release are documented in detail in an environmental assessment (EA) entitled ``Field release of the gall mite, Aceria drabae (Acari: Eriophyidae), for classical biological control of hoary cress (Lepidium draba L., Lepidium chalapense L., and Lepidium appelianum Al-Shehbaz) (Brassicaceae), in the contiguous United States'' (September 2017). 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 [[Page 57425]] 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 also 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 29th day of November 2017. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2017-26154 Filed 12-4-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
![57424 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices
Current Actions: Revision/Extension currently valid Office of Management FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
of approval for a collection of and Budget control number. Colin D. Stewart, Assistant Director,
information. Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol
Gary Washington,
Type of Review: Revision. Permits, Permitting and Compliance
Acting Chief Information Officer. Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Affected Public: Individuals and
Households, Businesses and [FR Doc. 2017–26109 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am] Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–
Organizations, State, Local or Tribal BILLING CODE 3410–KR–P 1231; (301) 851–2237; email:
Government. Colin.Stewart@aphis.usda.gov.
Estimated Number of Respondents: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
30,000. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Hoary cress species (Lepidium draba,
Below we provide projected average Animal and Plant Health Inspection L. appelianum, and L. chalapense) are
estimates for the next 3-years: Service herbaceous, perennial plants that grow
Average Expected Annual Number of in a variety of habitat and soil types.
Activities: 20. [Docket No. APHIS–2017–0086] The hoary cress complex of invasive
Average Number of Respondents per weeds is native to the Balkans, the
Activity: 1. Availability of an Environmental Caspian Sea region of southwestern
Annual Responses: 30,000. Assessment for Release of Aceria Asia, and the Middle East, and is found
Frequency of Response: Once per drabae for Biological Control of Hoary throughout Europe. Hoary cress was
request. Cress introduced into the United States from
Average Minutes per Response: 30. Europe in the late 19th century either
Burden Hours: 15,000. AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health with ship ballast or contaminated
Request for Comments: Comments Inspection Service, USDA. alfalfa, grass, or grain. Since then, hoary
submitted in response to this notice will ACTION: Notice of availability. cress has spread to all regions of the
be summarized and/or included in the United States except the Southeast.
request for OMB approval. Comments SUMMARY: We are advising the public Hoary cress is a perennial weed that
are invited on: (a) Whether the that the Animal and Plant Health reproduces from seeds and a spreading
collection of information is necessary Inspection Service has prepared an root system. The root system consists of
for the proper performance of the environmental assessment relative to vertical and lateral roots from which
functions of the agency, including permitting the release of Aceria drabae rosettes and shoots arise. Hoary cress
whether the information shall have for biological control of hoary cress in inhibits and diminishes recreational
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the the continental United States. The opportunities, directly impedes crop
agency’s estimate of the burden of the environmental assessment considers the production, minimizes grazing potential
collection of information; (c) ways to effects of, and alternatives to, the field of affected rangelands, degrades wildlife
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity release of a mite, Aceria drabae, into the habitat and native plant communities,
of the information to be collected; (d) contiguous United States for use as a and restricts waterfowl use of wetlands
ways to minimize the burden of the biological control agent to reduce the and stream banks. As a result, farmers,
collection of information on severity of hoary cress infestations. We ranchers, recreationists, sportsmen,
respondents, including through the use are making the environmental hunters, and the general public are
of automated collection techniques or assessment available to the public for adversely affected by hoary cress.
other forms of information technology; review and comment. Aceria drabae, a mite, was chosen as
and (e) estimates of capital or start-up DATES: We will consider all comments a potential biological control agent to
costs and costs of operation, that we receive on or before January 4, combat hoary cress due to its very
maintenance, and purchase of services 2018. narrow host range and impact on its
to provide information. Burden means ADDRESSES: You may submit comments host, and since the mite is relatively
the total time, effort, or financial by either of the following methods: widespread in Europe, it should adapt
resources expended by persons to • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to to varying environmental conditions in
generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket North America. The applicant’s purpose
provide information to or for a Federal Detail;D=APHIS-2017-0086. for releasing A. drabae is to reduce the
agency. This includes the time needed • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: severity of infestations of invasive hoary
to review instructions to (1) develop, Send your comment to Docket No. cress in the contiguous United States.
