Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices 70529 

personal protective equipment (PPE) 

practices. NIOSH is mandated to 

conduct research and make 

recommendations for the prevention of 

work-related disease and injury under 

Section 20 of the Occupational Safety 

and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 669 and 

Section 501 of the Federal Mine Safety 

and Health Act, 30 U.S.C. 951. General 

authority for these data collection 

activities by NASS is granted under 

U.S.C. Title 7, Section 2204(a). This 

pilot study project will concentrate on 

assessing pesticide safety practices 

among Pennsylvania crop farm 

operators who have personally applied 

pesticides for crop production using 

methods other than aerial applications 

and enclosed cab vehicles. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

Pesticide Safety Practices among 

Pennsylvania Farms Survey will use a 

sampling universe defined as crop 

growers in PA. The survey will be 

conducted in a two step process. First, 

the screening phrase will consist of an 

information letter, blank screening form 

and a postage paid return envelope. 

Finally, operations will be selected from 

the screening phase to conduct the 

survey. The primary goals of the project 

are: (1) To determine the extent to 

which PA crop growers use appropriate 

PPE practices; and (2) when applicable, 

to identify the factors that cause 

incorrect PPE practices, and (3) when 

applicable, identify the factors that 

would motivate a crop grower to start 

using correct practices. Without this 

information NIOSH is not able to verify 

whether these applicators are using 

correct practices and potentially at 

increased risk for pesticide exposure 

and related illnesses. 

Description of Respondents: PA crop 

producers who applied pesticides in the 

past six months using a method other 

than helicopters, airplanes, or 

equipment pulled by enclosed cab 

tractors or ATVs. 

Number of Respondents: 3,000. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

One time. 

Total Burden Hours: 822. 

Charlene Parker, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2013–28307 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–20–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Research Service 

Notice of Availability for the Final 

Environmental Assessment (EA) and 

Finding No Significant Impact (FONSI) 

for the Cotton Quality Research 

Station Land Transfer 

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) Agricultural Research Service 

(ARS) has made a FONSI for transferring 

the land and real estate at the Cotton 

Quality Research Station (CQRS) in 

Clemson, SC, to Clemson University. 

The FONSI document is based on 

impact analysis documented in the EA 

that was issued for 30-day public 

comment beginning July 18, 2013, and 

that was finalized on August 28, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cal 

Mather, Environmental Protection 

Specialist, USDA ARS SHEMB, NCAUR, 

1815 North University Street, Room 

2060, Peoria, Illinois 61604; Telephone: 

309–681–6608 or email: cal.mather@

ars.usda.gov. You may contact Mr. 

Mather for a copy of the FONSI 

document. Copies of the Final EA and 

FONSI are also available for public 

inspection during normal business 

hours at the following Web site and 

locations: 

• www.clemson.edu/usda-property 

• Former CQRS, 133 Old Cherry 

Road, Clemson, SC 29631 

• Strom Thurmond Institute, Special 

Collections, 230 Kappa St., Clemson, SC 

29634 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, as amended, and the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976 

(FLPMA), as amended, the United States 

Department of Agriculture USDA has 

prepared an EA for the proposed 

transfer of approximately 10 acres of 

land and facilities at the Cotton Quality 

Research Station (CQRS) from the USDA 

Agricultural Research Service ARS in 

Clemson, South Carolina, to Clemson 

University Research Farm Services. As a 

condition of the transfer, Clemson 

University is committed to using the 

property for agricultural research for a 

period of 25 years, supporting the 

strategic goals of USDA and establishing 

a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers 

Program in accordance with the 

Memorandum of Understanding, 

effective March 27, 2013. Clemson 

University will assume responsibility 

and maintenance of the constructed 

facilities and land to be conveyed from 

USDA. 

The property was developed to 

function as a cotton gin and was 

converted by USDA for use in the ARS 

research program. USDA ARS and 

Clemson University have both utilized 

the property for agricultural research 

and development programs since the 

1970s. The facility was closed under 

Public Law (PL) 112–55, Consolidated 

and Further Continuing Appropriations 

Act, 2012. In August 2012, a 5-year 

revocable permit was issued between 

USDA and Clemson University that 

allows Clemson University to utilize the 

Property for a Beginning Farmers and 

Ranchers Program and conduct a wide 

range of research, teaching, extension, 

and demonstration activities. Since 

August 2012 it has been operated by 

Clemson University under this permit. 

Under the terms of the PL, the Secretary 

of Agriculture has the authority to 

formally transfer the Property from 

USDA to Clemson University. 

The property transfer will be done 

with no monetary cost to Clemson 

University and a Quit Claim Deed will 

be prepared by the USDA to convey the 

title/property rights to the University. 

The Quit Claim Deed will incorporate 

any use restrictions identified by the 

NEPA process, as well as the 25-year 

use restriction for agricultural and 

natural resources research as required 

by Section 732 of the PL. 

Two alternatives are analyzed in the 

Final EA, the No Action Alternative and 

the Proposed Action. The Final EA 

addresses potential impacts of these 

alternatives on the natural and human 

environment. 

• Alternative 1—No Action. The 

USDA would retain possession of the 10 

acres of land and facilities at the 133 

Old Cherry Road Property. USDA would 

no longer operate and/or maintain the 

property and current research 

operations at the property would cease. 

USDA does not have adequate resources 

to operate and/or maintain the property, 

which would likely fall into disrepair. 

• Alternative 2—Proposed Action. 

The USDA would formally transfer 10 

acres of land at the 133 Old Cherry Road 

Property to Clemson University. As a 

condition of the transfer, Clemson 

University would commit to using the 

Property for agricultural and natural 

resources research for a period of 25 

years, supporting the strategic goals of 

USDA and establishing a Beginning 

Farmers and Ranchers Program. 

