[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 6034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2939]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-118-1]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Strategy: Risk 
Reduction in the Florida Medfly Eradication Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that a final environmental 
assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) to explore risk reduction strategies relative to Medfly 
program activities in the State of Florida. Additionally, APHIS has 
prepared a strategy regarding risk reduction in the Florida Medfly 
eradication program. This notice announces the availability of both 
documents for public inspection.

ADDRESSES: The environmental assessment and the strategy 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. Persons wishing to 
inspect those documents are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 
to facilitate entry into the reading room. To request copies of the 
environmental assessment or the strategy, write to the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the 
environmental assessment or strategy when requesting copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael B. Stefan, Operations 
Officer, Domestic and Emergency Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis 
capitata (Wiedemann), (Medfly) is one of the world's most destructive 
pests of fruit and vegetables. The Medfly has been introduced into 
Florida a total of 13 times, including its first introduction in 1929. 
Because of the Medfly's potential for rapid range expansion, Medfly 
outbreaks in Florida represent major threats to agriculture, the 
environment, and the quality of life in Florida and other U.S. mainland 
States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
United States Department of Agriculture cooperates with the Florida 
State Department of Agriculture to eradicate Medfly and to prevent 
future infestations. All Medfly outbreaks in Florida have been 
successfully eradicated using a combination of nonchemical and chemical 
control methods.
    Consistent with our continued goal of preventing and eradicating 
Medfly infestations, we are committed to reexamining the Florida Medfly 
program for the purpose of achieving maximum risk reduction, including 
minimizing risks to the environment and human health. As part of that 
commitment, we have prepared environmental analyses and risk 
assessments, held a number of public meetings, and analyzed comments 
from the public regarding the Florida Medfly program in order to 
establish a final Florida Medfly program risk reduction strategy. This 
notice announces the availability of two documents that identify 
various means to potentially reduce risk in the Florida Medfly program:
     Risk Reduction Strategy, Florida Medfly Program, 
Environmental Assessment, June 1998.
     Strategy: Risk Reduction in Florida Medfly Eradication 
Programs, January 1999.
    The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: 
(1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) 
(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 2nd day of February 1999.
Joan M. Arnoldi,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-2939 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
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