The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA has released a final supplemental environmental assessment and found no significant environmental impact in their response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in U.S. migratory bird flyways. This assessment updates an earlier one from September 2022 that only covered initial outbreaks in seven states. Since then, the virus has affected approximately 110 million birds across 49 states. Public comments, which raised concerns about consultation with other agencies and environmental effects, were considered, and the final documents reflect responses to those concerns.
Simple Explanation
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA checked if their plan to help stop a bird flu affecting many states would hurt nature, and they found it wouldn't cause much harm. They listened to what people and other groups had to say and included some changes because of that.