Clemson University would assume 

responsibility and maintenance of the 

constructed facilities and land to be 

conveyed from USDA. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
70530 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2013 / Notices 

1The PPQ Treatment Manual is available on the 

Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_

export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by 

contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Manuals 

Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200, 

Frederick, MD 21702. 

2To view the notice, the treatment evaluation 

document, the environmental assessment, and the 

comments we received, go to http://

www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2012-0064. 

In addition, one alternative was 

considered in the Final EA but 

eliminated from detailed study. In this 

alternative, USDA would retain 

possession of the land and it would be 

transferred to the General Services 

Administration for disposal. Since it 

cannot reasonably be determined who 

would ultimately take possession of the 

property and how it would be utilized, 

it was not analyzed in detail in the EA. 

The USDA used and coordinated the 

NEPA commenting process to satisfy the 

public involvement process for Section 

106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as 

provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). One 

public comment was received during 

the public comment period but it did 

not identify any substantial evidence 

regarding adverse environmental 

impacts resulting from the proposed 

land transfer and did not warrant a 

change in the Final EA. 

Based on its analysis of the Final EA for 

the property transfer, ARS has found 

that transferring the land and buildings 

to Clemson University would have no 

significant impact on the quality of the 

human environment. Therefore, ARS 

will not prepare an Environmental 

Impact Statement for this proposed 

action. 

Dated: November 19, 2013. 

Caird E. Rexroad, Jr., 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Research Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–28238 Filed 11–25–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 0518–03–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0064] 

Notice of Determination; New and 

Revised Treatments for the Imported 

Fire Ant Program 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that we are adding or revising certain 

treatment schedules for the Imported 

Fire Ant Program in the Plant Protection 

and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment 

Manual. In a previous notice, we made 

available to the public for review and 

comment a treatment evaluation 

document that discussed the existing 

treatment schedules, described the new 

treatment schedules, and explained why 

these changes are necessary. We also 

made available an environmental 

assessment that explained pesticide use 

in the new and revised treatments in the 

imported fire ant program. Based on the 

treatment evaluation document, the 

environmental assessment, and the 

comments we received, we are 

announcing our determination to add 

those new and revised treatments to the 

PPQ Treatment Manual. 

DATES: Effective Date: November 26, 

2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Charles Brown, Director, Emergency 

Management, Emergency and Domestic 

Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 

Unit 135, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; 

(301) 851–2119. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The imported fire ant, Solenopsis 

invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri 

Forel, is an aggressive, stinging insect 

that, in large numbers, can seriously 

injure or even kill livestock, pets, and 

humans. The imported fire ant feeds on 

crops and builds large, hard mounds 

that damage farm and field machinery. 

Imported fire ants are notorious 

hitchhikers and are readily transported 

long distances when articles such as soil 

and nursery stock are shipped outside 

the infested area. 

The Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) works to 

prevent further imported fire ant spread 

by enforcing a Federal quarantine and 

cooperating with imported fire antinfested States to mitigate the risks 

associated with the movement of 

regulated articles such as nursery stock 

and used soil-moving equipment. 

The regulations in ‘‘Subpart— 

Imported Fire Ant’’ (7 CFR 301.81 

through 301.81–11, referred to below as 

the regulations) are intended to prevent 

the imported fire ant from spreading 

throughout its ecological range within 

the country. The regulations quarantine 

infested States or infested areas within 

States and restrict interstate movement 

of regulated articles to prevent the 

artificial spread of the imported fire ant. 

Sections 301.81–4 and 301.81–5 of the 

regulations provide, among other things, 

that regulated articles requiring 

treatment prior to interstate movement 

must be treated in accordance with 7 

CFR part 305, which contains our 

phytosanitary treatment regulations. 

In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that 

approved treatment schedules are set 

out in the Plant Protection and 

Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.1

Section 305.3 sets out a process for 

adding, revising, or removing treatment 

schedules in the PPQ Treatment 

Manual. In that section, paragraph (a) 

sets out the process for adding, revising, 

or removing treatment schedules when 

there is no immediate need to make a 

change. 

In accordance with § 305.3(a)(1), we 

published a notice 2 in the Federal 

Register on March 6, 2013 (78 FR 

14510–14511, Docket No. APHIS–2012– 

0064), in which we announced the 

availability, for review and comment, of 

a treatment evaluation document (TED) 

we prepared to discuss the existing 

treatment schedules, describe the new 

treatment schedules, and explain why 

certain changes were necessary. In 

addition, we prepared an environmental 

assessment (EA) entitled, ‘‘Pesticide Use 

in the Imported Fire Ant Program’’ 

(March 2012) to document our review 

and analysis of the environmental 

impacts associated with the new 

pesticides and new uses for previously 

approved pesticides. 

We solicited comments on the notice 

for 60 days ending on May 6, 2013. We 

received four comments by that date, 

from a State agriculture department, an 

organization of State plant pest 

regulatory agencies, an industry 

association, and a private citizen. All 

four commenters supported the changes 

to the PPQ Treatment Manual described 

in the TED. Therefore, in accordance 

with § 305.3, we are announcing the 

Administrator’s determination to add 

the new and revised treatment 

schedules for use for the imported fire 

ant program to the PPQ Treatment 

Manual. 

We are also announcing that we have 

prepared a finding of no significant 

impact (FONSI) for this action. The 

FONSI, which is based on the EA and 

the comments we received, documents 

our conclusion that the updates to the 

PPQ Treatment Manual will not have a 

significant impact on the quality of the 

human environment. 

The EA and FONSI were 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 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES