[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11939]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 17, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Docket No. 94-039-1]

 

Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for the Mexican Fruit Fly Regulatory Control Program

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 an environmental assessment and a 
finding of no significant impact for a regulatory control program for 
Mexican fruit fly in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The 
environmental assessment provides a basis for our conclusion that the 
methods employed to control the plant pest will not have a significant 
impact on the 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. In addition, copies of the environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact may be obtained upon request from:
    (1) Charles H. Bare, Senior Operations Officer, Plant Protection 
and Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, room 643, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest 
Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-8247;
    (2) Director, Central Regional Office, Plant Protection and 
Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, 3505 Boca Chica Boulevard, suite 360, 
Brownsville, TX 78521-4065, (210) 504-4150; or
    (3) Shashank Nilakhe, Director, Agri-Systems Programs, Texas 
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711, (502) 463-
7643.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Stefan, Operations Officer, 
Domestic and Emergency Operations, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 
APHIS, USDA, room 643, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Road, 
Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with 7 U.S.C. 147a, 148, and 450, the Secretary of 
Agriculture is authorized to cooperate with the States and certain 
other organizations and individuals to control and eradicate plant 
pests.
    The Mexican fruit fly, which is present in the Rio Grande Valley of 
Texas, is an exotic agricultural pest that attacks fruit such as 
citrus, mangoes, avocados, peaches, pears, and a wide variety of other 
fruits and vegetables. The short life cycle of the Mexican fruit fly 
allows rapid development of serious outbreaks that can cause severe 
economic losses in commercial citrus-producing areas.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with the 
State of Texas, has developed a regulatory control program for the 
Mexican fruit fly in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, has 
prepared an environmental assessment to evaluate the effects of this 
regulatory control program on the environment. Based on the 
environmental assessment, APHIS has determined that the regulatory 
control program in Texas will not have a significant impact on the 
environment.
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
have been prepared in accordance with (1) The National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) Regulations of 
the Council on Environmental Quality for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA Regulations Implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 
1b), and (4) APHIS Guidelines Implementing NEPA (44 FR 50381-50384, 
August 28, 1979, and 44 FR 51272-51274, August 31, 1979).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of May 1994
Lonnie J. King,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11939 Filed 5-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P