[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43372-43373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10648]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0079]


Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program; Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a programmatic environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact relative to the Spotted Lanternfly 
Cooperative Control Program in the conterminous United States. The 
environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of 
environmental impacts associated with the Spotted Lanternfly 
Cooperative Control Program. Based on its finding of no significant 
impact, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined 
that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew Travis, Spotted Lanternfly 
National Policy Manager, PPQ, APHIS, Emergency and Domestic Programs, 
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238; telephone: (580) 
240-5394; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, an invasive 
species native to Asia, is a destructive pest that in large numbers can 
cause significant damage to critical habitat and economically important 
plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed to control SLF to slow the spread 
of this

[[Page 43373]]

invasive insect in the conterminous United States wherever outbreaks 
are detected.
    SLF infestation has led to crop loss, agriculture exportation 
problems, and increased management costs. APHIS has concerns with the 
potential for long-distance movement of SLF within the United States, 
and the continued risk of SLF introduction from other countries. 
Additionally, APHIS acknowledges that the environmental and 
socioeconomic damage to SLF-affected regions can be substantial.
    On November 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR 
77259-77260, Docket No. APHIS-2023-0079) a notice \1\ in which we 
announced the availability, for public review and comment, of a 
programmatic environmental assessment (ProEA) that examined the 
potential environmental impacts associated with the SLF cooperative 
control program. In our analysis, APHIS found that an adaptive pest 
management approach that combines quarantine, chemical treatments, and 
pest survey is the preferred alternative to address the potential 
environmental impact of a SLF outbreak.
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    \1\ To view the notice, the supporting documents, and the 
comments we received, go to www.regulations.gov, and enter APHIS-
2023-0079 in the Search field.
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    We solicited comments on the ProEA for 30 days ending December 11, 
2023. We received two comment submissions by that date. A commenter 
questioned why Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from the ProEA, citing a 
map for the possible host range of SLF that indicated it could become 
established in Alaska. The ProEA was limited to the conterminous United 
States based on information that possible introduction of SLF into 
Alaska was not imminent. However, should SLF become established in 
Alaska, a supplemental EA will be prepared. The same commenter also 
raised a concern with a perceived lack of information and analyses on 
the economic impact of an SLF outbreak in the draft ProEA. Finally, 
another commenter agreed with APHIS that SLF is a destructive pest. The 
comments that we received, and APHIS' responses to the comments, are 
presented in our finding of no significant impact (FONSI) (see 
supporting documents).
    In this document, we are advising the public of our FONSI on the 
implementation of the adaptive management alternative for the SLF 
program. The finding, which is based on the results of the analysis in 
the final ProEA, reflects our determination that under this 
alternative, the methods used to exclude, detect, prevent, and control 
SLF infestations will not have a significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment.
    The ProEA and FONSI 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 ProEA and FONSI by calling or writing 
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please 
refer to the title of the ProEA when requesting copies.
    The ProEA 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 3rd day of May 2024.
Michelle Wenberg,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-10648 Filed 5-16-24; 8:45 am]
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