This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

49982 

Vol. 73, No. 165 

Monday, August 25, 2008 

1To view the notice, the environmental 

assessment, and the finding of no significant 

impact, go to http://www.regulations.gov/ 

fdmspublic/component/ 

main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS–2008–0042. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2008–0042] 

Control of Russian Knapweed; 

Availability of an Environmental 

Assessment and Finding of No 

Significant Impact 

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 has 

been prepared by the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service relative to the 

environmental release of the gall wasp 

Aulacidea acroptilonica for the 

biological control of Russian knapweed 

(Acroptilon repens). The environmental 

assessment documents our review and 

analysis of environmental impact 

associated with, and alternatives to, the 

release of this biological control agent. 

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. 

Robert S. Johnson, Branch Chief, 

Permits, Registrations, Imports and 

Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 

Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; 

(301) 734–5055. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Russian knapweed (Acroptilon 

repens) is an aggressive, long-lived 

perennial in the Asteraceae or 

sunflower family that thrives in both 

irrigated and arid environments, and in 

cropland, pastures, rangeland, 

shrubland, and wasteland. It is difficult 

to control in alfalfa, clover, other forage 

crops, and pastures. It reduces wildlife 

habitat and suppresses the growth of 

other plants. 

Russian knapweed has no known 

beneficial qualities. It is not utilized for 

forage because of its bitter taste, and 

may cause neurological disorders in 

horses if consumed. The quality of flour 

or other grain products that have been 

contaminated by Russian knapweed is 

reduced due to the bitter taste it 

imparts. Studies indicate that the spread 

of Russian knapweed may have a 

significant economic impact. 

Russian knapweed reproduces 

primarily vegetatively from a primary 

vertical root with numerous lateral 

roots. It is a strong competitor and 

produces compounds that exclude other 

plant species. Russian knapweed seeds 

may be spread through infested hay or 

crop seeds or through the movement of 

cattle, as the seeds are able to survive 

the digestive system of these animals. 

Estimated Russian knapweed acreage 

for the Western United States and 

Canada for the year 2000 totaled over 

1,561,714 acres, with 80 percent of the 

affected acreage located in the States of 

Washington, Idaho, Colorado, and 

Wyoming. 

Aulacidea acroptilonica is a small 

gall-forming wasp that has been 

demonstrated through specificity testing 

and field observations reported in 

scientific literature to attack only 

Russian knapweed. Gall induction 

diverts nutrients from flower formation, 

seed production, and the normal growth 

of plant tissues, thus reducing the 

plant’s competitive ability and seed 

production. 

On April 24, 2008, we published in 

the Federal Register (73 FR 22127– 

22128, Docket No. APHIS–2008–0042) a 

notice 1 in which we announced the 

availability, for public review and 

comment, of an environmental 

assessment entitled ‘‘Field Release of 

Aulacidea acroptilonica (Hymenoptera: 

Cynipidae), an Insect for Biological 

Control of Russian Knapweed 

(Acroptilon repens), in the Continental 

United States’’ (January 22, 2008) that 

examined the potential environmental 

impacts associated with the proposed 

use of A. acroptilonica as an agent for 

the biological control of Russian 

knapweed. 

We solicited comments on the 

environmental assessment for 30 days 

ending May 27, 2008. We did not 

receive any comments by that date. 

In this document, we are advising the 

public of our decision and finding of no 

significant impact regarding the release 

of the gall wasp Aulacidea acroptilonica 

as an agent for the biological control of 

Russian knapweed. This decision is 

based upon the updated environmental 

assessment, entitled ‘‘Field Release of 

Aulacidea acroptilonica (Hymenoptera: 

Cynipidae), an Insect for Biological 

Control of Russian Knapweed 

(Acroptilon repens), in the Continental 

United States’’ (June 2008). This version 

of the environmental assessment 

contains minor editorial changes and 

addresses our compliance with 

Executive Order 13175, which requires 

APHIS to consult with Indian Tribal 

governments regarding the proposed 

release of Aulacidea acroptilonica. 

The updated environmental 

assessment and finding of no significant 

impact may be viewed on the 

Regulations.gov Web site (see footnote 

1). Copies of the updated environmental 

assessment and finding of no significant 

impact 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 at (202) 690–2817 to 

facilitate entry into the reading room. 

You may request paper copies of the 

updated environmental assessment and 

finding of no significant impact by 

calling or writing to the person listed 

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the 

environmental assessment when 

requesting copies. 

