[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 24463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11027]



[[Page 24463]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0017]


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the 
Release of Cheilosia urbana for Biological Control of Invasive 
Hawkweeds

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 the hoverfly Cheilosia urbana for the 
biological control of invasive hawkweeds (Pilosella species) 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 June 
27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0017.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0017, 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-2019-
0017 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: 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:  Hawkweeds are invasive weeds of moist 
pastures, forest meadows, and mountain rangelands with a moderate 
amount of moisture. Habitats most vulnerable to invasion include human-
disturbed sites, such as roadsides and hayfields, and abandoned 
farmland. The following hawkweeds are considered noxious in many 
western States and are currently targets for biological control: 
Pilosella flagellaris (whiplash hawkweed), Pilosella floribunda (king 
devil hawkweed), Pilosella glomerata (queen devil or yellow devil 
hawkweed), Pilosella officinarum (mouse-ear hawkweed), and Pilosella 
piloselloides (tall hawkweed).
    Cheilosia urbana is a very common and widespread hoverfly in 
Europe. The fly's potential range in North America is expected to match 
much of the distributions of the targeted Pilosella (hawkweed) species 
that occur in the northwestern United States and northeastern United 
States, including southwestern and southeastern Canada. Permitting the 
release of Cheilosia urbana is necessary to reduce the severity of 
invasive hawkweed infestations and economic losses since other 
alternatives are not effective or feasible.
    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 Hoverfly Cheilosia 
urbana (Diptera: Syrphidae) for Biological Control of Invasive 
Pilosella species hawkweeds (Asteraceae) in the contiguous United 
States'' (July 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 May 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-11027 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P