[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15745-15746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7526]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 94-119-4]


Boll Weevil Control Program; Availability of Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has confirmed its finding of no significant impact 
for a proposed program to eradicate the boll weevil in the Lower Rio 
Grande Valley of Texas. On January 30, 1995, we announced that we had 
prepared an environmental assessment and preliminary finding of no 
significant impact for the proposed eradication program. This 
confirmation of the finding of no significant impact follows our review 
of comments received regarding the proposed eradication program and the 
environmental assessment.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final environmental assessment and finding of 
no significant impact are 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 those documents are 
requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the 
reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Vicki Wickheiser, Writer-Editor, 
Environmental Analysis and Documentation, BBEP, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228, (301) 734-8963. Copies of the final 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact are 
available in both English and Spanish and may be obtained by contacting 
Ms. Wickheiser or by calling Plant Protection and Quarantine's Central 
Region Office at (210) 504-4154.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed 
to cooperate in a boll weevil [[Page 15746]] eradication program in the 
Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the counties of Brooks, Cameron, 
Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy. The proposed Lower Rio Grand Valley 
program would relay on integrated control methods, including the use of 
chemicals, on cotton crops. Consistent with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), Aphids had prepared an environmental assessment (EA) 
that analyzes the potential effects of the program's alternatives and 
actions on the quality of the human environment.
    The EA considers the characteristics of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 
and focuses on the Potential effects of chemical pesticides. Because of 
the presence of communities in proximity to cotton fields, certain 
program modifications and some additional protective measures have been 
proposed and adopted. The potential presence of endangered and 
threatened species in close proximity to program activities prompted 
APHIS to also prepare a biological assessment of endangered and 
threatened species which contains special protective measures for those 
species. All of these protective measures are designed to reduce the 
potential for adverse effects.
    Consistent with important policy objectives and principles of 
``environmental justice'' as expressed in Executive Order No. 12898, 
APHIS held a public meeting on November 29, 1994, in Weslaco, TX (59 FR 
56458, Docket No. 94-119-1), and two public hearings on February 16, 
1995 (60 FR 5617-5618, Docket No. 94-119-2; 60 FR 7747-7748, Docket 94-
119-3), also in Weslaco, TX. The purpose of the November 1994 public 
meeting was to provide a forum for community input on health and 
environmental issues associated with implementation of the proposed 
boll weevil eradication program. APHIS considered the public's 
perspectives in its development of the EA for the proposed program. The 
purpose of the February 1995 public hearings was to provide the public 
additional opportunities to express views or question agency officials 
regarding the proposed eradication program, the EA, and the preliminary 
finding of no significant impact.
    APHIS made the EA and the preliminary finding of no significant 
impact available for public review for a period of 30 days. Subsequent 
to that period, APHIS considered the comments that it received from the 
public (private individuals, organizations, industry, and government) 
before making final revisions in the EA.
    The APHISA decisionmaker has confirmed the preliminary finding that 
the proposed eradication program will not significantly impact the 
quality of the human environment, and determined that an environmental 
impact statement does not need to be prepared, and that the program may 
proceed.
    We are mailing copies of the final EA and final finding of no 
significant impact (in English or Spanish, as applicable) to all 
persons who submitted comments or manifested an interest in the 
proposed eradication program.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of march 195.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 95-7526 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
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