Notice2024-10648
Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program; Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 17, 2024
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 programmatic environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program in the conterminous United States. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of environmental impacts associated with the Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program. 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.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43372-43373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10648]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0079]
Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program; Programmatic
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 the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared a programmatic environmental assessment
and finding of no significant impact relative to the Spotted Lanternfly
Cooperative Control Program in the conterminous United States. The
environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of
environmental impacts associated with the Spotted Lanternfly
Cooperative Control Program. 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: Mr. Matthew Travis, Spotted Lanternfly
National Policy Manager, PPQ, APHIS, Emergency and Domestic Programs,
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; telephone: (580)
240-5394; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98d5f9ececf0fdefb6d9b6cceaf9eef1ebd8edebfcf9b6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="074a6673736f6270294629537566716e74477274636629606871">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, an invasive
species native to Asia, is a destructive pest that in large numbers can
cause significant damage to critical habitat and economically important
plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed to control SLF to slow the spread
of this
[[Page 43373]]
invasive insect in the conterminous United States wherever outbreaks
are detected.
SLF infestation has led to crop loss, agriculture exportation
problems, and increased management costs. APHIS has concerns with the
potential for long-distance movement of SLF within the United States,
and the continued risk of SLF introduction from other countries.
Additionally, APHIS acknowledges that the environmental and
socioeconomic damage to SLF-affected regions can be substantial.
On November 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR
77259-77260, Docket No. APHIS-2023-0079) a notice \1\ in which we
announced the availability, for public review and comment, of a
programmatic environmental assessment (ProEA) that examined the
potential environmental impacts associated with the SLF cooperative
control program. In our analysis, APHIS found that an adaptive pest
management approach that combines quarantine, chemical treatments, and
pest survey is the preferred alternative to address the potential
environmental impact of a SLF outbreak.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, the supporting documents, and the
comments we received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, and enter APHIS-
2023-0079 in the Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments on the ProEA for 30 days ending December 11,
2023. We received two comment submissions by that date. A commenter
questioned why Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from the ProEA, citing a
map for the possible host range of SLF that indicated it could become
established in Alaska. The ProEA was limited to the conterminous United
States based on information that possible introduction of SLF into
Alaska was not imminent. However, should SLF become established in
Alaska, a supplemental EA will be prepared. The same commenter also
raised a concern with a perceived lack of information and analyses on
the economic impact of an SLF outbreak in the draft ProEA. Finally,
another commenter agreed with APHIS that SLF is a destructive pest. The
comments that we received, and APHIS' responses to the comments, are
presented in our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) (see
supporting documents).
In this document, we are advising the public of our FONSI on the
implementation of the adaptive management alternative for the SLF
program. The finding, which is based on the results of the analysis in
the final ProEA, reflects our determination that under this
alternative, the methods used to exclude, detect, prevent, and control
SLF infestations will not have a significant impact on the quality of
the human environment.
The ProEA and FONSI may be viewed on the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> website or
in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may
also request paper copies of the ProEA and FONSI by calling or writing
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please
refer to the title of the ProEA when requesting copies.
The ProEA 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 3rd day of May 2024.
Michelle Wenberg,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-10648 Filed 5-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 17, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.