[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38423-38424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18185]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6379-8]
Report on the Shrimp Virus Peer Review Workshop
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability of a final report.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a final report of a
peer review and risk assessment workshop on nonindigenous pathogenic
shrimp viruses, which was held January 7-8, 1998. The report was
sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National
Center for Environmental Assessment, on behalf of the Joint
Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA), under the National Science and
Technology Council. Completed under contract to the EPA, the document,
``Report on the Shrimp Virus Peer Review and Risk Assessment Workshop:
Developing a Qualitative Risk Assessment'' (EPA/600/R-99/027),
describes the potential risks of nonindigenous pathogenic shrimp
viruses on wild shrimp populations in U.S. coastal waters. Expert
conclusions and recommendations contained in the report have undergone
an independent scientific review. The results of this independent
review and the draft final report were used as the basis for a risk
management workshop on shrimp viruses held on July 28-29, 1998, in New
Orleans [see Federal Register 63(130)36895-36896 (July 8, 1998)].
ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the final report will be accessible
on the EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment home page at
http://www.epa.gov/ncea/ .
A limited number of paper copies will be available from the EPA's
National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), P.O.
Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242; telephone: 1-800-490-9198 or 513-489-
8190; facsimile: 513-489-8695. Please provide your name and mailing
address and the
[[Page 38424]]
title and EPA number of the document, ``Report on the Shrimp Virus Peer
Review and Risk Assessment Workshop: Developing a Qualitative Risk
Assessment' (EPA/600/R-99/027).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. H. Kay Austin, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center
for Environmental Assessment (8601D), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC
20460; telephone: (202) 564-3328; fax: (202) 565-0090; e-mail:
[email protected]. For technical assistance contact Dr. Tom McIlwain,
Chairperson of the JSA Shrimp Virus Work Group, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 3209 Frederick Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567, (601)
762-4591.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public concerns over the potential
introduction and spread of nonindigenous pathogenic shrimp viruses to
the wild shrimp fishery and shrimp aquaculture industry in U.S. coastal
waters have been increasing. Although these viruses pose no threat to
human health, outbreaks on U.S. shrimp farms, the appearance of
diseased shrimp in U.S. commerce, and new information on the
susceptibility of shrimp and other crustaceans to these viruses
prompted calls for action. In response, the JSA tasked the Federal
interagency Shrimp Virus Workgroup with assessing the shrimp virus
problem. The JSA includes representatives of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National
Marine Fisheries Service (DOC/NOAA/NMFS); the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension
Service (DOA/CREES); Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (DOA/
APHIS); and Agricultural Research Service (DOA/ARS); U.S. Department of
Energy; U.S. Department of Defense; Army Corp of Engineers (DOD/ACE);
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug
Administration (HHS/FDA); Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); the EPA;
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)). The Federal interagency
Shrimp Virus Workgroup includes individuals from DOC/NMFS, EPA, FWS,
and USDA/APHIS.
Publication of this final report is one of a series of related
activities sponsored by EPA, in cooperation with DOC/NMFS, USDA/APHIS,
and FWS, on behalf of the JSA. In June 1997, the Shrimp Virus Workgroup
summarized the available information on shrimp viruses in a report to
the JSA entitled, ``An Evaluation of Potential Shrimp Virus Impacts on
Cultured Shrimp and on Wild Shrimp Populations in the Gulf of Mexico
and Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coastal Waters' [JSA Shrimp Virus Report
(JSVR)]. The JSVR was reviewed at four stakeholder meetings [see
Federal Register 62(112):31790-31791 (June 11, 1997)], jointly
sponsored by EPA, DOC/NMFS, and USDA/APHIS on behalf of the JSA, during
July and August 1997. Available products of these efforts include the
JSVR (see http://www.nmfs.gov/trade/special.html) and the Minutes of
the Stakeholder Meetings Report (EPA/630/R-92/001) (see http://
www.epa.gov/ncea/pdfs/shrimp5.pdf). These products and additional
stakeholder (public) comments formed the basis for the shrimp virus
peer review and risk assessment workshop. The workshop participants
considered several potential pathways of nonindigenous pathogenic
shrimp viruses to wild shrimp populations, including shrimp
aquaculture, shrimp processing and ``other'' sources and pathways, and
independently assessed risks using a qualitative risk assessment
approach developed by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
As described in the report, workshop participants concluded that
viruses could survive in pathways leading to coastal environments, and
that there is potential for viruses to affect native shrimp in
localized areas, such as an estuary or bay. However, many participants
believed that local populations of shrimp would recover rapidly as a
result of reintroduction of shrimp or increases in reproduction.
Although there was high uncertainty, most workshop participants
believed that the risks from viral introductions to the entire
population of native shrimp in U.S. coastal waters is relatively low.
Limitations in time and information during the workshop prevented the
participants from fully considering impacts to organisms besides
shrimp, although they believed these organisms deserved further
consideration.
Finally, while qualitative evaluations are valuable, workshop
participants noted that they are associated with a great deal of
uncertainty. However, given the limited information currently
available, participants believed that it is not feasible to conduct a
more comprehensive, quantitative assessment of the risks associated
with nonindigenous pathogenic shrimp viruses at this time. Participants
noted that there is a need to conduct further systematic research
efforts to reduce uncertainty.
The workshop report and the results of the independent scientific
review of its conclusions and recommendations were used as the basis
for a risk management workshop on shrimp viruses held on July 28-29,
1998, in New Orleans. A report of the risk management workshop (jointly
sponsored by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program, DOC/NMFS, and DOA/CREES/
ARS) that develops options and strategies for managing the threat of
shrimp viruses to cultured and wild stocks of shrimp in U.S. coastal
waters is currently being developed.
Dated: June 21, 1999.
William H. Farland,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 99-18185 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
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