Finding of No Significant Impact 

for the 

Final Rulemaking for Importation of Swine and Swine Commodities from Slovakia, 

Environmental Assessment, May 2011 

The US. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes the potential 

effects on the human environment from a rule amendment. The amendment would 

change APHIS regulations by listing the Republic of Slovakia as a region that is low risk 

for classical swine fever (CSF) and free of swine vesicular disease (SVD), foot and 

mouth disease (FMD), and rinderpest, thus allowing the importation ofswine and swine 

commodities from Slovakia. The EA, "Final Rulemaking for Importation of Swine and 

Swine Commodities from Slovakia," is incorporated by reference in this document and is 

available from the address below: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 


Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 


Veterinary Services 


National Center for Import and Export 


Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff 


4700 River Road, Unit 38 


Riverdale, MD 20737 


The EA considered two alternatives: (1) "No Action," which would not change the 

current regulations and or disease status of Slovakia for CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest 

and (2) the rule amendment alternative (the preferred alternative) that would list Slovakia 

as a region that is low risk for CSF and free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest. Changing the 

disease status according to the rule amendment would allow, under certain requirements 

and conditions, the importation ofswine and swine commodities from Slovakia to the 

United States. The rule amendment is the preferred alternative because it would not 

likely result in the introduction of the aforementioned animal diseases from the 

importation of swine or swine commodities from Slovakia. Further, the rule amendment 

will facilitate trade while protecting against the introduction of animal disease into the 

United States. 

APHIS has determined that no significant impact would occur to the human environment, 

which includes animal health, public health, and the physical environment, from the 

implementation ofthe rule amendment. Also, APHIS anticipates no effects on federally 

listed threatened or endangered species or their habitat. APHIS' Finding ofNo 

Significant Impact for this regulatory action is based upon the expected limited 

environmental consequences, as analyzed in the EA. This finding is further supported by 

APHIS' evaluation of the risk ofintroduction ofCSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest from 

swine or swine commodities from Slovakia and requirements and conditions in APHIS 

regulations that serve as safeguards to further negate or reduce the potential for 

environmental consequences. 
I find that rule amendment poses no disproportionate adverse effects to minority 

populations and low-income popUlations and that the actions that would be undertaken 

for this rule are consistent with the principles of environmental justice, as stated in 

Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 

Populations and Low-Income Populations." I also find that the rule amendment poses no 

disproportionate adverse effects to children and that the actions that would be undertaken 

also comply with the policy ofExecutive Order 13045, "Protection of Children From 

Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks." 

Lastly, because I have not found evidence of significant environmental impact associated 

with the rule amendment, I further find that an environmental impact statement does not 

need to be prepared and that the rule amendment may be implemented. 

Gary ~L~ S. C 19rove Date 

Director 

Sanitary Trade Issues Team 

National Center for Import and Export 

Veterinary Services 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service