[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47694-47695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22228]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0025]


Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for a Release of Three Parasitoids for Biological 
Control of the Lily Leaf Beetle

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 release of three 
parasitoids, Diaparsis jucunda, Lemophagus errabundus, and Tetrastichus 
setifer, for the biological control of the lily leaf beetle in the 
contiguous 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. Colin D. Stewart, Assistant 
Director, Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol Permits, Permitting and 
Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2237, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lily leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii 
(Coleptera:Chrysomelidae), an aggressive pest of lilies and 
fritillaries, has expanded its range rapidly over the past decade, and 
is now found in several northeastern and central States, across Canada, 
and in Washington State. Further expansion is expected based on its 
historical distribution in nearly all of Europe and parts of North 
Africa. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is proposing to 
release three insect parasitoid species for the biological control of 
the lily leaf beetle; none of these species have been previously 
released or established in Washington State. The Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to issue permits for the 
field release of the parasitoids Diaparsis jucunda, Lemophagus 
errabundus, and Tetrastichus setifer into the contiguous United States 
to reduce the severity of lily leaf beetle infestations.
    On July 13, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
32317-32318, Docket No. APHIS-2017-0025) 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 these biological 
control agents into the contiguous United States.
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    \1\ To view the notice, environmental assessment, finding of no 
significant impact, and the comment we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2017-0025.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending August 14, 2017. 
We received one comment by that date. The commenter was opposed to the 
release of the organism on principle, but did not raise any specific or 
substantive issues.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of Diaparsis jucunda, 
Lemophagus errabundus, and Tetrastichus setifer into the contiguous 
United States for the biological control of the lily leaf beetle. The 
finding, which is based on the EA, reflects our determination that 
release of these biological control agents 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).


[[Page 47695]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of October 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22228 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P