[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 32023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14905]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of an Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of the availability of an environmental assessment;
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to make available to the public
an environmental assessment regarding the release in the United States
of three nonindigeneous insects Galerucella calmariensis, Galerucella
pusilla, and Hylobius transversovittatus. The purpose of the release is
to reduce and control Lythrum salicaria on Service-managed wetlands and
to assist the States to reduce and control purple loosestrife on non-
Service wetlands. These insects are not native to North America.
The Service proposes to release these three insect species on
Service and other lands in the United States so they can contribute to
the biological control of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an
introduced weed.
The primary reason for releasing these three insect species as a
tool for purple loosestrife control is to lessen the negative
environmental impacts caused by purple loosestrife infestations
themselves and the methods used currently to control the week plant.
The intended result of the proposed action is to cause positive
environmental impacts.
DATES: Written comments on the Environmental Assessment should be
received on or before July 12, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this Environmental Assessment should be
addressed to Robert Schallenberger, Chief, Division of Refuges, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC
20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Furniss, Refuge Program
Specialist, or Howard Schlegel, Forester, Division of Refuges, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC
20240 (703) 358-2043.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An Environmental Assessment (EA) was
prepared that addressed three alternative actions for the Service's
management of the introduced weed plant purple loosestrife (Lythrum
salicaria). Purple Loosestrife has impacted North American wetland
ecosystems by changing the structure, function, and productivity of the
wetlands. The plant forms dense monoculture stands, sometimes thousands
of acres in size, that displace native vegetation and threaten the
biotic integrity of wetland ecosystems. The loss of plant species
richness and diversity has eliminated natural foods and cover essential
to many wetland wildlife species. This has altered the wetland habitat
necessary to fulfill the purposes for which many wildlife refuges were
established.
Conventional control methods are ineffective, costly, and require
continuous long term maintenance. The release of the subject biological
agents is intended to facilitate use of self-perpetuating biological
controls. If the three insects in question become established, they
would provide continuous control of the plant without further human
actions. This would reduce current dependency on the rather non-
effective and costly actions of mechanical methods, fire, water
manipulations, and herbicide used to control loosestrife. If not
reduced in volume and controlled, the plant will continue to expand and
degrade wetlands nationwide by replacing native plant species in
already stressed and declining wetland environments.
In addition to the proposed action, the Service also considered the
alternative of continuing current management of the plant as well as
the alternative of using two previously approved species of beetles for
control of the purple loosestrife on Service lands. The selected
alternative is the proposed action of releasing the three insects, in
addition to the two previously approved species, to develop a
continuous biological control of the plant.
Dated: June 14, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14905 Filed 6-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
