[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59208-59209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23415]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0004]


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Soybean Aphid in 
the Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment and finding 
of no significant impact relative to the release of Aphelinus rhamni 
for the biological control of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, in the 
continental 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Shirley A Wager-Pag[eacute], 
Chief, Pest

[[Page 59209]]

Permitting Branch, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2323.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, which is 
native to Asia, was found in North America in 2000 and has since become 
a major pest. It infested 42 million acres in North America in 2003, 
resulting in decreased soybean yields and greatly increased control 
costs. The soybean aphid has invaded most soybean production regions in 
North America. By 2009, soybean aphid was present in 30 States and 3 
Canadian Provinces.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing 
to issue permits for the field release of a parasitic wasp, Aphelinus 
rhamni, to reduce the severity of soybean damage from infestations of 
soybean aphid in the United States.
    On May 2, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 25094-
25095, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0004) a notice \1\ in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment (EA) that examined the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed release of this biological control agent 
into the continental United States.
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    \1\ To view the notice, the comment we received, the EA, and the 
FONSI go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-
0004.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending June 2, 2014. We 
received one comment by that date. The commenter stated her opposition 
to the proposed release of A. rhamni, but did not provide any 
substantive information or specific concerns.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of A. rhamni into the 
continental United States for use as a biological control agent to 
reduce the severity of soybean aphid infestations. The finding, which 
is based on the EA, reflects our determination that release of this 
biological control agent will not have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment.
    The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also 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 
copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 799-7039 to facilitate 
entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by 
calling or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The EA and FONSI 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 1b); and (4) 
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of September 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-23415 Filed 9-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P