# Proposed Release of a

Parasitoid ( Tamarixia
radiat a Waterston) for the Biological Control of Asian Citrus Psyllid ( Diaphorina citri Kuwayama ) in the
Continental
United States

Environmental Assessment
Novem ber 2009 United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and
Plant Health Inspection
Service

# Proposed Release of a

Parasitoid ( Tamarixia radiat a Waterston) for the B iological
C ontrol of Asian Citrus Psyllid ( Diaphorina citri Kuwayma in
the Continental
United States

Environmental Assessment,
Novem ber 2009

Agency Contact: Shirley Wager

- Page , Branch Ch ief
Pest Permitting Plant Protection and Quarantine Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 4700 River Road, Unit 133 Riverdale, MD 20737

– 1236

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## Table of Contents

I. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

........................ 1

II. Alternatives

................................ ................................ ............. 2

III. Affected Environment

................................ ............................ 6

IV. Environmental Consequences

................................ .............. 7

V. Other Issues

................................ ................................ .......... 1 2

VI. Agencies and Organizations Consulted

............................. 1 4

VII. References

................................ ................................ ............ 1 51 

## I. Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Permit Unit is proposing to issue permit s for release of the insect

Tamarixia radiata ( T. radiata ) (Waterston) (H ymenoptera : Eulophidae). The agent would be used for the biological control of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

, in the

continental Un ited States. Before permits are issued for release of T.

radiata , APHIS needs to analyze the potential impacts of the release of this agent into the continental United States.

This environmental assessment 1 (EA) has been prepared, consistent with

USDA

– AP HIS' National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) implementing procedures (Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 372). It examines the potential effects on the quality of the human environment that may be associated with the release of T. radiata

to control infestations of ACP within the continental United States . This

EA considers a ―no action‖ alternative and the potential effects of the proposed action

.

The purpose for releasing T. radiata is to reduce the severity of

infestations of ACP in the United States

. ACP, a serious pest of citrus, was first discovered in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, in

June 1998. By 2001, it had spread to 31 counties in Florida, primarily due to the movement of infested nursery plants. In 2 001, ACP was accidentally introduced into Puerto Rico and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It was subsequently found in Hawaii in 2006, Guam in 2007, and in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and

California in 2008. ACP serves as a vector (disease transmitter) of Huanglongbing disease ( HLB ), also known as citrus greening disease

, and

is considered to be one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world.

HLB is a bacterial disease caused by strains of the bacterial pathogen

Candid atus Liberibacter asiaticus that attacks the vascular system of host plants. The pathogen is phloem

- limited, inhibiting the food

- conducting tissues of the host plant, and causes yellow shoots, blotchy mottling and chlorosis, reduced foliage, and tip dieba ck of citrus plants. HLB greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of citrus fruit, and can kill trees. Once infected, there is no cure for a tree with HLB . In areas of

1 Regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 United States Code

4321 et seq. ) provide that an environmental assessment “[shall include brief discussions of the need for the proposal, of alternatives as requir ed by section 102(2)(E), of the environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and a listing of agencies and persons consulted” ( 40 CFR §

1508.9 )

.2 the world where HLB is established , citrus trees decline and die withi n a few years and may never produce usable fruit. HLB w as first detected in

the United States in Miami

- Dade County, Florida, in 2005. Currently , in the United States, HLB is only known to be present in Florida, Louisiana,

South Carolina , and Georgia

.

In addition to trans mitting Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, ACP can cause economic damage to citrus in groves and nurseries by direct feeding. Both adults and nymphs feed on young foliage, depleting the sap and causing galling or curling of leaves. High populations feeding on a citrus shoot can kill the growing tip.

In 1998, the proposed biological control organism T. radiata was imported from Taiwan and Vietnam into quarantine by Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consu mer Services. It was initially intentionally released into Florida in St. Lucie County on July 15, 1999, and Palm Beach County on August 17, 1999 and has become established in Florida. It also spread to Puerto Rico and Texas via

accidental introductions. However, the APHIS

– PPQ Permit Unit has received permit applications requesting to release T. radiata into additional States where ACP has spread, such as California, and has also received permit applications for importation and release of T. radiata from sources other than Taiwan and Vietnam (i.e., Punjab, Pakistan) because they may be more climatically adapted to new release locations.

