[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 59735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20946]


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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. 85, No. 185 / Wednesday, September 23, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 59735]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0083]


Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for Cogongrass Control Efforts in Alabama, 
Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a final 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative 
to establishing an integrated management strategy to control 
cogongrass, a noxious weed, in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South 
Carolina. Based on our finding of no significant impact, we have 
determined that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anne LeBrun, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2259; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an 
invasive, exotic perennial grass that is naturalized throughout the 
southeastern United States. Cogongrass grows in both natural and 
disturbed areas, including around homes, on public properties, paved 
and unpaved roadways, forestland, stream banks, and farmland. It 
spreads rapidly, reducing forest productivity, harming wildlife habitat 
and native ecosystems, encroaching in pasture and hayfields, and 
impacting rights-of-way. It usually grows in warm or tropical areas and 
is widely distributed on all continents except Antarctica.
    While it is unlikely that cogongrass can be eliminated from the 
southeastern United States, active control and eradication of 
cogongrass along the edge of the naturalized distribution area is 
possible through an integrated management strategy employing 
preventative, cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods.
    On March 2, 2020, we published in the Federal Register (85 FR 
12250, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0083) a notice \1\ in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of a draft 
programmatic environmental assessment (EA) that examined the potential 
environmental impacts associated with establishing an integrated 
management strategy to control cogongrass, a noxious weed, in Alabama, 
Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
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    \1\ To view the notice, supporting document, and the comments we 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2019-0083.
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    We solicited comments on the EA for 30 days ending April 1, 2020. 
We received 11 comments by that date. The comments addressed several 
topics of concern and were submitted by representatives of State 
forestry offices, forest landowner organizations, and the public. 
Comments and our responses to them are addressed in Appendix 1 of the 
final EA.
    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the establishment of an integrated 
management strategy to control cogongrass. The finding, which is based 
on the final EA, reflects our determination that the methods used as 
part of the integrated management strategy will not have a significant 
impact on the quality of the human environment.
    The final EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website 
(see footnote 1). Copies of the final EA and FONSI are also available 
for public inspection at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
Room 1620, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC. Normal hours are 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 final 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) the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this day of September 16, 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20946 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
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