[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52488-52489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19518]


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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. 69, No. 165 / Thursday, August 26, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 52488]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-046-2]


Pigeonpea Pod Fly; 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 the control of 
pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (Diptera: 
Agromyzidae). The environmental assessment documents our review and 
analysis of environmental impacts associated with alternatives for 
control of pigeonpea pod fly, as well as a recommendation for the use 
of biological control agents to suppress pigeonpea pod fly in the 
United States. 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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Dale Meyerdirk, Agriculturalist, 
National Biological Control Institute, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
135, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (Diptera: 
Agromyzidae), is a foreign plant pest that attacks numerous species of 
plants. The potential host range appears to be primarily restricted to 
legumes such as peas and beans, with some questionable exceptions such 
as okra and sesame. This pest can easily spread without detection. When 
the female pigeonpea pod fly punctures the legume pod and lays its eggs 
within, the only external evidence is varying degrees of damage caused 
by the punctures.
    The pest is found throughout the world, including India, Ceylon, 
Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and as far north 
as Japan. It also occurs in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. 
Pigeonpea pod fly is acclimated to cooler, northern climates and can 
tolerate dry conditions for part of the year. Therefore, suitable 
habitat exists throughout the United States, and the potential 
geographical distribution of the pigeonpea pod fly in the contiguous 
United States is extensive. Pigeonpea pod fly could enter the 
contiguous United States, Hawaii, or other U.S. territories from Puerto 
Rico, the Dominican Republic, or countries in the Pacific and become a 
serious agricultural threat to the United States.
    On May 23, 2003, we published in the Federal Register (68 FR 28191-
28192, Docket No. 03-046-1) a notice in which we announced the 
availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment documenting our review and analysis of environmental impacts 
associated with alternatives for control of pigeonpea pod fly, as well 
as a recommendation for the use of biological control agents 
(specifically, parasitic Chalcid wasps of the genera Euderus, Eurytoma, 
and Ormyrus) to suppress pigeonpea pod fly in the United States. Other 
alternatives examined in the environmental assessment included no 
action, pesticides, cultural control, crop modification, and integrated 
pest management (IPM).
    We solicited comments on the environmental assessment for 30 days 
ending on June 23, 2003. We received one comment by that date, from a 
State agricultural agency. The commenter supported the use of 
biological control against the pigeonpea pod fly, but questioned 
whether biological control alone would provide a significant level of 
control or suppression in all cases. Acknowledging that increased 
pesticide use is not a viable alternative either, the commenter 
recommended an IPM approach as the best alternative.
    We have updated the environmental assessment to explain that if the 
pigeonpea pod fly is introduced into new areas of the United States and 
the introduction of parasitic Chalcid wasps does not totally resolve 
the problem, then IPM in some form may be adopted to for use to gain 
satisfactory control of the pest population.
    In this document, we are advising the public of APHIS' finding of 
no significant impact regarding the release of parasitic Chalcid wasps 
of the genera Euderus, Eurytoma, and Ormyrus to reduce the severity of 
pigeonpea pod fly in the United States, including its Pacific and 
Caribbean territories. The finding, which is based on the environmental 
assessment, reflects our determination that release of these biological 
control agents will not have a significant impact on the quality of the 
human environment.
    You may request 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 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 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).


[[Page 52489]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of August 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-19518 Filed 8-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P