83 FR 7654 - Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Aceria drabae for Biological Control of Hoary Cress

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 36 (February 22, 2018)

We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of the gall mite, Aceria drabae, for classical biological control of hoary cress in the contiguous United States. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 7654]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03552]


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 7654]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0086]


Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for Release of Aceria drabae for Biological 
Control of Hoary Cress

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of the gall 
mite, Aceria drabae, for classical biological control of hoary cress in 
the contiguous United States. Based on its finding of no significant 
impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined 
that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

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: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the release of a 
mite, Aceria drabae, into the continental United States for use as a 
biological control agent to reduce the severity of hoary cress 
infestations.
    On December 5, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
57424-57425, Docket No. APHIS-2017-0086) a notice \1\ in which we 
announced the availability, for public review and comment, of an 
environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed release of this biological control 
agent into the continental United States.
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    \1\ To view the notice, EA, and FONSI, and the comment we 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2017-0086.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending January 4, 2018. 
We received one comment by the close of the comment period. The 
commenter was generally opposed to the release of insects for 
biological control but did not raise any specific or substantive 
issues.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of Aceria drabae into 
the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to 
reduce the severity of hoary cress infestations. The finding, which is 
based on the EA, reflects our determination that release of this 
biological control agent will not have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment.
    The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public 
inspection 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. In addition, copies 
may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual 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 15th day of February 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-03552 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P