United States Department of Agriculture Asian Longhorned Beetle Marketing and Regulatory Eradication Program Programs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement—September 2015 Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement—September 2015 Agency Contact: Jim E. Warren, Ph.D. Ecologist Policy and Program Development Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 4700 River Road, Unit 149 Riverdale, MD 20737–1238 (This page is intentionally left blank.) 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Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended label practices for the use and disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers. (This page is intentionally left blank.) Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................. v I. Purpose of and Need for Action ............................................................. 1 A. Background ...................................................................................... 2 1. Description of ALB ..................................................................... 2 2. Economic Impacts of ALB in the United States .......................... 7 3. Existing and Projected Ecological Impact in the United States and Elsewhere ........................................................................... 9 B. Public Involvement ......................................................................... 11 1. Prior EAs Published by the Agency and Results from Public Comments .................................................................... 11 2. Past Agency Outreach Efforts on ALB Issues .......................... 11 3. Locations of Addressed Issues Raised by Stakeholders ......... 11 C. Decision Framework ...................................................................... 15 D. Scope of this Document and NEPA Requirements ....................... 17 E. Consultations ................................................................................. 17 II. Alternatives .......................................................................................... 19 A. Quarantine ..................................................................................... 19 B. Survey ........................................................................................... 20 1. Level 1 Survey (Core Survey) ................................................. 21 2. Level 2 Survey (Buffer) ............................................................ 21 3. Level 3 Survey (High Risk Survey) .......................................... 22 4. Secondary Survey ................................................................... 23 C. Alternatives Evaluated in this EIS ................................................. 23 1. No Action ................................................................................. 25 2. Removal of Infested Trees ...................................................... 26 3. Full Host Removal ................................................................... 27 4. Insecticide Treatment .............................................................. 28 5. An Integrated Approach (Preferred Alternative) ...................... 29 D. Alternatives Considered but Not Included in this EIS .................... 30 1. Use of Other Chemical Control Agents ................................... 30 2. Other Integrated Pest Management / Suppression Strategies ................................................................................ 30 III. Affected Environment .......................................................................... 33 A. Affected Forest Communities ........................................................ 33 B. Affected Water Resources ............................................................ 34 1. Water Quality ........................................................................... 35 2. Interactions of Soils with Water Quality ................................... 37 C. Affected Soil .................................................................................. 37 1. Soil Types of the United States ............................................... 38 2. ALB-Host Species and Soil Quality ......................................... 38 3. Soil Erosion ............................................................................. 39 D. Air .................................................................................................. 40 E. Affected Biological Organisms ...................................................... 43 F. Affected Economic, Social, and Cultural Factors .......................... 46 Table of Contents i. 1. Market Factors ......................................................................... 46 2. Timber ..................................................................................... 47 3. Maple Syrup ............................................................................ 50 4. Tree Nurseries ......................................................................... 50 5. Non-Market Factors ................................................................. 51 6. Social Factors .......................................................................... 52 7. Cultural Factors ....................................................................... 52 IV. Environmental Consequences ............................................................. 55 A. Program Alternatives ...................................................................... 55 1. Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................... 55 2. Alternative 2: Removal of Infested Trees ................................ 63 3. Alternative 3: Full Host Removal ............................................. 71 4. Alternative 4: Infested Tree Removals and Insecticide Treatment of High-Risk Host Trees .......................................... 75 5. Alternative 5: An Integrated Approach (Preferred Alternative) ................................................................................ 83 6. Cumulative Impacts .................................................................. 85 B. Special Programmatic Considerations ........................................... 90 1. Applicable Environmental Statutes ........................................... 90 2. Mitigation and Risk Reduction .................................................. 98 3. Program Monitoring .................................................................. 99 4. Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ....... 100 Appendices A. Preparers B. List of ALB NEPA Links C. ALB Annotated Host List D. Assessment of Greenhouse