SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) relative to the field release of the weevil Bagous nodulosus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the classical biological control of flowering rush ( Butomus umbellatus L.) in the continental United States. After ( printed page 65721) completion of the environmental analysis, APHIS authorized issuance of permits for the release.

Flowering rush is an herbaceous aquatic perennial in the plant family Butomaceae. Native to Europe and Asia, flowering rush was introduced into North America by 1900, possibly both accidentally in ballast water and packing material and intentionally via the horticulture trade. It is now widely naturalized in wetlands, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving rivers in 23 States and 9 provinces surrounding the United States/Canada border and is continuing to expand outward. Flowering rush displaces native plant species, impedes water flow, alters habitat structure and nutrient cycling, damages fishing, hunting, boating, and other recreational sectors, and is difficult to control. In western North America, it provides habitat for highly damaging invasive and nuisance species.

Permitting the release of B. nodulosus in the continental United States is necessary to help control invasive flowering rush. B. nodulosus, a semi-aquatic weevil, is a highly specific and potentially very damaging biological control agent for flowering rush. Both adult and larval feeding of B. nodulosus have been shown to reduce the vigor of flowering rush. B. nodulosus attacks flowering rush very early during the field season (adults are active from April onwards) and over a long period of time (larvae can be found feeding in the plants from April to September), which should reduce the ability of the plant to compensate for the attack. Host-specificity testing indicates B. nodulosus is unlikely to attack non-target species.

On September 3, 2024, we published in the Federal Register (89 FR 71250-71251, Docket No. APHIS-2024-0032) a notice ^[1] in which we announced the availability, for public review and comment, of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts associated with the release of B. nodulosus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the continental United States for the biological control of flowering rush ( Butomus umbellatus L.). Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before October 3, 2024. We received 21 comments on the EA by that date, 20 of which were in favor of the environmental release of B. nodulosus. One commenter was opposed to the release but did not raise substantive issues relating to the release of B. nodulosus into the environment. Of the 20 comments in favor of release of B. nodulosus into the environment, 2 commenters had additional questions related to stakeholder consultation with Canadian natural resource officials and Native American Tribes, the availability of a cost-benefit analysis, and the impacts of predation by native bird and fish populations.

We reviewed and considered the questions raised by these commenters. We have revised the final EA, where appropriate, and provided responses to the concerns expressed. Our full responses can be found in Appendix 4 of the final EA.

In this document, we are advising the public of the availability of the final EA and our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding the field release of the insect, B. nodulosus, for biological control of flowering rush in the continental United States. Our finding, which is based on the analysis in the final EA, reflects our determination that the field release of B. nodulosus for the classical biological control of flowering rush in the continental United States will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on this finding, we have authorized permits for the field release of B. nodulosus for the classical biological control of flowering rush in the continental United States.

The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website (see footnote 1). Copies of the final EA and FONSI are also available for public inspection at room 1620 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. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead at (202) 799-7039 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT .

The final 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) the former regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) as of February 25, 2021; (3) U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b) effective through July 2, 2025; and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372) effective through July 2, 2025.