APHIS Takes Steps to Reevaluate Methyl Bromide Use in Wood Packaging Material (to Prepare Supplemental EIS)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice of its intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to analyze methyl bromide usage associated with regulatory requirements for importing solid wood packing material (WPM) into the U.S.
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According to APHIS, the SEIS will serve as a supplement to the Importation of Solid Wood Packing Material Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). APHIS states that the FEIS was prepared with regard to the final rule amending the regulations for the importation of unmanufactured wood articles to adopt an international standard entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade" (Guidelines). (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/17/04, 09/20/04, and 09/23/04 news, 04091710, 04092020, and 04092320, for Parts I, II, and III, respectively, of BP summary of the final rule adopting these guidelines.)
Methyl Bromide Usage to be Determined by Compliance with WPM Guidelines
APHIS states that the purpose of the SEIS is to reevaluate and refine the estimates of methyl bromide usage associated with the alternatives considered in the FEIS. It will base the SEIS on recently obtained, reliable data regarding how various countries have complied with the final rule and with the Guidelines on which the final rule was based.
According to APHIS, the data in the SEIS will include reports on whether cargo is routinely fumigated along with WPM, which would result in more methyl bromide usage, or whether WPM is fumigated separately form cargo, which would result in less methyl bromide usage.
APHIS states that it also has new data on the extent to which various countries have chosen to comply with the guidelines by heat treating WPM rather than fumigating it.
APHIS Will Announce Availability of Draft SEIS and Invite Comments
APHIS states that when it has completed a draft SEIS, it will publish a notice announcing its availability and an invitation to comment on it in the Federal Register.
APHIS Contact - David Bergsten (301) 734-6103
APHIS notice (D/N APHIS-2006-0152, FR Pub 10/24/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-17773.pdf