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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 8708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3368]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0108]

Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Arundo donax

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that a final environmental 
assessment and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed 
biological control program for Arundo donax (giant reed, Carrizo cane). 
The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed biological control 
program. 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 A. Wager-Page, Chief, Pest 
Permitting Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1237; (301) 734-8453.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Arundo donax is a highly invasive, bamboo-like weed that was 
introduced to North America in the early 1500s for its fiber uses. It 
is among the fastest growing plants in the continental United States, 
making it a severe threat to riparian habitats and irrigation canals of 
the Rio Grande River Basin and the Southwestern United States, where it 
causes erosion, damages bridges, alters channel morphology, increases 
costs for chemical and mechanical control along transportation 
corridors, and impedes law enforcement activities along international 
borders. A. donax also consumes excessive amounts of water in arid 
regions where scarce water supplies are critical to the environment, 
agriculture, and municipal users. Existing A. donax management options 
include herbicides, prescribed fires, biomass removal, and other 
control methods, but these measures are expensive, temporary, and have 
impacts on species other than A. donax.
    The proposed biological control agent, Arundo scale (Rhizaspidiotus 
donacis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)), is one of the most damaging insects 
to A. donax in its native range. Arundo scale attacks the rhizome and 
developing underground buds of A. donax by feeding on cells that carry 
out photosynthesis and cellular respiration, resulting over time in 
gradual thinning, leaf reduction, and a sickly, yellowish-clouded 
appearance of the weed. While Arundo scale may not be singularly 
successful in reducing the A. donax population in the continental 
United States, its use is expected to be effective in combination with 
other control methods or biological control agents that may be released 
in the future.
    On November 12, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR 
69396, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0108) a notice \1\ announcing the 
availability for public review and comment of an environmental 
assessment (EA), in which we considered the effects of, and 
alternatives to, the release of Arundo scale into the continental 
United States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the 
severity of A. donax infestations. The EA evaluated two alternatives: 
(1) No action and (2) a biological control program (the preferred 
action).
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    \1\ To view the notice, the environmental assessment, the 
finding of no significant impact, and the comments we received, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0108.
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    We solicited comments concerning the environmental assessment for 
30 days ending December 13, 2010. We received 12 comments by that date 
from farmers, State and local government officials, scientists, and the 
general public. Eleven commenters were in favor of the release of 
Arundo scale. The remaining commenter expressed general disapproval of 
APHIS activities but did not provide any substantive concerns regarding 
Arundo scale that required additional consideration in the EA.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our decision and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding a proposed program 
for the control of A. donax. This decision is based upon the final EA, 
entitled ``Field Release of the Arundo Scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis 
(Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an Insect for Biological Control of Arundo 
donax (Poaceae) in the Continental United States'' (December 2010).
    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 9th day of February 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3368 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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