Anastrepha spp. Cooperative Eradication Program Rio Grande Valley, Texas Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment, May 2021 Agency Contact: Dr. Richard N. Johnson Fruit Fly National Policy Manager Plant Protection and Quarantine Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 4700 River Road, Unit 26 – Riverdale, MD 20737 1232 Non-Discrimination Policy The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. 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Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected]. Persons With Disabilities Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Mention of companies or commercial products in this report does not imply recommendation or endorsement by USDA over others not mentioned. USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned to report factually on available data and to provide specific information. This publication reports research involving pesticides. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish and other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended label practices for the use and disposal of pesticides and pesticide container Table of Contents I. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................................... 1 A. REQUESTOR’S GOAL ............................................................................................................................................... 3 B. AGENCY AUTHORITY .............................................................................................................................................. 4 II. ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................................................... 6 A. NO ACTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 B. QUARANTINE AND COMMODITY CERTIFICATION .......................................................................................................... 7 C. CONTINUATION OF THE RGV MEXFLY PROGRAM ......................................................................................................... 8 D. MODIFICATION OF THE RGV MEXFLY PROGRAM (PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE) .................................................................... 8 1. Delimitation .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2. Eradication Treatments ................................................................................................................................ 9 III. THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT ...................................... 13 A. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 14 1. Land and Demographics ............................................................................................................................. 14 2. Water Resources ........................................................................................................................................ 18 B. POTENTIAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ........................................................................... 20 C. POTENTIAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUARANTINE AND COMMODITY CERTIFICATION ALTERNATIVE ........................... 20 D. POTENTIAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTINUING THE CURRENT RGV FRUIT FLY PROGRAM .......................................... 21 E. POTENTIAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ........................................................................... 21 1. Effects Associated with Chemical Treatments ............................................................................................ 22 2. Human Health ............................................................................................................................................ 27 3. Other Aspects of the Human Environment ................................................................................................. 29 4. Nontarget Species ...................................................................................................................................... 33 IV. AGENCIES CONSULTED ................................................................................................................................. 41 APPENDIX A. TEXAS ANASTREPHA QUARANTINES IN 2020 .............................................................................. A-1 APPENDIX B. GEOSPATIAL DATA RESOURCES USED IN COOPERATIVE FRUIT FLY PROGRAM NEPA ANALYSIS .... B-1 APPENDIX C. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... C-1 List of Figures FIGURE 1. MAP OF TEXAS WITH FRUIT FLY PROGRAM COUNTIES OUTLINED. ............................................................. 4 FIGURE 2. MAJOR ECOREGIONS IN TEXAS. ................................................................................................................ 14 FIGURE 3. MAJOR WATER BASINS IN THE RGV. ORANGE OUTLINES IDENTIFY THE SEVEN TEXAS COUNTIES IN THE POTENTIAL PROGRAM AREA. .............................................................................................................................. 19 List of Tables TABLE 1. COOPERATIVE FRUIT FLY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRIGGERS. ................................................................. 2 TABLE 2. SUGGESTED BAIT SPRAY OPTIONS FOR THE RGV ANASTREPHA PROGRAM. .......................................... 12 TABLE 3. COMMON WILDLIFE IN THE RGV. ............................................................................................................... 15 TABLE 4. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR THE SEVEN COUNTIES IN THE POTENTIAL ANASTREPHA PROGRAM AREA. .................................................................................................................................................................. 17 TABLE 5. SELECT DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE POTENTIAL PROGRAM AREA. ................................................................ 31 TABLE 6. MIGRATORY BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN IN BROOKS, CAMERON, HIDALGO, STARR, WEBB, WILLACY, AND ZAPATA COUNTIES. ................................................................................................................... 37 i List of Acronyms APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service BA Biological assessment CABI Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations EA Environmental assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EO Executive Order ESA The Endangered Species Act FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency GOMA Gulf of Mexico Alliance, Coastal Community Resilience Team IPM Integrated pest management LC Lambda-cyhalothrin MB Methyl bromide LRGVDC Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council MB Methyl bromide MC&F Miller Chemical and Fertilizer LLC MOU Memorandum of Understanding NAPIS National Agricultural Pest Information System NEPA The National Environmental Policy Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NPIC National Pesticide