[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70530-70531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28322]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0064]


Notice of Determination; New and Revised Treatments for the 
Imported Fire Ant Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are adding or revising 
certain treatment schedules for the Imported Fire Ant Program in the 
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. In a previous 
notice, we made available to the public for review and comment a 
treatment evaluation document that discussed the existing treatment 
schedules, described the new treatment schedules, and explained why 
these changes are necessary. We also made available an environmental 
assessment that explained pesticide use in the new and revised 
treatments in the imported fire ant program. Based on the treatment 
evaluation document, the environmental assessment, and the comments we 
received, we are announcing our determination to add those new and 
revised treatments to the PPQ Treatment Manual.

DATES: Effective Date: November 26, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Brown, Director, Emergency 
Management, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 135, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2119.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis 
richteri Forel, is an aggressive, stinging insect that, in large 
numbers, can seriously injure or even kill livestock, pets, and humans. 
The imported fire ant feeds on crops and builds large, hard mounds that 
damage farm and field machinery. Imported fire ants are notorious 
hitchhikers and are readily transported long distances when articles 
such as soil and nursery stock are shipped outside the infested area.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works to 
prevent further imported fire ant spread by enforcing a Federal 
quarantine and cooperating with imported fire ant-infested States to 
mitigate the risks associated with the movement of regulated articles 
such as nursery stock and used soil-moving equipment.
    The regulations in ``Subpart--Imported Fire Ant'' (7 CFR 301.81 
through 301.81-11, referred to below as the regulations) are intended 
to prevent the imported fire ant from spreading throughout its 
ecological range within the country. The regulations quarantine 
infested States or infested areas within States and restrict interstate 
movement of regulated articles to prevent the artificial spread of the 
imported fire ant.
    Sections 301.81-4 and 301.81-5 of the regulations provide, among 
other things, that regulated articles requiring treatment prior to 
interstate movement must be treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305, 
which contains our phytosanitary treatment regulations.
    In Sec.  305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment 
schedules are set out in the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 
Treatment Manual.\1\ Section 305.3 sets out a process for adding, 
revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual. 
In that section, paragraph (a) sets out the process for adding, 
revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is no immediate 
need to make a change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The PPQ Treatment Manual is available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml 
or by contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
Plant Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson 
Drive, Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with Sec.  305.3(a)(1), we published a notice \2\ in 
the Federal Register on March 6, 2013 (78 FR 14510-14511, Docket No. 
APHIS-2012-0064), in which we announced the availability, for review 
and comment, of a treatment evaluation document (TED) we prepared to 
discuss the existing treatment schedules, describe the new treatment 
schedules, and explain why certain changes were necessary. In addition, 
we prepared an environmental assessment (EA) entitled, ``Pesticide Use 
in the Imported Fire Ant Program'' (March 2012) to document our review 
and analysis of the environmental impacts associated with the new 
pesticides and new uses for previously approved pesticides.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view the notice, the treatment evaluation document, the 
environmental assessment, and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0064.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on May 6, 
2013. We received four comments by that date, from a State agriculture 
department, an organization of State plant pest regulatory agencies, an 
industry association, and a private citizen. All four commenters 
supported the changes to the PPQ Treatment Manual described in the TED. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  305.3, we are announcing the 
Administrator's determination to add the new and revised treatment 
schedules for use for the imported fire ant program to the PPQ 
Treatment Manual.
    We are also announcing that we have prepared a finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) for this action. The FONSI, which is based 
on the EA and the comments we received, documents our conclusion that 
the updates to the PPQ Treatment Manual will not have a significant 
impact on the quality of the human environment.
    The EA and FONSI were 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 1b), and (4) 
APHIS' NEPA

[[Page 70531]]

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of November 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-28322 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P