The applicant has a need to include a host specific biological control agent as an additional tool for controlling ACP populations in the continental United States, especially in natural areas and neighborhoods where insecticide applications to control ACP are not always feasible.



## II . Alternatives

This section will explain the two alternatives available to the PPQ Perm it
Unit―no action and issuance of permits for expanded environmental

release of T. radiata. Although the PPQ Permit Unit’s alternatives are limited to a decision on whether to issue permits for expanded release of T. radiata, other methods of control of A CP are described. These control methods are not decisions to be made by the PPQ Permit Unit, and their use will likely continue whether or not permits are issued for expanded

environmental release of T. radiata. These are methods presently being

used to control ACP by public and private concerns. For instance, the

AP HIS

– PPQ, Citrus Health Response Program has undertaken measures to control the spread of ACP and HLB to un infested areas of the United

States since the introduction of HLB into the United Sta tes in 2005. This3 program was analyzed in an environmental assessment prepared by APHIS (USDA, APHIS, 2009) and it is incorporated by reference into this

document.

A third alternative was considered, but will not be analyzed further.

Under this third a lternative, the PPQ Permit Unit would have issued permits for the field release of T. radiata but the permits would contain special provisions or requirements concerning release procedures or mitigating measures. No issues have been raised that would indi cate that special provisions or requirements are necessary.



### A. No A ction

Under the no action alternative, the PPQ Permit Unit would not issue additional permits for the field release of T. radiata for the control of

ACP

— further release of this biologic al control agent outside of Florida would not take place and permits for release of new, more climatically

adapted strains would not be approved. B esides the APHIS

– PPQ

program, control measures could be taken by other Federal or non

- Federal entities; thos e actions would not be under APHIS’ control or funded by

APHIS. Those additional methods of control are discussed in the ―ACP Control Methods‖ section below and will likely continue even if permits are issued for expanded release of T. radiata

.

T. radiat a was introduced into Florida in 1998 (Hoy and Nguyen

, 2001).

It was also detected in Texas , Mexico, and Puerto Rico where purposeful

releases were not made. The insect may have moved to these locations on infested orange jasmine Murraya paniculata (L)

. Although T. radiata is already established in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Texas, under this alternative, the APHIS

– PPQ Permit Unit would not issue permits for

movement of T. radiata into new States and would not issue permits to

release new strains of T. ra diata into the United States that were collected from new sources in Asia. However, since T. radiata is established in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Texas, it will continue to be used in those areas. It is possible that T. radiata will naturally spread from F lorida and Texas

into other States.

ACP Control Methods

Chemical control of ACP includes the use of foliar and/or systemic applications of the following insecticides: imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, acetamiprid, aldicarb, abamectin, chlorpyr ifos, deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, carbaryl, dimethoate, phosmet, spinetoram, formetanate, diflubenzuron, and spirotetramat, kaolin, petroleum and horticultural mineral oils (UC IPM, 2009; Rogers et al

., 1. Chemical
Control4 2009a; Rogers et al

., 2009b) . There are no chemical controls for HLB

. In addition to T. radiata , another parasitoid used for biological control of ACP is an encyrtid wasp, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis ( D. aligarhensis ). A parasitoid is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life history within a single host organism which it ultimately kills (and often consumes) in the process

. T. radiata is more efficient at parasitizing ACP

than D. aligarhensis (Tang, 1989). Both T. radiata and D. aligarhensis

were released into F lorida (McFarland and Hoy, 2001) but with mixed results (Halbert and Manjunath, 2004). Only T. radiata has established in Florida (Michaud, 2002) but has exhibited a very low rate of parasitism of ACP (approximately 1 percent) (Michaud, 2004). However, m ore recent

st udies by Qureshi et al. (2009a; 2009 b) found that rates of parasitism of ACP by T. radiata in Florida were variable, and averaged less than 20 percent during spring and summer, but 39 percent in September and 56 percent in November in the cent ral and southwest regions of Florida, respectively. These rates are lower than those observed on Reunion Island, Guadeloupe, or Puerto Rico, where significant sup p ression of ACP populations has been reported (Aubert and Quilici, 1984; Étienne et al.

