Notice2022-28530
Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for Biological Control of Spotted-wing Drosophila in the Contiguous United States
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Published
January 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to permitting the release of the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis for the biological control of spotted- wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the contiguous United States. Based on our finding of no significant impact, we have determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 44]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28530]
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Notices
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 1 / Tuesday, January 3, 2023 /
Notices
[[Page 44]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0021]
Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding
of No Significant Impact for Release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for
Biological Control of Spotted-wing Drosophila in the Contiguous United
States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared a final environmental assessment and
finding of no significant impact relative to permitting the release of
the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis for the biological control of spotted-
wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the contiguous United States.
Based on our finding of no significant impact, we have determined that
an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert S. Pfannenstiel, Acting
Assistant Director, Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits,
Permitting and Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road,
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2198; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5a78a87cbb583848b8b808b96918c8089a590968184cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="70321f125e2016111e1e151e030419151c30050314115e171f06">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing
permits for the release of the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis in the
contiguous United States for the biological control of spotted-wing
Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) (SWD).
SWD is native to East Asia. It was first detected in California,
Italy, and Spain in 2008. It has since established in most fruit-
growing regions in North America. SWD lays eggs inside ripening fruits.
Feeding by SWD larvae results in the degradation of fruits, and the
puncturing of the fruit skin may also provide a gateway for secondary
bacterial and fungal infections.
On July 16, 2021, we published in the Federal Register (86 FR
37732-37733, Docket No. APHIS-2021-0021) 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 release of the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis
in the continental United States for the biological control of spotted-
wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Comments on the notice were
required to be received on or before August 16, 2021. We received six
comments on the EA by that date. All of the comments were in favor of
the proposed release and did not raise any substantive issues.
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\1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments
we received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter APHIS-2021-
0021 in the Search field.
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In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of the insect Ganaspis
brasiliensis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) for biological control of
spotted-wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in
the contiguous United States. We are limiting this finding to the
contiguous United States, as our assessment does not extend to the
State of Alaska. Our finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our
determination that release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for the biological
control of spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the
contiguous United States will not have a significant impact on the
quality of the human environment. Based on this finding, we have issued
permits for the release of Ganaspis brasiliensis for the biological
control of spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the
contiguous United States.
The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website
(see footnote 1). Copies of the final EA and FONSI are also available
for public inspection at 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street
and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours
are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202)
799-7039 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies
may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The final 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 27th day of December 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-28530 Filed 12-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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