[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 32023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14905]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of an environmental assessment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to make available to the public 
an environmental assessment regarding the release in the United States 
of three nonindigeneous insects Galerucella calmariensis, Galerucella 
pusilla, and Hylobius transversovittatus. The purpose of the release is 
to reduce and control Lythrum salicaria on Service-managed wetlands and 
to assist the States to reduce and control purple loosestrife on non-
Service wetlands. These insects are not native to North America.
    The Service proposes to release these three insect species on 
Service and other lands in the United States so they can contribute to 
the biological control of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an 
introduced weed.
    The primary reason for releasing these three insect species as a 
tool for purple loosestrife control is to lessen the negative 
environmental impacts caused by purple loosestrife infestations 
themselves and the methods used currently to control the week plant. 
The intended result of the proposed action is to cause positive 
environmental impacts.

DATES: Written comments on the Environmental Assessment should be 
received on or before July 12, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this Environmental Assessment should be 
addressed to Robert Schallenberger, Chief, Division of Refuges, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Furniss, Refuge Program 
Specialist, or Howard Schlegel, Forester, Division of Refuges, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 
20240 (703) 358-2043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An Environmental Assessment (EA) was 
prepared that addressed three alternative actions for the Service's 
management of the introduced weed plant purple loosestrife (Lythrum 
salicaria). Purple Loosestrife has impacted North American wetland 
ecosystems by changing the structure, function, and productivity of the 
wetlands. The plant forms dense monoculture stands, sometimes thousands 
of acres in size, that displace native vegetation and threaten the 
biotic integrity of wetland ecosystems. The loss of plant species 
richness and diversity has eliminated natural foods and cover essential 
to many wetland wildlife species. This has altered the wetland habitat 
necessary to fulfill the purposes for which many wildlife refuges were 
established.
    Conventional control methods are ineffective, costly, and require 
continuous long term maintenance. The release of the subject biological 
agents is intended to facilitate use of self-perpetuating biological 
controls. If the three insects in question become established, they 
would provide continuous control of the plant without further human 
actions. This would reduce current dependency on the rather non-
effective and costly actions of mechanical methods, fire, water 
manipulations, and herbicide used to control loosestrife. If not 
reduced in volume and controlled, the plant will continue to expand and 
degrade wetlands nationwide by replacing native plant species in 
already stressed and declining wetland environments.
    In addition to the proposed action, the Service also considered the 
alternative of continuing current management of the plant as well as 
the alternative of using two previously approved species of beetles for 
control of the purple loosestrife on Service lands. The selected 
alternative is the proposed action of releasing the three insects, in 
addition to the two previously approved species, to develop a 
continuous biological control of the plant.

    Dated: June 14, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14905 Filed 6-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M