APHIS has prepared a revised draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed field release of the blister mite Aceria salsolae as a classical biological control agent against Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) across the contiguous United States. Russian thistle infests roughly 41.3 million hectares in the central and western United States and causes significant economic and ecological harm. A prior 2009 EA did not result in permits due to public comments; additional host-specificity research has since been completed, leading to this revised draft. APHIS has reached a preliminary determination of no significant impact and is accepting public comments through July 28, 2025.12