Public Meetings for Environmental Documentation on Herbicidal Eradication

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration

[DEA Number 175N]

Public Meetings for Environmental Documentation on Herbicidal

Eradication

AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the ``Draft Supplement to

the Environmental Impact Statements for Cannabis Eradication in the

Contiguous United States and Hawaii'' (DSEIS) is available for public

review and comment and that public meetings will be held regarding this

document. On August 13, 1996, we announced our intent to supplement the

programmatic EIS's on eradication of Cannabis on Federal and non-

Federal lands and welcomed comments (FR 61 42056). The DSEIS is an

update of the latest scientific information regarding the herbicidal

alternatives in the original environmental impact statement (EIS)

documentation.

In 1985 and 1986, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

published progammatic EISs for its Cannabis eradication program. The

first EIS was prepared for Cannabis eradication on Federal lands in the

continental United States, and the second EIS was prepared for the

program as it pertained to non-Federal lands, Indian lands, and the

State of Hawaii, including Native Hawaiian Homestead lands. The

alternatives analyzed in detail in the EIS include the use of manual,

mechanical, and herbicidal eradication methods.

In the DSEIS, changes to the herbicidal eradication alternatives in

the 1985 and 1986 EISs were analyzed. The changes analyzed were (1) the

addition of triclopyr as an approved program herbicide; (2) elimination

of paraquat as an approved program herbicide; and (3) changes in

program delivery, including elimination of broadcast aerial

applications of herbicides, use of new technology in aerial directed

treatments of herbicides, use of marker dyes, and use of amine

formulations of 2,4-D..

DATES: Five public meetings will be held.

Tuesday, May 12, 1998, 4 pm-8 pm, Denver, Colorado, Renaissance Denver,

3801 Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado 80207 (Ball Room)

Friday, May 15, 1998, 4 pm-8 pm, Honolulu, Hawaii, Ala Moana Hotel, 410

Atkins Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 (Hibiscus Ball Room)

Tuesday, May 19, 1998, 4 pm-8 pm, Boise, Idaho, Boise Center on the

Grove, 850 West Front Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 (The Summit Room)

Thursday, May 21, 1998, 4 pm-8 pm, Atlanta, Georgia, Westin Atlanta

Airport, 4736 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337 (Grand Ball Room 1)

Wednesday, May 27, 1998, 4 pm-8 pm, Washington, DC Metro Area, Holiday

Eisenhower Metro Center, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314

(Eisenhower Station Ball)

The public comment period will be open for 45 days beginning with

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's formal Notice of

Availability, anticipated to appear in the Federal Register on April

17, 1998. The DSEIS will be mailed to the names on the mailing list.

CONTACTS: Comments and participation at the public meetings are

invited. Speakers are requested to present one original and three

copies of the written text of their presentation to register. Speakers

may pre-register by facsimile at (301) 734-3640 any time of day or by

calling Ms. Vicki Wickheiser, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Speakers should

identify which meeting they plan to attend. Speakers may also register

starting at 3 p.m. the day of the meeting. Again, they should present

written text as described above.

ADDRESSES: Comments and participation at the public meetings are

invited. Speakers are requested to submit text of their presentation

to: Ms. Vicky Wickheiser, DOA/APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 149,

Riverdale, MD 20737-1228. Anyone unable to attend one of the above

meetings, who wishes to submit written comments to the DSEIS may submit

them to the above address prior to June 1, 1998.

Copies of the Draft DSEIS

Copies of the DSEIS have been sent to all agencies and individuals

who responded to the DSEIS Federal Register Notice of Intent, and to

all respondents from the Original EIS Mailing list who responded

positively to a mailing list query, and to other individuals that have

requested copies of the document. Persons wishing copies of this DSEIS

should immediately contact: Mr. Jack Edmundson, DOA/APHIS, 4700 River

Road, Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228, phone (301)-734-4844,

facsimile (301)-734-5992.

Copies of the DSEIS will be available until May 10, 1998. There

will be a limited number of copies of the DSEIS at each public meeting.

We have also arranged to have Internet online access to the document

through the Drug Enforcement Administration's web site: www.usdoj.gov/

dea> Click on Programs then select Cannabis.

Dated: March 13, 1998.

Donnie R. Marshall,

Acting Deputy Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98-7828 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410-09-M