[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 230 (Monday, November 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76515-76516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0002]


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact for the Release of Aphalara itadori for the 
Biological Control of Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian Knotweeds

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 the release of Aphalara itadori for the biological control of 
Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian knotweeds (Fallopia japonica, F. 
sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica), significant invasive weeds, within 
the contiguous United States. Based on our finding of no significant 
impact, we have 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) 851-2327; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Invasive knotweeds in North America are a 
complex of three closely related species in the family Polygonaceae 
that were introduced from Japan during the late 19th century. They 
include Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), F. sachalinensis (Giant 
knotweed), and the hybrid between the two, F. x bohemica (Bohemian 
knotweed). These large herbaceous perennials have spread throughout 
much of North America, with the greatest infestations in the Pacific 
Northwest, the northeast of the United States, and eastern Canada. 
While capable of growing in diverse habitats, the knotweeds have become 
especially problematic along the banks and floodplains of rivers and 
streams, where they crowd out native plants and potentially affect 
stream nutrients and food webs. While several States have active 
control programs against knotweeds, the inaccessibility of some of the 
infestations and the difficulty with which the plants are killed 
suggest that complete eradication of knotweeds within the United States 
is unlikely.
    The Hokkaido and Kyushu biotypes of the insect, Aphalara itadori, 
were chosen as potential biological control organisms. The biotypes are 
expected to reduce the severity of infestations of Japanese, Giant, and 
Bohemian knotweed, and are known to be highly host specific due to 
their intimate relationship with their host plants.
    On May 28, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 24463-
24464, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0002) 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 release of Aphalara itadori for the biological 
control of Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian knotweed within the contiguous 
United States. Comments on the notice were required to be received on 
or before June 27, 2019; however, we reopened the comment period for an 
additional 60 days ending August 26, 2019 in a subsequent notice (84 FR 
37825-37826, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0002). We received 300 comments by 
that date. Our responses to the comments are included in the final EA.
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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-
2019-0002.
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    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of Aphalara itadori 
for the biological control of Japanese, Giant, and

[[Page 76516]]

Bohemian knotweeds (F. japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica) 
within the contiguous United States. The finding, which is based on the 
EA, reflects our determination that release of Aphalara itadori for the 
biological control of Japanese, Giant, and Bohemian knotweeds (F. 
japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica) will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Concurrent 
with this announcement, we will issue a permit for the release of 
Aphalara itadori for the biological control of Japanese, Giant, and 
Bohemian knotweeds (F. japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica).
    The EA and FONSI may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website (see 
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public 
inspection at USDA, room 1620, 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) 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of November 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26290 Filed 11-27-20; 8:45 am]
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