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

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[Federal Register: May 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 87)]
[Notices]
[Page 21311-21312]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07my09-26]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0141]

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 an environmental assessment
and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the release of a wasp,
Tetramesa romana, into the continental United States for use as a
biological control agent to reduce the severity of Arundo donax
infestations. 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. Carmen Soileau, Senior
Entomologist, Evaluation and Permitting of Regulated Organisms and
Soil, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237;
(301) 734-5302.

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 areas, 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.
Additionally, A. donax consumes excessive amounts of water, competing
for water resources in arid regions where these resources are critical
to the environment, agriculture, and municipal users.
    The proposed biological control agent, Tetramesa romana, is a wasp
in the insect family Eurytomidae. It has a widespread presence around the
Mediterranean basin, from Turkey to Spain and Morocco, and was also found

[[Page 21312]]

at one site in southern Africa and one site in China. Two populations
of T. romana have recently been discovered near Santa Barbara, CA, and
in Austin, TX. The establishment of T. romana in Texas indicates that
the wasp has a moderate level of cold hardiness and is therefore
expected to establish throughout the range of A. donax.
    On March 6, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR 9779-
9780, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0141) a notice \1\ in which we announced
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental
assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts
associated with the proposed release of this biological control agent
into the continental United States.
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    \1\ To view the notice, environmental assessment, finding of no
significant impact, and the comments we received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0141.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending April 6, 2009.
We received 10 comments by that date. A written response to all
comments received on the EA can be found in appendix 3 of the final EA
(see footnote 1).
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of a wasp, Tetramesa
romana, into the continental United States for use as a biological
control agent to reduce the severity of A. donax infestations. The
finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our determination that
release of this biological control agent will not have a significant
impact on the quality of the human environment.
    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 1st day of May 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10632 Filed 5-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

 
 

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