[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 14079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05835]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 16, 2016 /
Notices
[[Page 14079]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS-NOP-15-0085; NOP-15-16]
Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, (5 U.S.C. App.), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS),
Department of Agriculture, is announcing a meeting of the National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to assist the Department in the
development of standards for substances to be used in organic
production and to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on any other
aspects of the implementation of Organic Foods Production Act.
DATES: The Board will hold one webinar at which it will receive public
comment: April 19 from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. A face-to-face meeting will be held April 25-27, 2016, from
approximately 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Deadline to sign up for oral comment: Midnight Eastern Time, 30 days
after publication of this notice. Deadline to submit written comments:
Midnight Eastern Time, 30 days after publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The April 19, 2016 meeting will take place via webinar
(access information will be available on the NOP Web site prior to the
webinar). The April 25-27, 2016 meeting will take place at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW., Washington, DC 20008. http://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/washington-dc-shoreham. Detailed information
pertaining to the meeting, including instructions about providing
written and oral comments can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Advisory
Committee Specialist, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP,
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2642-S, Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NOSB makes recommendations to the
Department of Agriculture about whether substances should be allowed or
prohibited in organic production and/or handling, assists in the
development of standards for organic production, and advises the
Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods
Production Act (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522). The public meeting allows the NOSB
to discuss and vote on proposed recommendations to the USDA, receive
updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues
pertaining to organic agriculture, and receive comments from the
organic community. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting
agenda, NOSB proposals and discussion documents, instructions for
submitting and viewing public comments, and instructions for requesting
time for oral comments will be available on the AMS Web site at
www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings. Meeting topics will encompass a wide
range of issues, including: Substances petitioned for addition to or
deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
(National List), substances on the National List that require NOSB
review before their 2018 sunset dates, and guidance on organic
policies. At this meeting, the NOSB will begin its review of substances
that have a sunset date in 2018.
Public Comments
Comments should address specific topics noted on the meeting
agenda.
Written comments:
Written public comments will be accepted on or before midnight
Eastern Time, 30 days after publication of this notice via
www.regulations.gov. Comments submitted after this date will be
provided to the NOSB, but Board members may not have adequate time to
consider those comments prior to making a recommendation. The NOP
strongly prefers comments to be submitted electronically; however,
written comments may also be submitted (i.e. postmarked) by the
deadline, via mail to Ms. Michelle Arsenault listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION.
Oral Comments:
The NOSB is providing the public multiple dates and opportunities
to provide oral comments and will accommodate as many individuals and
organizations as time permits. Persons or organizations wishing to make
oral comments must pre-register by midnight Eastern Time, 30 days after
publication of this notice, and can only register for one speaking
slot: Either during the webinar, April 19, 2016, or at the face-to-face
meeting April 25-27, 2016. Instructions for registering and
participating in the webinar can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings or by contacting Michelle Arsenault listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Meeting Accommodations: The meeting hotel is ADA Compliant, and the
USDA provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities
where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to
participate in this public meeting, please notify Michelle Arsenault
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Determinations for
reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Dated: March 10, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05835 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P