[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9245-9247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4806]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 02-009-1]
Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program; Record of Decision Based
on Final Environmental Impact Statement--2001
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service's record of decision for the Fruit Fly Cooperative
Control Program final environmental impact statement.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the record of decision and the final environmental
impact statement on which the record of decision is based are available
for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street
and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming. The
documents may also be viewed on the Internet at http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/es/ppq/fffeis.pdf.
Copies of the record of decision and the final environmental impact
statement may be obtained from:
Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road Unit 149,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-6742; Western Regional Office, PPQ,
APHIS, USDA, 1629 Blue Spruce, Suite 204, Ft. Collins, CO 80524; or
Eastern Regional Office, PPQ, APHIS, USDA, 920 Main Campus, Suite
200, Raleigh, NC 27606-5202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Harold Smith, Environmental
ProtectionOfficer, Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-6742.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice advises the public that the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a
record of decision based on the Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program
final environmental impact statement. This record of decision 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 1), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
The Agency record of decision is set forth below.
Record of Decision; Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program; Final
Environmental Impact Statement--2001
Decision
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental impact
statement (EIS) for its Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program. The EIS
analyzed alternatives for control of various exotic fruit fly pests
that threaten United States agricultural and environmental resources.
After considering fully the analysis presented in the EIS (including
supportive documents cited or incorporated by reference), I have
accepted the findings of the EIS.
The selection of alternatives for individual future fruit fly
programs will be on an individual basis, made only after site-specific
assessment of the individual program areas. The selection of an
alternative (and its associated control methods) will consider the
findings of the EIS, the site-specific assessment, the public response,
and any other relevant information available to APHIS at the time.
APHIS will conduct environmental monitoring, and prepare environmental
monitoring plans that are specific to each program, which will describe
the purpose of the monitoring and the nature of the samples to be
collected and analyzed. Also, APHIS will implement an emergency
response communication plan for each future program that has been
designed to reduce risk to the public. I have determined that this
course of action includes all practicable means to avoid or minimize
environmental harm from fruit fly control measures that may be employed
by APHIS in future fruit fly control programs.
Alternatives Considered
The alternatives considered within the EIS include: No action, a
nonchemical program, and an integrated program (the preferred
alternative). The integrated program alternative includes both
nonchemical and chemical component methods. The alternatives are broad
in scope and reflect the major choices that must be made for future
programs. In addition to control methods, the action alternatives
include exclusion (quarantines and inspections) and detection and
prevention (including sterile insect technique) methods. The EIS
considered and compared the potential impacts of the alternatives as
well as their component control methods.
Decisional Background
In arriving at this decision, I have considered pertinent risk
analyses, chemical background statements, information on endangered and
threatened species, and other technical documents whose analyses and
conclusions were integrated into and summarized within the EIS. I have
also considered APHIS' responsibilities under various statutes or
regulations, the technological feasibilities of the alternatives and
control methods, and public perspectives relative to environmental
issues. Although scientific controversy may exist relative to the
severity of potential impacts, especially with regard to pesticide
impacts, I am satisfied that APHIS has estimated correctly the impacts
of alternatives for fruit fly control.
APHIS understands the potential consequences of control methods
(especially chemical control methods) used for fruit fly control.
Chemical control methods have greater potential for direct adverse
environmental consequences than nonchemical control methods. Chemical
pesticides have the potential to adversely affect human health,
nontarget species, and physical components of the environment. APHIS
fully appreciates the dangers pesticides may pose, especially to
sensitive members of communities, and consequently has made a
significant effort to research and develop the use of newer, less
harmful pesticides. One such pesticide, the microbially produced
biological insecticide spinosad, shows great promise and will be used
as a direct replacement for malathion where possible in future fruit
fly programs.
APHIS is committed to the rational use of chemical pesticides and
strives to reduce their use wherever possible. However, APHIS has
statutory obligations that require it to act decisively to eliminate
foreign fruit fly pests that invade our country. Given the current
state of control technology, we believe that nonchemical control
methods (used exclusively) are not capable of eradicating most fruit
fly species. We know too that the net result of a decision not to use
chemicals would be that other government entities or commercial growers
would be likely to use even more chemicals over a wider area, with
correspondingly greater environmental impact. APHIS is convinced that
coordinated and well-run government programs that limit the use of
pesticides to the minimum necessary to do the job are in the best
interests of the public and the environment. APHIS continues to support
and favor the use of integrated pest management strategies for control
of fruit fly pests.
Final Implementation
In all cases, a site-specific assessment will be made prior to the
time a decision is made on the control methods that will be used on a
particular program. That
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assessment will consider characteristics such as unique and sensitive
aspects of the program area, applicable environmental and program
documentation, and applicable new developments in environmental science
or control technologies. The site-specific assessment will also confirm
the adequacy or need for additional program mitigative measures. Site-
specific assessments will be made available to the public, and APHIS
will consider the public's perspective relative to individual programs.
To avoid or minimize environmental harm, APHIS will implement
appropriate risk reduction strategies, as described in chapter VI of
the EIS. These strategies are fully described in the EIS and include
but are not limited to the following: Pesticide applicat or
certification, training and applicator orientation, special pesticide
handling, precautions for pesticide application, identification of
sensitive sites, public notification procedures, and interagency
coordination and consultation.
(The record of decision was signed by Richard L. Dunkle, Deputy
Administrator, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, on February 5,
2002.)
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of February 2002.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-4806 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
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