[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 53485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21994]


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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. 80, No. 172 / Friday, September 4, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53485]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0058]


Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Availability of an 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

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 an environmental assessment 
has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
relative to a national approach for the control of highly pathogenic 
avian influenza outbreaks within the United States. Based on our 
environmental assessment, we have concluded that such an approach will 
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. 
We are making this environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0058.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0058, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    The environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and 
any comments we receive may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0058 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lori Miller, PE, Senior Staff 
Officer and Environmental Engineer, APHIS Veterinary Services, 4700 
River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is 
a significant and often fatal zoonotic disease of poultry. In December 
2014, two H5 viruses of HPAI were discovered in the United States. 
These viruses were subsequently detected in both migratory waterfowl 
and domestic poultry, and significantly affected domestic poultry 
production within the United States. Two poultry production sectors, 
commercial meat turkeys and laying chickens, were heavily impacted by 
the disease, resulting in the loss or destruction of over 48 million 
birds between December 2014 and June 2015.
    While disease eradication efforts, northern migration of wild 
waterfowl, and the natural disinfecting effect of summer heat have 
currently halted the spread of the disease within the United States, 
the migration southward of potentially infected wild waterfowl during 
the autumn could precipitate a new round of outbreaks.
    To address this potential new round of outbreaks, the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared an environmental 
assessment, titled ``High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Control in 
Commercial Poultry Operations--A National Approach,'' relative to a 
national approach to controlling outbreaks of HPAI within the United 
States. The environmental assessment suggests an approach in which 
APHIS uses its centralized management of carcass disposal activities to 
ensure consistency throughout the United States with regard to control 
efforts in response to HPAI outbreaks. Under this approach, APHIS would 
provide information and other support to State and local authorities to 
help them determine which depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and 
disinfection methods are most appropriate for the situation. Based on 
the environmental assessment, APHIS has decided to implement this 
approach, and has concluded that the approach will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
    We are making both this environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact 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. If comments 
suggest issues that were not previously considered, APHIS may issue a 
supplement to the environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact.
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room 
(see ADDRESSES above for a link to Regulations.gov and information on 
the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper 
copies of the environmental assessment or 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 documents when 
requesting copies.
    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 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 31st day of August 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21994 Filed 9-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P