2001; Torres et al., 2006; Pluke et al., 2008).

Native predators, such as spiders, coccinellids (lady beetles), lace wings, syrphids, and minute pirate bugs attack ACP (Quereshi et al., 2009b; UC IPM, 2009). Coccinellids are important predators of ACP in Fl orida (Michaud, 2002; 2004).



### B. Issue permits for expanded release of T. radiata

Under this alternative, the PPQ Permit Unit would issue permits for the expanded field release of T. radiata , including permits for new, more climatically

- adapted or bett er performing strains, for the control of ACP

wherever it occurs in the continental United States . These permits would contain no special provisions or requirements concerning release procedures or mitigating measures.

T. radiata (Hymenop tera: Chalcido idae: Eulophidae) is a small, stingless wasp ectoparasite (an external parasitic organism) . It was described as

Tetrastichus radiata by Waterston (1922) from host materials

— Diaphorina citri

— on lemon leaves collected in Lyallpur, Punjab (Pakistan).

The biology of T. radiata w as studied in detail by Chu and Chien (1991), Chien et al. (1989), and Chien (1995). Females deposit eggs between the

thorax and abdomen of immature ACP

. The newly hatched T. radiata

larva sucks fluid from the site where it is atta ched externally to the ACP host, eventually killing it. By the time the T. radiata larva has matured

, it 2. Biological
Control

1. Description
of T. radiata

2. Life History of
T. radiata5 has sucked out the contents of the ACP, and the psyllid become s 'mummified' and turns a dark brown color. The adult T. radiata parasitoid emerges fro m the top of the mummified ACP thorax, leaving a distinctive emergence hole. Under laboratory condition s
, T. radiata females deposit

166 to 300 eggs during their life span of 14 to 24 days. The development

time from egg to adult is 12 days under a 25 °C and 14 hours of light:10

hours of dark regime

. T. radiata complete s development at temperatures varying from 15 to 32 °C, with an optimum of 25 °C. The lowest developmental threshold is estimated to be 11 °C for all stages, from egg

to adult.

Adult T. r adiata females also kill psyllids by host feeding . F emales insert their ovipositor (egg

- laying organ) into the ACP, producing a hole

, and then suck up the liquid that oozes ou t

. Host feeding provides a source of protein that helps the female parasitoid p roduce more eggs. T. radiata females also feed on honeydew ( sticky waste product excreted by nymphs and adult psyllids after digesting phloem ) excreted by the psyllids. A single T. radiata female is able to kill over 500 psyllids through the

combination of host feeding and parasitism (Nguyen, 2009)

.

The native range of T. radiata includes Africa: Saudi Arabia (Bove, 1986),

and Asia: India (Husain and Nath, 19 27), China (Jiangxi and Fujian

P rovinces) (Tang, 1998; Tang and Aubert, 1990), Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago) (Kohno et al., 2002), Nepal (Lama et al., 1988), Pakistan (Waterson, 1922), Thailand (Morakote and Nanta, 1995), and Vietnam (Hoy et al., 1999).

According to É tienne and Aubert (1980), the biological control project using T. radiata in Reuni on Island started in 1978. Reunion Island is located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 120 mi les south

west of Mauritius. Approximately 5,000 T. radiata adults originating from Punjab, Pakistan, were released in the field in 13 locations on

Reunion Island. The population of ACP started to decrease significantly in 1980, and in 1982, T. radiata parasitism rates increased drastically to

such levels that ACP disappeared from the citrus groves and maintained just a few residual populations on th e ornamental Murraya paniculata

, one of its prefer red hosts (Aubert and Quilici, 1984 ; É tienne et al.

