[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 135 (Monday, July 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37987-37988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15176]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0036]


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact for the Release of Ramularia crupinae for 
Biological Control of Common Crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the 
Contiguous United States

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 permitting the release of Ramularia crupinae for the biological 
control of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in 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: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is issuing permits for the release of Ramularia 
crupinae, into the contiguous United States for the biological control 
of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris).
    Common crupina, a winter annual, is spreading in pastures and 
rangelands resulting in a reduction in quality of forage as it 
displaces other species in the northwestern United States; it is a 
native of Eurasia, most likely originating in the Middle East. Common 
crupina may grow from 0.3 to 1.0 meter in height, having inconspicuous 
flowers ranging from lavender to purple, as well as rosettes that 
develop through the fall and winter.
    Ramularia crupinae, a leaf-spotting fungus, was chosen as a 
potential biological control agent of Crupina vulgaris in the 
contiguous United States over other management options because it is 
host-specific. On October 30, 2020, we published in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 68838, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0036) 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 Ramularia crupinae 
for the biological control of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the 
contiguous United States. Comments on the notice were required to be 
received on or before November 30, 2020. We received one comment by 
that date. The comment, which did not raise any substantive issues 
regarding the notice, is addressed in the final EA.
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    \1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comment we 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2020-0036 
in the Search field.
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    In this document, we are advising the public of our finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) regarding the release of Ramularia crupinae 
for the biological control of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the 
contiguous United States. The finding, which is based on the EA, 
reflects our determination that release of Ramularia crupinae for the 
biological control of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the 
contiguous United States will not have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment. Based on this finding, we

[[Page 37988]]

have issued a permit for the release of Ramularia crupinae for the 
biological control of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the 
contiguous United States.
    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 1620 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. 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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of June 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15176 Filed 7-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P