The environmental assessment has 

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 1), and (4) APHIS’s NEPA 

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 

372). 


ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 165 / Monday, August 25, 2008 / Notices 49983 

Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of 

August 2008. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–19623 Filed 8–22–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food and Nutrition Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request—Information 

Collection for the Special Milk Program 

for Children 

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Food and Nutrition Service invites the 

general public and other public agencies 

to comment on proposed information 

collections. The proposed collection is 

an extension of a currently approved 

collection for the Special Milk Program 

for Children. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received or postmarked by October 24, 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: 

(a) Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate 

of the burden of the proposed collection 

of information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility 

and clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of collection of information on 

those who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. 

Comments may be sent to: Ms. 

Cynthia Long, Director, Child Nutrition 

Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 

638, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 

Comments will also be accepted through 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov, and follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments electronically. 

All written comment(s) will be open 

for public inspection at the office of the 

Food and Nutrition Service during 

regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 

Park Center Drive, Room 640, 

Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 

All responses to this Notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval, and will become a 

matter of public record. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of this information collection 

should be directed to: Ms. Cynthia Long 

at the address above or telephone at 

(703) 305–2590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Special Milk Program. 

OMB Number: 0584–0005. 

Expiration Date: March 31, 2009. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: Section 3 of the Child 

Nutrition Act (CNA) of 1966, (42 U.S.C. 

1772) authorizes the Special Milk 

Program (SMP). It provides for the 

appropriation of such sums as may be 

necessary to enable the Secretary of 

Agriculture to encourage the 

consumption of fluid milk by children 

in the United States in (1) nonprofit 

schools of high school grade and under, 

and (2) nonprofit nursery schools, child 

care centers, settlement houses, summer 

camps, and similar nonprofit 

institutions devoted to the care and 

training of children, which do not 

participate in a food service program 

authorized under the CNA or the 

National School Lunch Act. 

Section 10 of the CNA (42 U.S.C. 

1779) requires the Secretary of 

Agriculture to prescribe such 

regulations as deemed necessary to 

carry out this Act and the National 

School Lunch Act. Pursuant to that 

provision, the Secretary has issued 7 

CFR Part 215, which sets forth policies 

and procedures for the administration 

and operation of the SMP. State and 

local operators of the SMP are required 

to meet Federal reporting and 

accountability requirements. The vast 

majority of reporting relates to 

information regarding eligibility 

determinations of the children, the 

number of milk servings, and revenues 

received from milk sales. State and local 

operators are also required to maintain 

records regarding eligibility to operate 

the program, review results, and 

accounts of revenues and expenditures. 

Affected Public: 55 State agencies, 

4,150 School food authorities/Sponsors, 

4,910 schools, 533 child care 

institutions and 853 camps. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

10,501. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 14. 

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 

147,014. 

Estimated Time per Response: .29. 

Estimated Total Reporting Annual 

Burden hours: 42,634.06. 

Number of Recordkeepers: 10,501. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 39. 

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 

409,539. 

Estimated Time per Response: .17. 

Estimated Total Annual 

Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 

69,621.63. 

Total Request Annual Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 

112,255.69. 

Dated: August 12, 2008. 

Roberto Salazar, 

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–19668 Filed 8–22–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of Proposed New Fee Sites; 

Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 

108–447) 

AGENCY: Willamette National Forest, 

USDA Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of Proposed New Fee 

Site. 

SUMMARY: The Willamette National 

Forest is planning to charge a fee at 

Benson Lake Trailhead and adjacent 

Scott Lake Campground beginning the 

summer of 2009. Benson Lake Trailhead 

was in the recreation fee demonstration 

project prior to 2005, and fees are being 

reestablished to help maintain facilities 

and services including toilet, picnic 

tables, garbage collection, interpretive 

and informational signing, and visitor 

security. A $5 day use fee is being 

proposed and recreation passes would 

be honored including: The Northwest 

Forest Pass, Interagency Passes and 

Golden Passports. 

Implementation Date: New fees would 

begin in August 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Dallas Emch, Forest 

Supervisor, Willamette National Forest, 

211 East 7th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 

97401. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sandy Ratliff, McKenzie River 

Recreation Staff at (541) 822–7238. 

Information about proposed fee changes 

can also be found on the Willamette 

National Forest Web site: http:// 

www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette. 

To send comments about fee 

proposals please submit by September 

15, 2008 to: McKenzie River Ranger 


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