, 2001). From surveys made on Reunion Island, it was determined that T. radiata attacked 60 to 70 percent of ACP nymphs (Aubert, 1987). More than 25

year s after release of T. radiata on Reunion Island, Aubert et al. (1996)

concluded that the effort to control HLB was very successful. This w as

a chieved by a combined effort of supply ing certified disease

- free trees and the highly successful biological contr ol of ACP, the main vector of HLB

. A similar program was also launched in Mauritius with the same success. While success on Reunion Island has been very high, use of the agent in Southeast Asia has been less successful, possibly because of the presence 3 . Native R ange of T. radiata

4 . Impact of T.
radiata on Asian Citrus Psyllid6 o f hyperparasites (in this case, a parasite that attacks T. radiata ) causing mortality of T. radiata (Supriyanto and Whittle, 1991).

T. radiata is established in Florida (Hoy and Nguyen

, 2001) but parasitism rates reported in Florida (Tsai et al. , 2002; Michaud , 2004; Qureshi et al.

, 200 9 ) have been lower than generally reported in R e union Island

, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico ( Aubert and Quilici, 1984; Étienne et al.
2001; Torres et al., 2006; Pluke et al., 2008).



## III. Affected Environment

A. Asian Ci trus Psyllid

ACP is an insect in the family Psyllidae. It is a pest of citrus and close relatives of citrus, and is the target of T. radiata

. Psyllids resemble miniature cicadas and are sometimes called jumping plantlice. ACP damages plants through its feeding activities. New shoot growth that is heavily infested by ACP does not expand or develop normally, and is more susceptible to breaking off. While direct damage is serious, there is even greater concern as ACP is an efficient vector of the bacteri um that

causes HLB.

ACP is found in tropical and subtropical Asia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Réunion, Mauritius, parts of South and Central America, Mexico, and the

Caribbean. In the United States and its territories, this species is present in

all or parts of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas

.

ACP is known to develop only on members of the plant family Rutaceae including the genera Aegle, Aelopsis, Afraegle, Atalantia, Balsamocitrus, Citropsis, Citrus, Clausena, Eretmocitrus, Fortunella, Limonia, Merrillia, Microcitrus, Murraya, Naringi, Pampurus, Poncirus, Severina, Swinglea, Toddalia, Vepris, and Zanthoxylum

. Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (orange jasmine) and Citrus sp p. are the preferred hosts of ACP (Aubert

, 1987; Halbert and Manj u nath , 2004; Yang et al.

, 2006).



### B. North American Psyllid Species

Over 100 psyllid species occur on both native and introduced landscape plants in the United States. Several psyllid spec ies are pests of crops such as pear, potato, and tomato. Each kind of psyllid feeds on only one plant species or closely related group of plants. Most psyllids native to the United States are relatively uncommon and rarely become pests. Psyllid species in North America could possibly be attacked by T. radiata ;7 however, reports from the literature and host

- specificity tests have

indicated that T. radiata is specific to ACP (see discussion under chapter 4, Environmental Consequences).



### C. Citrus Resources in North America

Citrus resources in the United States are at risk from ACP and HLB. Production of citrus in the United States includes oranges, tangelos, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons, and limes mainly in the States of Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. The United States was forecast to produce

11 .7 million tons of citr us in 2008

– 09, down from the 13

- million ton crop produced in 2007

– 08 (USDA

– ERS, 2009). The United States is one of the top citrus exporters in the world ranking first in grapefru it, third in oranges, fourth in lemons, and seventh in tangerines (USDA

– FAS, 2009).

In 2006

– 07, the United States exported 851,000 tons of citrus with

74 percent of the exports going to Japan, Canada, and Korea (USDA

– FAS, 2008). Florida, the leading cit rus

- producing S tate, has 576,577 total

acres (bearing and nonbearing) devoted to commercial citrus production (FASS, 2009a; FDOC, 2009)

. There were 271,281 total acres (bearing and nonbearing) of citrus in California in 2008 (USDA

– NASS, 2008a). In

the Lo wer Rio Grande Valley of Texas, there are roughly 2 7

, 3 00 bearing

acres of citrus and

, in Arizona, approximately 21,800 bearing acres devoted to commercial citrus production (FASS, 2009b; USDA

– NASS, 2008b).

