[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 15935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6605]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0115]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Air Potato

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 control of air 
potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). 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. Shirley Wager-Page, Chief, Pest 
Permitting Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1237; (301) 734-8453.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing 
to issue permits for the release of an insect, Lilioceris cheni, into 
the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to 
reduce the severity of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) infestations.
    On January 19, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 
3076-3077, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0115) 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 go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0115.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending February 18, 
2011. We received one comment by that date, from a State agricultural 
agency. The commenter, who supported the proposed release, asked 
whether, when the shipments of L. cheni were imported, the identity of 
the specimens was confirmed and if voucher specimens had been 
established. The commenter was concerned that the validity of the host 
specificity testing would be called into question if the identity of 
the specimens was not firmly established. We have notified the 
commenter that the identity of the specimens was confirmed at the time 
of their importation and that voucher specimens have been set aside.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of L. cheni, into the 
continental United States for use as a biological control agent to 
reduce the severity of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) 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 Web site (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public 
inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect 
copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 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 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 16th day of March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6605 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
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