FindingofNo Significant Impact for the Final Rulemakingfor theImportation ofSwine Commodities from Hungary, Environmental Assessment, May 2011

The U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes thepotential effects on the human environment from a rule amendment that would list Hungary as a low-riskregion for classical swine fever (CSF), thus allowing the importation ofswine and swine commodities from Hungary. The EA, "Final Rulemaking for the Importation of Swine Commodities from Hungary," is incorporated byreference in this document and is available from the address below:

U.S. Department ofAgriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services National Center for Import and Export Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff 4700 RiverRoad, Unit 38

Riverdale, MD 20737

The EA considered two alternatives: (1) "No Action," which would not change the current regulations and therefore would not list Hungary as low risk for CSF and (2) the rule amendment alternative (the preferred alternative) that would list Hungary as a low-riskregion for CSF and thereby allow, under certain requirements and conditions, the importation ofswine and swine commodities from Hungary to the United States. Therule amendmentisthe preferred alternative because it would not likely result in the introduction ofCSF from the importation ofswine commodities from Hungary. Further, the rule amendment will facilitate trade while protecting against the introduction ofanimal disease into the United States.

APHIS has determined that no significant impact would occur to the human environment, which includes animal health, public health, and the physical environment, from the implementation ofthe rule amendment. Also, APHIS anticipates no effects on federally listed threatened orendangered species ortheir habitat. APHIS' Finding ofNo Significant Impact for this regulatory actionis based uponthe expected limited environmental
consequences, as analyzed in the EA. This finding is further supported byAPHIS' evaluation ofthe risk of introduction ofCSF from swine or swine commodities from Hungary and requirements and conditions in APHIS regulations that serve as safeguards to further negate orreduce the potential for environmental consequences.

I find thatrule amendmentposes no disproportionate adverse effects to minority populations and low-income populations and that the actions that wouldbe undertaken for this rule are consistent with the principles of environmentaljustice, as stated inExecutive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." I also find that the rule amendmentposes no disproportionate adverse effects to children and that the actions that would be undertaken also comply with the policy ofExecutive Order 13045, "Protection ofChildren From Environmental HealthRisks and Safety Risks."

Lastly, because I have not found evidence ofsignificant environmental impact associated with the rule amendment, I further find that an environmental impact statement doesnotneed to beprepared and that the rule amendment maybe implemented.

Gary S. Col Date

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SanitaryTra Issues Team National Center for Import and Export Veterinary Services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service