N ursery operations that produce citrus trees, or ange jasmine, curryleaf,

and other ACP host plants will be adversely affected by ACP and HLB

. For example, a ccording to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, there were 3,549 greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture operations in California, ( USDA

– NA SS, 2009 ). I n Hawaii, there were 1,393 greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture operations within the State ( USDA

– NASS, 2009 )

. Eighteen commercial citrus operations accounted for 95 percent of the citrus nursery plants produced in Texas in 2008. Many more greenhouse,

nu rsery, and floriculture operations occur in other States that are or could become infested with ACP and HLB. Many of these operations are identified by the Small Business Administration as small businesses.



## IV. Environmental Consequences

A. No Action

ACP damages citrus by feed ing on young foliage, depleting the sap

, and causing galling or curling of leaves. High populations feeding on a citrus shoot can kill the growing tip. ACP also causes damage by excreting 1. Impact of
S pread of
ACP and HLB
on Hosts of
ACP and
Citrus

Resources8 honeydew that coats plant leaves, all owing the growth of sooty mold that reduces or inhibits sunlight penetration (Chien and Chu, 1996). However,

the worst threat is that ACP is an efficient vector of the bacterium which

causes HLB . This is the most serious disease of citrus in the world,

c ausing reduced production of fruit and eventual death of the trees. HLB

i nfe c ted trees show a blotchy

, mottled condition of the leaves which results in the development of yellow shoots, the characteristic symptom of the disease. Trees are stunted, declin e, and bear very few lop

- sided

, poor quality fruit. T he fruit produced by infected trees is not suitable for either

the fresh market or juice processing due to the significant increase in acidity and bitter taste. The lack of effective control measures t o prevent the spread of HLB from sites of infestation to other areas and counties could lead to higher production costs and an increase in shortages of citrus fruits and plants to the general economy. This would potentially result in

increased costs for s urvey, detection, and treatment for the control of ACP

and HLB as they sprea d to other areas and counties.

Commercial acreage of citrus in Florida has dropped to 576,577, the lowest level since USDA began tracking citrus acreage in 1966 (FLCM, 2008)

. Com mercial citrus acreage in Florida peaked in 1970 at more than 941,000 acres (FLCM, 2008)

. As the industry commits millions of dollars

to new research to find a cure for HLB

, costs to growers are soaring because they are spending more on fertilizer, insect icides

, and inspection

to limit crop losses and further spread (FL C M, 2008)

.

Pesticide usage to control ACP has increased significantly in Florida, since the introduction of HLB, with 6 or more applications per year. Application and spray material costs have risen dramatically, as well, from

pre

- HLB levels of $100 and $80 per acre, up to $140 and $240 per acre

post

- HLB (Irey, 2008). Prior to this, ACP was considered a minor pest. However, growers must apply both systemic soil drench treatments along

wi th multiple foliar sprays (especially to protect newly planted and young (4 to 8

- year old) trees that are more vulnerable to ACP attack because they flush more frequently. This pattern is similar to what has occurred in Brazil, South Africa, and other cou ntries where HLB has been introduced. In Brazil, foliar applications of insecticides have steadily increased from 12 up to 24 per year, and soil treatments from 2 up to 4 per year. In an effort to reduce costs, pesticides with longer residual effects are being substituted. Pesticides also are being applied aerially over large areas to achieve greater control of ACP . There are no effective alternatives that can be used for organic citrus production.

For nurseries in the United States that produce cit rus trees, orange jasmine, and curryleaf , t he effects of ACP and HLB will be adverse . For areas quarantined for HLB , nursery operations will suffer a complete loss of domestic market access. For areas quarantined only for ACP but not9 for HLB , nursery op erations will incur costs associated with treatment prior to interstate movement of the articles, as well as the loss of market

access to other citrus

- producing States not currently affected with ACP. As an example of ACP qua rantine costs, the Texas State en tomologist has

estimated the cost of treatments with soil drenches and foliar sprays due to the quarantine in Texas to be approximately $0.24 pe r plant.

The continued use of chemical controls and previously released biological control agents at curr ent levels would result if the no action alternative is chosen, and may continue even if permits are issued for expanded

environmental release of T. radiat a

.

a. Chemical Control

The environmental consequences of many of the insecticides used for

control of ACP were analyzed by APHIS (USDA

– APHIS, 2009) and will not be discussed further in this document. However, an additional environmental consequence of the use of insecticides for control of ACP is a reduction in occurrence of natural predators of ACP, such as lady beetles, syrphids, and spiders. Following the discovery of HLB in Florida, many growers adopted intensive insecticide programs to control the psyllid (Rogers , 2008; Rogers et al.

, 2008). Most of the materials used to

control ACP are broad

- sp ectrum insecticides which disrupt not only native predators of ACP but also of other citrus pests. Research indicates that T.

radiata is sensitive to a number of chemicals used in citrus (Hall and Nguyen, unpublished).

b. Biological Control

Native pr edators and previously released biological control agents will

remain in the environment and exert some level of control over ACP. However, these are not adequate to control ACP populations in the

United States.



### B. Issue permits for expanded release of T. radiata

Host specificity of T. radiata to ACP has been demonstrated through field observations and host specificity testing. Other nontarget psyllids are not expected to be attacked by T. radiata.

a. Scientific Literature

In scientific literature, the host records of T. radiata are listed in the

Universal Chalcidoidea Database ( http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research

curation/research/projects/chalcidoids/ last accessed Ju ly 9, 2009), and 2. Impact from
the Use of
Other Control

Methods

1. Impact of
T. radiata on Nontarget Psyllids10 include Euphalerus citri, Psylla hyalina, Trioza erytreae and Trioza sp. E.

citri is a synonym of D. citri

. It is thought that Psylla hyalina and Trioza

erytreae , as hosts of T. radiat a , are likely mistaken reports (McDaniel and Morgan, 1972; Nguyen, unpublished data).

b. Host Specificity Testing

Researchers conducted host specificity testing using five native psyllid species

— Glycaspis brimblecombei

, Ceropsylla sideroxyli

, Trioza magnoliae

, Hereropsylla cubana , and Pachypsylla sp. (Ngu yen et al., 2009). Each cage that contained either the native psyllids or ACP was

inoculated with four females and two males of T

. radiata from three

different source colonies

— Northern Vietnam, Southern China, and

Pakistan. Three to six replications (cag es) per each T. radiata colony were

used for the test. In the tests, T. radiata did not parasitize any of the native psyllid species, only ACP. In addition, an Australian psyllid released into Florida for the biological control of melaleuca ( Boreiolycasp is melaleuca ) was tested but was not parasitized by T.

radiata . The researchers concluded that T. radiata is specific to ACP (Nguyen et al., 2009).

Once a biological control agent such as T. radiata is released into the

environment and become s established, there is a slight possibility it could move from the target insect ( ACP ) to attack nontarget insects, such as

native psyllid species. Native species that are closely related to the ta rget species are the most likely to be attacked (Louda et al., 2003). If other psyllid species were to be attacked by T. radiata , the resulting effects could be environmental impacts that may not be easily reversed. Biological control agents such as T. r adiata generally spread without intervention by man. In principle, therefore, release of these parasitoids at even one site should be considered equivalent to release over the entire area in which potential hosts occur and in which the climate is suitable for reproduction and survival. For example, although not purposely released in Puerto Rico and Texas, T. radiata has been found there, possibly carried in on ACP host plants shipped from Florida.

In addition, these agents may not be successful in redu cing ACP populations in the continental United States. Approximately 12 percent of all parasitoid introductions have led to significant sustained control of the target pests, but the majority of introductions have failed to provide control of the pest (Gr eathead and Greathead, 1992) either because

introduction did not lead to establishment or establishment did not lead to control (Lane et al., 1999). Actual impacts on ACP populations by T.

radiata will not be known until after release occurs and post

- rele ase monitoring has been conducted. The environmental consequences discussed under the no action alternative may occur even with the 2. Uncertainties Regarding the
Environmental
Release of T.
radiata11 implementation of the biological control alternative, depending on the efficacy of T. radiata to reduce ACP populations in the continental United

States.

―Cumulative impacts are defined as the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agencie s or person undertakes such o ther actions‖ (40 CFR 1508.7).

USDA

– APHIS has undertaken measures to control the ar tificial spread of

ACP and HLB to un infested areas of the United States since the

introduction of HLB in 2005. On September 16, 2005, APHIS is sued a Federal Order designating all or parts of 10 affected counties in Florida as quarantined areas, and impos ed restrictions on the interstate movement of

all ACP and HLB host material from these areas. Since then, it has been necessary to update the r estrictions and expand the ACP and/or HLB quarantine areas with subsequent Federal Orders due to the continuing spread of both ACP and HLB . APHIS has issued a t otal of 12 Federal

Orders to impose restrictions on the interstate movement of ACP and HLB

host plant material from quarantined areas. APHIS is developing an

interim rule that would replace the most recent Federal Order for ACP and

HLB . It would codify some of the provisions of the Order, clarify others, and add provisions that APHIS has determine d to be necessary since the issuance of the last Federal Order so as to prevent the spread of ACP and

HLB to un infested areas of the United States.

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is working to

eradicate ACP from the two infested coun ties in that State and prevent spread into new counties. Since August 28, 2008, CDFA has detected populations of ACP in portions of San Diego

, Imperial , Orange, and Los Angeles C ounties, and has implemented an aggressive control and quarantine program to protect California from this invasive pest , including survey activities for the pest.

Release of T. radiata is not expected to have any negative cumulative impacts in the continental United States because of its host specificity to

ACP . Effective biolo gical control of ACP w ould have beneficial effects

for ACP and HLB management programs, and may result in a long

- term,

non

- damaging method to assist in the control of ACP and HLB , and
prevent their spread into other areas potentially at risk from invasion.

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and ESA’s implementing regulations require Federal agencies to ensure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of federally listed threatened

and endangered species

, or result in the destruction or adverse

modification of critical habitat. 4. Endangered Species Act 3. Cumulative Impac ts12 APHIS has determined that

, based on the host specificity of T. radiata

, there will be no effect on any listed insect in the continental United States. In host specificity testing, the biolo gical control organism attacked only ACP. No federally listed threatened or endangered insects belong to the family P syllidae (FWS

– TESS, 2009). In addition, no listed species is dependent on ACP as a food source. Although certain federally listed plants occur in the family Rutaceae and may serve as hosts of ACP,

release of T. radiata will not benefit any of these species because all occur

outside of the continental United States. T. radiata will only be released

within the continental United States.



## V . Other Issues

Consistent with Executive Order (EO) 12898, ―Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low

- income Populations,‖ APHIS considered the potential for disproportionately high

and adverse human health or environmental effects on any minority populations and low

- income populations. There are no adverse

environmental or human health effects from the field release of T. radiata

, and their release will not have disproportionate adverse effect s to any minority or low

- income populations.

Consistent with EO 13045, ―Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks,‖ APHIS considered the potential for disproportionately high and adverse environmental health and safety risk s to children. No circumstances that would trigger the need for special environmental reviews are involved in implementing the preferred alternative. Therefore, it is expected that no disproportionate effects on children are anticipated as a consequence of the field release of T. radiata

.

EO 13175, ―Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,‖ was issued to ensure that there would be ―meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications....‖ Consistent with EO 13175, APHIS sent letters of notification and requests for comment and consultation on the proposed action to tribes in California, Arizona, and Texas. APHIS will continue to consult and

collaborate with Indian tribal officials to ensure that they are well

informed and represented in policy and program decisions that may impact their agricultural interests

, in accordance with E O 13175

.13 

## VI. Agencies and Organizations Consulted

This EA was prepared a nd reviewed by APHIS. The addresses of participating APHIS units, cooperators, and consultants (as applicable)

follow.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry

P. O. Box 147100 Gainesville, FL 32601

U.S. Departm ent of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Policy and Program Development

Environmental and Risk Analysis Services 4700 River Road, Unit 149 Riverdale, MD 20737

U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine Registrations, Identificatio n, Permits, and Plant Safeguarding River Road, Unit 133 Riverdale, MD 2073714 

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