[Federal Register: April 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 73)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18875]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap99-41]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-031-1]

 
Wildlife Services; 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 prepared an environmental assessment and a 
finding of no significant impact for a program to alleviate damage to 
agriculture, property, natural resources, and human health or safety 
caused by nonmigratory Canada geese, migratory Canada geese, and urban 
ducks in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The environmental assessment 
provides a basis for our conclusion that the methods to be employed to 
alleviate such damage will not have a significant impact on the quality 
of the human environment.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the 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: Mr. Martin Lowney, State Director, 
Wildlife Services, APHIS, P.O. Box 130, Moseley, VA 23120. Copies of 
the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact may 
be obtained by contacting Mr. Lowney at the above address or by calling 
(804) 739-7739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Wildlife Services of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
cooperates with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and 
private individuals to research and implement the best methods of 
managing wildlife to protect human health and safety and prevent damage 
to agriculture, property, and natural resources.
    In this document, APHIS is advising the public of the availability 
of an environmental assessment relative to the management by Wildlife 
Services of conflicts and damage caused by nonmigratory Canada geese, 
migratory Canada geese, and urban ducks in the Commonwealth of 
Virginia.
    The habitat preference, breeding and feeding behavior, and 
adaptability of nonmigratory Canada geese, migratory Canada geese, and 
urban ducks can involve conflicts with humans and affect human health 
and safety in a number of ways, including the following: by 
contaminating surface water and ground cover with fecal matter, causing 
damage to aircraft and other means of transportation as a result of 
collisions, and causing injury to approaching humans, especially 
children, through aggressive action. The environmental assessment 
examines the environmental impacts of Wildlife Services activities to 
manage such conflicts and damage and provides a basis for our 
conclusion that the methods to be employed to alleviate such damage 
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment.
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (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 13th day of April 1999.
Joan M. Arnoldi,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-9523 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
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