/ 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

For 


Importation of Bananas from the Philippines 


Environmental Assessment 


July 2012 


The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes potential environmental 

consequences of allowing importation ofbananas from the Philippines. The EA, incorporated by 

reference in this document, is available from: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 


Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 


Plant Protection and Quarantine 


Plant for Planting Policy 


4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737 


The EA analyzed the following alternatives: (1) no action in which the United States would 

continue to prohibit the importation of bananas from the Philippines (no action alternative), and (2) 

amending the regulations to allow importation into the continental United States of commercially 

produced bananas from the Philippines, subject to specific mitigation measures (preferred 

alternative). Notice of this EA was made available in the Federal Register on May 30,2012 for a 

30-day public comment period. Four comments were received on the proposed rule or EA. Three 

commenters expressed general agreement or disagreement with the proposal but did not raise any 

specific issues. The other commenter, the Commissioner ofAgriculture, Florida Department of 

Agriculture and Consumer Services, raised concerns regarding the risk ofintroduction offruit flies. 

into Florida from importation ofbananas from the Philippines. This comment is addressed in an 

appendix to the EA. 

APHIS has determined that there would be no significant impact to the human environment from 

implementation ofthis rule. APHIS' Finding ofNo Significant Impact for this regulatory action 

was based upon the expected limited environmental consequences, including risk to human health, 

as analyzed in the EA. APHIS anticipates no impacts to threatened or endangered species or their 

habitats nor any adverse cumulative effects from this regulatory action. Under the preferred 

alternative, mitigation measures are designed to prevent the introduction and dissemination of 

plant pests into or through the continental United States as a result of the movement ofbananas 

from the Philippines into the continental United States. In addition, residue levels of chlorpyrifos 

on imported bananas have not been found to exceed tolerance levels established by the 

Environmental Protection Agency. 

Executive Order 12114, "Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions," was reviewed 

in evaluating the potential environmental impact to the Philippines from implementation ofthe 

preferred alternative. Chemical treatments required for Philippine bananas exported to the United 

States are not expected to have a significant effect on Philippine plants, animals, humans, or 

environment and, therefore, no circumstances that will trigger the need for special environmental 

review are involved in implementing the proposed systems approach. 
Lastly, because I have not found evidence of any significant environmental impacts associated 

with implementation of this rulemaking, I further find that an environmental impact statement does 

not need to be prepared and the proposed rule may be implemented. 

MfchaclWatSOl1 

Executi ve Director 

Plant Health Programs 

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

U.S. Department ofAgriculture 

4700 River Road, Unit 133 

Riverdale, MD 20737