### 23221 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 84 / Monday, May 3, 2010 / Notices

1 To view the notice, EA, FONSI, and response to comments, go to (http://www.regulations.gov/ fdmspublic/component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS–2009–0058). for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Done in Washington, DC, this 27 th day of April 2010.

Kevin Shea Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–10279 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE: 3410–34–S**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS–2009–0058]**

**Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No**  **Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Water Hyacinth** 

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  We are advising the public that an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of an insect, Megamelus scutellaris , into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of water hyacinth infestations. Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Shirley Wager-Page, Chief, Pest Permitting Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1237; (301) 734–8453.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the release of an insect, Megamelus scutellaris, into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of water hyacinth infestations.

On November 16, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR 58939– 58940, Docket No. APHIS–2009–0058) a notice 1 in which we announced the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed release of this biological control agent into the continental United States.

We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending December 16, 2009. We received one comment, from a State game and fish department. Our responses to the issues raised in the comment can be found in Appendix E of the final EA (see footnote 1).

In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of M

. scutellaris into the continental United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of water hyacinth infestations. The finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our determination that release of this biological control agent will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 690–2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by writing to the individual listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT**

.

The EA and FONSI have been 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 Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

Done in Washington, DC, this 27 th day of April 2010.

Kevin Shea Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–10280 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–S**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Forest Service**

**Highlands Regional Study: Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010**  **Update**

**AGENCY :**  Forest Service, USDA. **ACTION :**  Notice of public meetings; request for comment.

**SUMMARY :**  As required by the Highlands Conservation Act, Public Law 108–421, the Forest Service has drafted the Highlands Regional Study: Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. The study is now available (see link below) and identifies high conservation value areas, the impacts of land use change on the natural resources, and conservation strategies in the Connecticut and Pennsylvania portions of the Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Highlands Region. Public comment is being sought on the results of the update to better inform potential consumers of the study results.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received in writing on or before June 17, 2010 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Martina Barnes, Regional Planner, U.S. Forest Service, c/o U.S. EPA, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 24th floor, New York, NY 10007. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 212–637– 3887 or via Internet to: http:// www.na.fs.fed.us/highlands/regional/ index.shtm.

All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received by contacting martinabarnes@fs.fed.us.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Martina Barnes, Regional Planner, at 212–637–3863. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In addition to seeking public comment on the 2010 Update, two public meetings are scheduled to discuss the study.

A public meeting to discuss the Pennsylvania portion of the study will be held on May 24, 2010 at 4 p.m. at the Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.

A public meeting to discuss the Connecticut portion of the study will be held on May 26, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension office in Torrington, Connecticut.

The study is available at http:// www.na.fs.fed.us/highlands/regional/ index.shtm . Comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses when provided, will be a