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[Federal Register: May 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 84)]
[Notices]               
[Page 23221]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my10-25]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0058]

 
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Water Hyacinth

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 an 
insect, Megamelus scutellaris, into the continental United States for 
use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of water 
hyacinth infestations. 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, Megamelus scutellaris, 
into the continental United States for use as a biological control 
agent to reduce the severity of water hyacinth infestations.
    On November 16, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR 
58939-58940, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0058) 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, FONSI, and response to comments, go 
to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0058).
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending December 16, 
2009. We received one comment, from a State game and fish department. 
Our responses to the issues raised in the comment can be found in 
Appendix E of the final EA (see footnote 1).
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of M. scutellaris into 
the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to 
reduce the severity of water hyacinth 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 
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 27\th\ day of April 2010.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-10280 Filed 4-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S
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