[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 2982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-694]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Ruffe Control Program; Environmental Assessment and Benefits and
Cost Analysis
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the proposed Ruffe
Control Program, a draft Environmental Assessment of the proposed Ruffe
Control Program, and a Benefits and Costs of the Ruffe Control Program
for public review and comment. Public meetings to explain the proposed
Ruffe Control Program and to take comments will be held in several
areas of the Great Lakes where ruffe are of particular concern. Public
meetings will be scheduled for: Duluth, MN; Chicago, IL; and, Buffalo,
NY. The public meetings will be announced when the locations and dates
are firmly established.
The proposed Ruffe Control Program and the accompanying
Environmental Assessment were prepared by the Ruffe Control Committee
of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force as required by Section
1202 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act
of 1990 (P.L. 101-464, Act). Comments received will be considered in
preparing the final Ruffe Control Program that will become the basis
for Federal participation in cooperative responses with State, Tribes,
and local resource agencies to control ruffe.
DATES: Comments on the proposed Ruffe Control Program, Environmental
Assessment, and Benefits and Cost Analysis should be received by March
13, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Written responses and requests for copies of the documents
should be mailed to: Jay Troxel, ANS Coordinator, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (ARLSQ 820), 1849 C Street, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Specific questions regarding the Ruffe Control Program and related
documents should be directed to: Thomas Busiahn, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Supervisor, Ashland Fishery Resources Office, Ashland,
Wisconsin 54806, telephone (715) 682-6186.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Troxel, ANS Coordinator, at (703)
358-1718.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ANS Task Force was established to
coordinate implementation of the Nonindigenous Act and is co-chaired by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. The proposed Ruffe Control Program and
related documents were developed by the Ruffe Control Committee of the
ANS Task Force. The Ruffe Control Program presents the goals and
objectives of ruffe control, the requisites to the Program, the
uncertainties regarding the proposed control efforts, and the
conditions for revaluating or terminating the Program. The Ruffe
Control Program emphasizes range reduction, ballast water management,
population investigation, surveillance, predator evaluation, and
education. All the objectives must be met if control is to be
successful.
The Ruffe Control Committee has prepared a draft Environmental
Assessment on the proposed Ruffe Control Program. Taking into
consideration comments on the proposed Ruffe Control Program and the
Environmental Assessment, a determination will be made whether approval
of the Program is a major Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment within the meaning of section
102(20)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Ruffe
Control Committee also developed the Benefits and Costs Analysis of the
Ruffe Control Program. The purpose is to evaluate the cost-
effectiveness of alternate control strategies as well as the cost/
benefit of taking action versus no action.
Dated: January 6, 1995.
Gary Edwards,
Co-Chair, ANS Task Force, Assistant Director--Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 95-694 Filed 1-11-95; 8:45 am]
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