United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Directive 5640.1 4/19/02 

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR APHIS PEST AND 

DISEASE CONTROL AND ERADICATION PROGRAMS

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This Directive requires the development and implementation of environmental 

monitoring plans for certain activities conducted by APHIS regarding pest and disease 

control and eradication programs. 

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This Directive replaces APHIS Directive 5640.1, dated 5/1/96. 

3. AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

a. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. 

b. Regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality implementing the 

procedural aspects of NEPA, 40 CFR 1500-1508. 

c. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “NEPA Regulations” (7 CFR 1b, 3100). 

d. APHIS “National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures” (7 CFR 

372). 

e. Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq. 

f. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136-136y. 

g. Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq. 

h. Noise Control Act, 42 U.S.C. 4901, et seq. 

i. Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300-1, et seq. 
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j. Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 1857, et seq.

k. Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.

Distribution: APHIS Originating Office: PPQ-EM

l. Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in 

Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.”

m. Executive Order 13045 “Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks 

and Safety Risks.”

n. APHIS Safety and Health Manual 4790.

4. DEFINITIONS

a. Environment. Water, air, land, and all life forms in them, and the 

interrelationships that exist among these components.

b. Environmental monitoring. The systematic measurement and analysis of 

changes in environmental components or processes in order to:

(1) Assess the effects of a program action on the environment.

(2) Ensure program compliance with laws, regulations, policies, executive 

directives, and management decisions.

c. Data collection. Field sampling and/or surveys of the environmental components 

that are considered most sensitive and most likely to indicate any potential 

impact.

5. BACKGROUND

The mission of APHIS is to provide leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals 

and plants, to improve agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and to contribute to 

the national economy and the public health. APHIS is committed to accomplishing its 

mission in a manner that promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This 

includes Agency compliance with all applicable environmental statutes.

APHIS conducts many types of monitoring activities to assess the adequacy of its 

programs in meeting specific objectives. Examples include efficacy of control 

treatments, effectiveness and efficiency of program operating procedures, and 

compliance with environmental or health and safety statutes. In some cases, the same 

monitoring protocols can be used to satisfy different monitoring objectives.
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The goal of environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that APHIS 

activities may have on the environment and human health, and to use this knowledge in 

making any necessary adjustments in future program actions. Viewed in this way, 

environmental monitoring is an essential part of the Agency's decision support system 

which provides valuable program-related feedback to decision makers.

6. POLICY

In order to monitor for potential environmental impacts related to APHIS control and 

eradication programs, APHIS units must develop and implement environmental 

monitoring plans when any of the following apply:

a. The Administrator determines that circumstances dictate the need for 

environmental monitoring of a particular action. 

b. A requirement for such monitoring is contained in a program's environmental 

documentation, such as an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact 

Statement developed to comply with NEPA, or documents prepared to comply 

with the Endangered Species Act.

c. Pesticides are applied under FIFRA, section 18 exemptions (i.e., for emergency 

situations).

7. DESIGN OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMS

a. New Programs.

(1) Any APHIS unit that designs a new program must ensure that 

environmental monitoring plans are contained in the overall program 

design.

(2) New monitoring program design activities must be coordinated with:

(a) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Environmental Monitoring 

Unit (EM).

(b) Policy and Program Development (PPD).

(c) Other APHIS units, as appropriate.

(3) When a new program is designed, environmental monitoring plans must 

be coordinated with:

(a) EM.
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(b) The APHIS unit that will implement the new program.

(c) Other APHIS units, as appropriate.

b. Ongoing Programs. 

EM must recommend and communicate changes in the design of monitoring 

plans for ongoing programs.

8. DATA COLLECTION

a. PPQ, International Services, Wildlife Services, Veterinary Services, and, when 

necessary, Animal Care, must budget adequate resources to ensure full 

implementation of the monitoring plan to include appropriate collection of 

samples and/or survey data.

b. EM must develop operational guidelines (manuals) and train field personnel in 

sampling and survey techniques.

9. SAMPLE ANALYSIS

a. PPQ, International Services, Wildlife Services, Veterinary Services, and, when 

necessary, Animal Care, must budget adequate resources to ensure analysis of 

samples and survey data.

b. EM must coordinate sample analyses to ensure that data furnished is useful for 

interpretation.

c. When it is more economical and/or efficient, APHIS units may employ 

laboratories outside the Agency for sample analysis.

10. INTERPRETATION

a. EM must analyze and review data and compare it with environmental standards 

and monitoring objectives.

b. EM must assess the statutory implications of monitoring results, particularly for 

compliance with NEPA.

11. COMMUNICATION AND ACTION

a. EM must communicate the results from their interpretation activities to 

appropriate APHIS units and outside organizations.
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b. Based on interpretation of results, APHIS units must:

(1) Adjust monitoring plans and techniques to achieve greater efficiency and

effectiveness.

(2) Amend environmental documentation, when appropriate, to incorporate

revised monitoring plans and pertinent data from previous monitoring.

(3) Determine program compliance with environmental statutes, regulations,

policies, executive directives, and management decisions.

(4) Adjust or provide alternative program operating procedures to minimize

the potential for adverse environmental impacts.

12. INQUIRIES

a. The policy and instructions in this Directive are based on the paper

"Environmental

Monitoring Policy for APHIS Pest and Disease Control and Eradication

Programs," prepared by a team of representatives from the major APHIS units,

issued November 15, 1989 and revised March 12, 1990.

b. Direct requests for copies of this policy paper or other inquiries to EM on 301-

734-7175.

c. This Directive can be accessed on the APHIS Administrative Issuances 

homepage.

/s/

Bobby R. Acord 

Administrator