Finding ofNo Significant Impact for the Final Rulemaking for the Importation ofSwine Commodities from Slovenia, Environmental Assessment, May 2011

The U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes the potential effects onthe human environment from a rule amendment. The amendment would change APHIS regulations bylisting the Republic ofSlovenia as a region that is low risk for classical swine fever (CSF) and free ofswine vesicular disease (SVD), foot and mouth disease (FMD), and rinderpest, thus allowing the importation ofswine and swine commodities from Slovenia. The EA, "Final Rulemaking for the Importation ofSwine and Swine Commodities from Slovenia," is incorporated byreference inthis document and is available from the address below:

U.S. Department ofAgriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services National Centerfor Import and Export Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff 4700 RiverRoad, Unit 38

Riverdale, MD 20737

The EA considered two alternatives: (1) "NoAction,"whichwould not change the
current regulations and or disease status ofSlovenia for CSF, SVD, FMD, orrinderpest and (2) the rule amendment alternative (the preferred alternative) that would list Slovenia

as a region that is low risk for CSF and free ofSVD, FMD, and rinderpest. Changing the disease status according to the rule amendment would allow, undercertainrequirements and conditions, the importation ofswine and swine commodities from Sloveniato the United States. The rule amendment is the preferred alternative because it would not likelyresult in the introduction ofthe aforementioned animal diseases from the importation ofswine or swine commodities from Slovenia. Further, the rule amendment will facilitate trade whileprotecting against the introduction ofanimal disease into the United States.

APHIS has determined that no significant impact would occurto 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 ortheir 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 ofthe risk ofintroduction ofCSF, SVD, FMD, orrinderpest from swine or swine commodities from Slovenia and requirements and conditions in APHIS regulations that serve as safeguards to further negate orreduce 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 ofenvironmentaljustice, as stated in Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice inMinority Populations and Low-Income PopUlations." I also find that the rule amendment poses no disproportionate adverse effects to children and that the actions that wouldbe undertaken also complywith the policy ofExecutive Order 13045, "Protection ofChildrenFrom Environmental Health Risks and SafetyRisks."

Lastly, because I have not found evidence ofsignificant environmental impact associated with the rule amendment, I further find that an environmental impact statement does not need to beprepared and that the rule amendment maybe implemented.

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'Z-tlll Date Director Sanitary Trade Issues Team National Center for Import and Export Veterinary Services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service