[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70755-70756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31311]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 70755]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-110-1]


Saltcedar; Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a draft environmental assessment 
relative to the control of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.). The draft 
environmental assessment considers the effects of, and alternatives to, 
the release of a nonindigenous leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata, into 
the environment to reduce the severity of saltcedar infestations in 14 
western States. We are making the draft environmental assessment 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 03-110-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 03-110-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
03-110-1'' on the subject line.
    You may read any comments that we receive on the environmental 
assessment in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 
1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Richard, Western Region 
Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue Building B, Fort 
Collins, CO 80526-8117; (970) 494-7565.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.), also known as tamarisk, is a dense, 
deciduous shrub or small tree, indigenous to Asia, with the potential 
to significantly affect native vegetation throughout much of the United 
States. Saltcedars have long tap roots that allow them to access deep 
water tables and interfere with natural aquatic systems. The saltcedar 
is an aggressive colonizer, disrupting native plant communities and 
degrading native wildlife habitat by replacing native plant species, 
monopolizing limited water sources, and increasing the frequency, 
intensity and effect of fires and floods.
    A single mature saltcedar may produce hundreds of thousands of 
seeds between April and October. The seeds are then dispersed by wind 
and water throughout the growing season, germinating within 24 hours of 
moistening. Seedlings are tolerant of water, saline soils, and drought 
and may grow by as much as a foot a month.
    Saltcedar was first introduced into the United States from Asia in 
the early 1800s. The plant has been used for windbreaks, as 
ornamentals, and for erosion control. By 1850, saltcedar had infested 
river systems and drainages in the southwest. By 1938, infestations 
were found from Florida to California and as far north as Idaho. 
Saltcedar continues to spread rapidly and currently infests water 
drainages and areas throughout the United States, including the 
following western States: Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, 
Nebraska, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, 
Utah, and Wyoming.
    As a result of rising infestation levels, the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service has prepared a draft environmental assessment 
(EA) relative to the environmental release of the nonindigenous 
saltcedar leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata) into the 14 western States 
listed above in order to reduce the severity and extent of saltcedar 
infestation in those areas.
    The saltcedar leaf beetle is native to the Mediterranean region and 
central and middle Asia. All stages of saltcedar leaf beetle larvae 
feed on saltcedar foliage. As adults, the beetles continue to feed on 
saltcedar foliage. Saltcedar leaf beetles have been known to completely 
defoliate large areas of saltcedar. Release of this insect into the 
environment is expected to produce a gradual reduction in the size of 
saltcedar plants and in foliage cover and density of saltcedar stands.
    APHIS' review and analysis of the proposed action and its 
alternatives are documented in detail in a draft EA entitled, 
``Proposed Program for Control of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) in Fourteen 
States'' (November 2003). We are making the draft EA available to the 
public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we 
receive on or before the date listed under the heading DATES at the 
beginning of this notice.
    The draft EA may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/es/ppqdocs.html. You may request paper copies of 
the draft EA by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the draft EA 
when requesting copies. The draft EA is 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 draft EA has 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)

[[Page 70756]]

USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1), and (4) APHIS'' NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of December 2003.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31311 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P