[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6355-6356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03322]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0075]


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the 
Release of Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment relative to 
permitting the release of Calophya latiforceps and Pseudophilothrips 
ichini for the biological control of Brazilian peppertree, a 
significant invasive weed, within the contiguous United States. Based 
on the environmental assessment and other relevant data, we have 
reached a preliminary determination that the release of these control 
agents will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment. We are making the environmental assessment available to 
the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

[[Page 6356]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0075.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0075, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-
0075 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) 7997039 before coming.

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) 851-2327, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Brazilian peppertree (Schinus 
terebinthifolia) is an evergreen perennial shrub or small tree found in 
various southern States but grows primarily in Florida. This noxious 
weed poses a serious threat to biodiversity in many ecosystems and 
invades areas such as canal banks, fallow farmlands, and natural 
communities. Brazilian peppertree's invasiveness can be attributed to 
its tolerance to fire, drought, and shade. Since the late 1800s, 
Brazilian peppertree has been introduced as an ornamental plant into 
many tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Brazilian 
peppertree was introduced in Florida and Hawaii as an attractive 
ornamental and source for honeybee nectar. The dried fruits of 
Brazilian peppertree have been used as a spice for cooking and are sold 
in the United States and elsewhere. In the United States, Brazilian 
peppertree occurs in Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    The insects Calophya latiforceps, ``jumping plant-lice,'' and 
Pseudophilothrips ichini were chosen as potential biological control 
agents. Both agents are expected to reduce the severity of infestations 
of Brazilian peppertree, and both are known to be highly host specific 
due to their intimate relationships with their host plants.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') review 
and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed release are documented in detail in an environmental 
assessment (EA) entitled ``Field Release of the Insects Calophya 
latiforceps (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) and Pseudophilothrips ichini 
(Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) for Classical Biological Control of 
Brazilian Peppertree in the Contiguous United States'' (January 2018). 
We are making the EA 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.
    The EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website 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 
also request paper copies of the EA by calling or writing to the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title 
of the EA when requesting copies.
    The EA has 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 21st day of February 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-03322 Filed 2-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P