Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 

For Avian Influenza Control in Commercial Poultry Operations 

In North and South Carolinas, April 2020

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), prepared an environmental assessment (EA) analyzing potential environmental 

consequences of an adaptive management approach for control of pathogenic avian 

influenza outbreaks in commercial poultry operations throughout the United States. The 

EA and its associated FONSI are incorporated by reference in this document, and are 

available from: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

Science and Policy 

4700 River Road 

Riverdale, MD 20737 

The 2015 FONSI accepted the preferred alternative which allows APHIS to conduct avian 

influenza control activities on an as-needed basis during outbreaks anywhere in the nation 

using an adaptive management approach. At that time, these activities typically included 

depopulation, transport, disposal of carcasses, and disinfection of equipment and premises. 

In 2020, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC) 

necessitating the emergency use of burial for turkeys in SC, indoor composting in NC, and in all 

cases bird depopulation using foam. The foam technology does not contain perfluorochemical 

components (Phos-Chek® or Silv-Ex Plus®). All disposal was performed in accordance with 

provisions in the adaptive management approach. All disposal was performed as directed by the 

respective State Animal Health officials with the understanding that the disposal decision was in 

accordance with all state laws. In SC, this includes S.C. Code of Regulations chapter 61 section 

43 part 200.130. Dead Animal Disposal Requirements which requires an Animal Facility 

Management Plan and Dead Animal Disposal Plan for each location. 

APHIS expects there to be limited environmental impacts as analyzed and mitigated in the 

2015 EA. APHIS bases this expectation on its subsequent avian influenza control experience 

in several states including California, Utah, Nevada, and Tennessee. APHIS finds this 

proposed action does not represent any unique or unexpected circumstances that raise the 

potential for significant impacts, and there is no significant new information of relevance to 

the proposed action or its impacts. For these reasons, preparation of additional environmental 

documentation in the form of site-specific EAs would not meaningfully inform the decisionmaking process.

APHIS does not anticipate environmental impacts from the depopulation and composting 

measures based on their known characteristics and proven effectiveness. APHIS does not 

anticipate significant environmental impacts from the recommended burial of carcasses at the 

selected sites. APHIS does not anticipate environmental impacts based on the limited 
number, locations, and duration of these activities. APHIS does not anticipate environmental 

impacts to threatened or endangered species or critical habitats from these regulatory actions. 

For these reasons, APHIS determined there would be no significant impact to the human 

environment from the implementation of avian influenza control activities in NC and SC. 

Further, APHIS finds that implementation of avian influenza control activities under the 

adaptive management approach does not pose highly disproportionate adverse effects to 

minority or low-income populations, Tribes or Tribal members. APHIS finds these activities 

do not pose disproportionate adverse effects to children. APHIS has not found evidence of 

any significant environmental impacts associated with the avian influenza control activities 

under an adaptive management approach in NC and SC. Finally, APHIS finds that an 

environmental impact statement does not need to be prepared, and that the avian influenza 

control activities may proceed. 

___________________________________ April 8, 2020 

Sarah Tomlinson, DVM 

Associate Deputy Administrator, Science and Policy 

Veterinary Services 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, USDA