[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40852-40853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19781]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of a Finding of No Significant 
Impact.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to make available to the public 
the Finding of No Significant Impact pursuant to an Environmental 
Assessment regarding the release in the United States of three 
nonindigeneous insects Galerucella calmariensis, Galerucella pusilla, 
and Hylobius tansversovittatus. The purpose of the release is to reduce 
and control Lythrum salicaria on Service-managed wetlands and to assist 
the States in the reduction and control of purple loosestrife on non-
Service wetlands.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Furniss, Refuge Program 
Specialist, Division of Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 
ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fish and Wildlife Service made available 
for public comment an Environmental Assessment through publication on 
June 19, 1995, in the Federal Register (60 FR 32023). Upon review of 
the comments received and the scientific evidence supporting the 
Environmental Assessment, it was determined that the introduction of 
the three nonindigeneous insects would have no significant impact on 
the quality of the human environment. This finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI) reads in whole as follows:

Finding Of No Significant Impact

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), U.S. 
Department of the Interior, proposes to release in the United States 
three nonindigeneous insects Galerucella calmariensis, Galerucella 
pusilla, and Hylobius tansversovittatus in addition to the two 
previously approved nonindigeneous insects Nanophyes marmoratus and N. 
brevis. The Service proposes to release these five insect species so 
they can contribute to the biological control of purple loosestrife 
(Lythrum salicaria), an introduced weed, on Service-managed wetlands 
and to assist the States to reduce and control this plant 

[[Page 40853]]
on non-Service wetlands. These insects are not native to North America.
    During the summer of 1995, the Service proposes to acquire and 
begin releasing the beetles at selected refuges in Fish and Wildlife 
Service Regions 3 and 5. In following years, the Service will acquire 
and release the beetles throughout the range of purple loosestrife in 
the United States.
    The primary reason for releasing these five 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 weed plant. 
The intended result of the proposed action is to cause positive 
environmental impacts.
    In addition to the proposed action, the Service also considered the 
alternative of continuing current management of purple loosestrife on 
Service lands without biological control agents as well as the 
alternative of using the two previously approved biological control 
agents Nanophyes marmoratus and N. brevis in addition to the current 
management practices. The selected alternative is the proposed action 
of releasing the five insects to develop a continuous biological 
control of the plant.
    Based on my review and evaluation of the subject Environmental 
Assessment, I find that the proposed release in the United States of G. 
calmariensis, G. pusilla, Hylobius tansversovittatus, Nanophyes 
marmoratus and N. brevis as tools for the control of purple loosestrife 
Lythrum salicaria, as described in the environmental assessment, is not 
expected to have a significant negative impact on the quality of the 
human environment. This finding is supported by the following:
    1. The host ranges of G. calmariensis, G. pusilla, Hylobius 
tansversovittatus, Nanophyes marmoratus and N. brevis are restricted to 
the genus of the target host Lythrum salicaria. Once released, these 
species are not expected to feed on any plant species other than the 
nonindigenous target weed, purple loosestrife.
    2. Releases of these insect species are not expected to have 
negative impacts on any endangered or threatened species listed by any 
Federal Government or State Government.
    3. Use of chemical pesticides and fire to control purple 
loosestrife would be reduced if, as expected, the proposed biological 
control agents prove to be both safe and efficacious.
    4. The proposed release is expected to have a positive effect on 
biotic diversity in aquatic natural resources.

    Dated: July 13, 1995.
Robert Streeter,
Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

    Dated: August 2, 1995.
Robert C. Lesino,
Acting Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 95-19781 Filed 8-9-95; 8:45 am]
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