Federal Register: December 14, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 241)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-30896
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket ID: [Docket No. 01-096-1]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Availability of an Environmental Assessment
DATES: We invite you to comment on the environmental assessment. We will consider all comments we receive that are postmarked, delivered, or emailed by January 14, 2002.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to the control of Melaleuca quinquenervia. The environmental assessment considers the effects of, and alternatives to, the release of two nonindigenous organisms into the environment for use as biological control agents to reduce the severity of melaleuca infestations. The environmental assessment has been prepared to provide the public with documentation of our review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts and plant pest risks associated with releasing these biological control agents into the environment.
SUMMARY:
Melaleuca quinquenervia; biological control agents use to reduce severity of melaleuca infestations,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
As part of an integrated control project to reduce the severity of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) infestations in Florida, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to release two nonindigenous organisms, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Lophyrotoma zonalis Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) in areas affected by melaleuca.
Melaleuca, a broadleaf paper bark tree native to Australia, was originally introduced in Florida during the early 1900's as an ornamental and was later planted along dikes and levees for erosion control and to convert wetlands into productive forest lands. Over the last four decades, it has spread throughout southern Florida, displacing native plant and animal species, and threatening the stability of the Florida Everglades ecosystem. The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the severity of the infestations of melaleuca throughout the affected areas.
APHIS' current melaleuca control project encompasses the areas known to be infested in central and south Florida and involves an integrated control approach sensitive to sitespecific conditions, which may include a combination of physical, biological, and/or chemical controls. In response to permit applications the Agency received for the release of B. melaleucae, a psyllid native to Australia, and L. zonalis, a sawfly also native to Australia, APHIS is investigating the use of these biological control agents to control melaleuca in the affected areas. If APHIS decides to issue permits to release B. melaleucae and/or L. zonalis, these organisms would be added to the integrated control methods already available. Presently, there is only one biological control agent, a nonindigenous weevil (Oxyops vitiosa), used to suppress melaleuca.
APHIS has completed an environmental assessment that considers the effects of, and alternatives to, releasing B. melaleucae and L. zonalis into the environment. B. melaleucae and L. zonalis are known to attack only species within the family Myrtaceae. Our findings indicate that L. zonalis and B. melaleucae will not develop on any native species of Myrtaceae, but may temporarily feed on, and cause minor damage to, introduced species of Callistemon and Myrtaceae, and possibly wax myrtle. There is no evidence that the release of these two biological control agents will adversely affect threatened and endangered species or their habitat, or cultural, historical, and archaeological resources.
L. zonalis is being tested for toxicity to vertebrates because a closely related species, Lophyrotoma interrupta Klug, is reported to be toxic to cattle in Australia under certain conditions. Until further testing is completed, L. zonalis will not be released into the environment. Therefore, we are considering the release of B. melaleucae and, pending further testing, the release of L. zonalis to reduce the severity of melaleuca infestations in Florida.
APHIS' review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts
associated with releasing these biological control agents into the
environment are documented in detail in an environmental assessment entitled ``Field Release of Two Biological Control Agents
Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Lophyrotoma
zonalis Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) for the Control of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtales: Myrtaceae)
[[Page 64798]]
in South Florida'' (September 2001). We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.
The environmental assessment may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ by accessing ``Forms,'' then ``Permits Pests;'' the environmental assessment is document number 0030. Copies of the environmental assessment may be obtained by calling the Plant Protection and Quarantine Automated Fax System at (301) 7344327 or (301) 7343560; please enter document number 0030 when prompted. You may also request copies of the environmental assessment by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the environmental assessment when requesting copies. The environmental assessment is also available for review in our reading room (information on the location and hours of the reading room is listed under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.)
The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 15001508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of December 2001 . W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 0130896 Filed 121301; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341034P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Dr. Tracy Horner, Entomologist, Permits and Risk Assessment, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 207371228; (301) 7345213.