Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Field Release of Bagous nodulosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for Classical Biological Control of Flowering Rush (Butomaceae) in the Continental United States

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We are advising the public that we have prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to permitting the field release of the insect or weevil, Bagous nodulosus, for the classical biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus L.) in the continental 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 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65720-65721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21206]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0032]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact for the Field Release of Bagous 
nodulosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for Classical Biological Control 
of Flowering Rush (Butomaceae) in the Continental 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 we have prepared a final 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative 
to permitting the field release of the insect or weevil, Bagous 
nodulosus, for the classical biological control of flowering rush 
(Butomus umbellatus L.) in the continental 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: Ms. Kirsten Dyer, Agriculturist, 
Pests, Pathogens and Biocontrol Permitting, Pest Exclusion and Import 
Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705; (352) 
554-0556; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0942607b7a7d6c67274d706c7b497c7a6d68276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fd4f6edecebfaf1b1dbe6faeddfeaecfbfeb1f8f0e9">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) relative to the field release 
of the weevil Bagous nodulosus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) 
for the classical biological control of flowering rush (Butomus 
umbellatus L.) in the continental United States. After

[[Page 65721]]

completion of the environmental analysis, APHIS authorized issuance of 
permits for the release.
    Flowering rush is an herbaceous aquatic perennial in the plant 
family Butomaceae. Native to Europe and Asia, flowering rush was 
introduced into North America by 1900, possibly both accidentally in 
ballast water and packing material and intentionally via the 
horticulture trade. It is now widely naturalized in wetlands, lakes, 
ditches, and slow-moving rivers in 23 States and 9 provinces 
surrounding the United States/Canada border and is continuing to expand 
outward. Flowering rush displaces native plant species, impedes water 
flow, alters habitat structure and nutrient cycling, damages fishing, 
hunting, boating, and other recreational sectors, and is difficult to 
control. In western North America, it provides habitat for highly 
damaging invasive and nuisance species.
    Permitting the release of B. nodulosus in the continental United 
States is necessary to help control invasive flowering rush. B. 
nodulosus, a semi-aquatic weevil, is a highly specific and potentially 
very damaging biological control agent for flowering rush. Both adult 
and larval feeding of B. nodulosus have been shown to reduce the vigor 
of flowering rush. B. nodulosus attacks flowering rush very early 
during the field season (adults are active from April onwards) and over 
a long period of time (larvae can be found feeding in the plants from 
April to September), which should reduce the ability of the plant to 
compensate for the attack. Host-specificity testing indicates B. 
nodulosus is unlikely to attack non-target species.
    On September 3, 2024, we published in the Federal Register (89 FR 
71250-71251, Docket No. APHIS-2024-0032) a notice \1\ in which we 
announced the availability, for public review and comment, of a draft 
environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the release of B. nodulosus Gyllenhal 
(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the continental United States for the 
biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus L.). Comments 
on the notice were required to be received on or before October 3, 
2024. We received 21 comments on the EA by that date, 20 of which were 
in favor of the environmental release of B. nodulosus. One commenter 
was opposed to the release but did not raise substantive issues 
relating to the release of B. nodulosus into the environment. Of the 20 
comments in favor of release of B. nodulosus into the environment, 2 
commenters had additional questions related to stakeholder consultation 
with Canadian natural resource officials and Native American Tribes, 
the availability of a cost-benefit analysis, and the impacts of 
predation by native bird and fish populations.
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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-2024-
0032 in the Search field.
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    We reviewed and considered the questions raised by these 
commenters. We have revised the final EA, where appropriate, and 
provided responses to the concerns expressed. Our full responses can be 
found in Appendix 4 of the final EA.
    In this document, we are advising the public of the availability of 
the final EA and our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) regarding 
the field release of the insect, B. nodulosus, for biological control 
of flowering rush in the continental United States. Our finding, which 
is based on the analysis in the final EA, reflects our determination 
that the field release of B. nodulosus for the classical biological 
control of flowering rush in the continental United States will not 
have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. 
Based on this finding, we have authorized permits for the field release 
of B. nodulosus for the classical biological control of flowering rush 
in the continental 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 room 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 at (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) the former regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of 
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) as of February 25, 2021; (3) U.S. 
Department of Agriculture regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b) 
effective through July 2, 2025; and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372) effective through July 2, 2025.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of September 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21206 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P


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