acquire, install, and utilize technology APHIS–2017–0086, Regulatory Analysis The Animal and Plant Health
and systems for the purpose of and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station Inspection Service’s (APHIS’) review
collecting, validating and verifying 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, and analysis of the potential
information, processing and Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. environmental impacts associated with
maintaining information, and disclosing Supporting documents and any the proposed release are documented in
and providing information; (2) train comments we receive on this docket detail in an environmental assessment
personnel and be able to respond to a may be viewed at http:// (EA) entitled ‘‘Field release of the gall
collection of information, to search data www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= mite, Aceria drabae (Acari:
sources, (3) complete and review the APHIS-2017-0086 or in our reading Eriophyidae), for classical biological
collection of information; and to room, which is located in room 1141 of control of hoary cress (Lepidium draba
transmit or otherwise disclose the the USDA South Building, 14th Street L., Lepidium chalapense L., and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
information. and Independence Avenue SW., Lepidium appelianum Al-Shehbaz)
All written comments will be Washington, DC. Normal reading room (Brassicaceae), in the contiguous United
available for public inspection at hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday States’’ (September 2017). We are
Regulations.gov. An agency may not through Friday, except holidays. To be making the EA available to the public
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not sure someone is there to help you, for review and comment. We will
required to respond to, a collection of please call (202) 799–7039 before consider all comments that we receive
information unless it displays a coming. on or before the date listed under the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices 57425
heading DATES at the beginning of this • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to phytosanitary certificates issued by the
notice. http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket national plant protection organization
The EA may be viewed on the Detail;D=APHIS-2017-0099. (NPPO) of Zambia with an additional
Regulations.gov Web site or in our • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: declaration that the baby squash and/or
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for Send your comment to Docket No. baby courgettes were produced in
a link to Regulations.gov and APHIS–2017–0099, Regulatory Analysis accordance with the regulations.
information on the location and hours of and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station We are asking the Office of
the reading room). You may also request 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Management and Budget (OMB) to
paper copies of the EA by calling or Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. approve our use of these information
writing to the person listed under FOR Supporting documents and any collection activities, as described, for an
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please comments we receive on this docket additional 3 years.
refer to the title of the EA when may be viewed at http://
requesting copies. www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= The purpose of this notice is to solicit
APHIS-2017-0099 or in our reading comments from the public (as well as
The EA has been prepared in
room, which is located in Room 1141 of affected agencies) concerning our
accordance with: (1) The National
the USDA South Building, 14th Street information collection. These comments
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
and Independence Avenue SW., will help us:
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Washington, DC. Normal reading room (1) Evaluate whether the collection of
Environmental Quality for hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday information is necessary for the proper
implementing the procedural provisions through Friday, except holidays. To be performance of the functions of the
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) sure someone is there to help you, Agency, including whether the
USDA regulations implementing NEPA please call (202) 799–7039 before information will have practical utility;
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA coming. (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For estimate of the burden of the collection
372). information on the importation of baby of information, including the validity of
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of squash and baby courgettes from the methodology and assumptions used;
November 2017. Zambia, contact Ms. Dorothy Wayson, (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
Kevin Shea, Senior Regulatory Specialist, PPQ, clarity of the information to be
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, collected; and
Inspection Service. Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–2036.
(4) Minimize the burden of the
[FR Doc. 2017–26154 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am] For copies of more detailed information
collection of information on those who
on the information collection, contact
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P are to respond, through use, as
Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
Information Collection Coordinator, at
mechanical, and other collection
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (301) 851–2483.
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: submission of responses.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Title: Importation of Baby Squash and
Service Baby Courgettes From Zambia. Estimate of burden: The public
OMB Control Number: 0579–0347. burden for this collection of information
[Docket No. APHIS–2017–0099] Type of Request: Revision to and is estimated to average 1 hour per
extension of approval of an information response.
Notice of Request for Revision to and collection. Respondents: Growers, packinghouse
Extension of Approval of an Abstract: The Plant Protection Act officials, and the NPPO of Zambia.
Information Collection; Importation of (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes Estimated annual number of
Baby Squash and Baby Courgettes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict respondents: 2.
From Zambia the importation, entry, or interstate
movement of plants, plant products, and Estimated annual number of
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health other articles to prevent the responses per respondent: 5.
Inspection Service, USDA. introduction of plant pests into the Estimated annual number of
ACTION: Revision to and extension of United States or their dissemination responses: 10.
approval of an information collection; within the United States. Regulations Estimated total annual burden on
comment request. authorized by the PPA concerning the respondents: 10 hours. (Due to
importation of fruits and vegetables into averaging, the total annual burden hours
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
the United States from certain parts of may not equal the product of the annual
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
the world are contained in ‘‘Subpart— number of responses multiplied by the
notice announces the Animal and Plant
Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56– reporting burden per response.)
Health Inspection Service’s intention to
1 through 319.56–81).
request a revision to and extension of All responses to this notice will be
Section 319.56–48 provides for the
approval of an information collection summarized and included in the request
importation of baby squash and baby
associated with the regulations for the for OMB approval. All comments will
courgettes from Zambia into the
importation of baby squash and baby also become a matter of public record.
continental United States under certain
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
courgettes from Zambia into the conditions. These regulations require Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of
continental United States. the use of certain information collection November 2017.
DATES: We will consider all comments activities, such as inspection of Kevin Shea,
that we receive on or before February 5, greenhouses, labeling of cartons, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
2018. maintaining required trapping records, Inspection Service.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments greenhouse approval, greenhouse pest [FR Doc. 2017–26152 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am]
by either of the following methods: detection notification, and BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
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Document Created: 2017-12-04 23:45:49
Document Modified: 2017-12-04 23:45:49
| 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. | |
| Dates | We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 4, 2018. | |
| 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) 851-2237; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 57424 |
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