[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30106]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-039-2]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact have been prepared by the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a demonstration project 
to eradicate and prevent the spread of the aquatic weed giant salvinia 
in the Toledo Bend Reservoir and surrounding areas in Louisiana and 
eastern Texas. The environmental assessment provides a basis for our 
conclusion that the implementation of the demonstration project will 
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. 
Based on its finding of no significant impact, the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service has determined that an environmental impact 
statement need not be prepared.

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. Persons wishing to inspect theses documents are 
requested to call (202) 690-2817 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Alan V. Tasker, National Weed 
Program Coordinator, Invasive Species and Pest Management, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a free-floating aquatic fern, 
native to South America, with a tremendous growth rate and the 
potential to significantly affect water-reliant agricultural 
industries, recreation, and the ecology of freshwater habitats 
throughout much of the United States.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) listed giant 
salvinia as a noxious weed in 1983. Under APHIS' regulations, no person 
may move giant salvinia into or through the United States, or 
interstate, unless he or she obtains a permit for the movement from 
APHIS.
    In the past several years, giant salvinia has been detected in the 
United States, mostly in association with the nursery trade in aquatic 
plants. Generally, detections have been in small, confined sites and 
are currently contained or have been eradicated. Such detections have 
occurred in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, 
Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and 
Virginia. Of more serious and immediate concern is the current 
infestation in the Toledo Bend Reservoir and the surrounding areas in 
Louisiana and eastern Texas. The Toledo Bend Reservoir infestation is a 
major one in a large body of water.
    Because current efforts to eradicate giant salvinia in the Toledo 
Bend Reservoir and the surrounding areas in Louisiana and eastern Texas 
have been unsuccessful, APHIS has evaluated additional control methods 
available to help eradicate this noxious weed. These control methods 
include:
     An integrated control approach utilizing herbicides and 
mechanical, biological, and regulatory controls.
     A biological control program that requires no herbicide 
application.
    On July 24, 2001, we published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
38414-38415, Docket No. 01-039-1) a notice in which we announced the 
availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment that examines the potential environmental effects of the 
giant salvinia control methods described above on the Toledo Bend 
Reservoir and surrounding areas in Louisiana and eastern Texas. We 
solicited comments on the environmental assessment for 30 days ending 
on August 23, 2001. We received no comments by that date.
    In this document, we are advising the public of APHIS' record of 
decision and finding of no significant impact regarding the use of the 
methods described above to control giant salvinia in the Toledo Bend 
Reservoir and surrounding areas in Louisiana and eastern Texas. This 
decision, which is based on the findings of the environmental 
assessment, will allow APHIS to begin giant salvinia control activities 
in the Toledo Bend Reservoir and surrounding areas.
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/es/ppqdocs.html. You may request paper copies of the environmental 
assessment and finding of no significant impact by calling or writing 
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please 
refer to the title of the environmental assessment when requesting 
copies. The environmental assessment and finding of no significant 
impact are also available for review in our reading room (information 
on the location and hours of the reading room is listed under the 
heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice).
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
have been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (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 1), and (4) APHIS' NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of November 2001.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-30106 Filed 12-4-01; 8:45 am]
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