[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2552]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 21 / Monday, February 2, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 5285]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[TM-98-00-1]


Information Meetings for the National Organic Program Proposed 
Rule

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing four 
public information meetings to discuss the proposed rule for the 
National Organic Program which was published in the Federal Register on 
December 16, 1997. The meetings are intended to provide an opportunity 
for USDA to present an overview of the proposed rule, respond to 
questions, and obtain public comments.

DATES: February 12, 1998, February 18, 1998, February 26, 1998, March 
5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The sessions will be held at the following locations:
February 12, 1998: The Meeting Place Conference Center, 2100 Northland 
Drive, Austin, Texas 78756, (512) 323-9500
February 18, 1998: Iowa State University, Iowa State Center, Scheman 
Building, Benton Auditorium, Suite 4, Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-3218
February 26, 1998: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, 
Washington 98109, (206) 684-7202
March 5, 1998: Rutgers University, Rutgers Student Center, 126 College 
Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, (732) 932-8821

    Each of the meetings will be held during the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 
p.m. in each of the respective locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hankin, National Organic 
Program, Room 2945 South Building, USDA, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, Transportation and Marketing, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6456. Telephone (202) 720-3252. Fax (202) 690-3924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 16, 1997, USDA published in the 
Federal Register (62 FR 65849) a proposed rule, issued under the 
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et. 
seq.), which addresses the methods, practices, and substances used in 
producing and handling organic crops and livestock and their processed 
products. Included in the proposed rule are provisions for: producing 
and handling organic agricultural products; labeling organic products; 
certification of organic operations; accreditation of State and private 
certifying agents; compliance testing; equivalency of foreign organic 
certification programs; approval of State organic programs; and fees. 
The proposed rule also includes an assessment of the economic impact of 
the rule, an analysis of its effects on small businesses, and an 
estimate of the paperwork burden required under the proposed rule. The 
purpose of the public meetings is to provide an opportunity for the 
public to ask USDA questions about the proposed rule and to submit 
public comments that will be included in the public record, together 
with comments submitted by letter, fax, or through the Internet, as 
provided for in the December 16, 1997, proposed rule.

Who Can Comment

    Any member of the public may submit a comment; however, we request 
that those persons who wish to comment register with USDA as soon as 
possible prior to the meeting date. A person may register by calling 
Karen Thomas at (202) 720-3252, at which time each person will be 
requested to submit their name, the topic of the comment, and the 
meeting location where the comment will be submitted. Registration will 
help ensure that a person will be able to present his or her comment 
during the meeting. Persons wishing to comment may also register by 
sending an e-mail message to the NOP Webmaster at http://
www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Any person wishing to comment, but who is unable 
to register prior to the meetings, will be able to sign up at each 
meeting location on the day of the meeting between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 
p.m. These presenters may submit comments on a first-come, first-served 
basis and these comments will be limited based on the time available 
and the number of presenters.

Meeting Agenda

    Each meeting will begin with a brief opening statement followed by 
a 30-minute question and answer period. The remainder of the meeting 
will be a listening session at which time interested parties may submit 
public comment on the proposed rule. Oral comments will be limited to 5 
minutes to enable the greatest number of presenters an opportunity to 
speak. The question and answer period and the public comments will be 
recorded and included in the public record of comments for the proposed 
rule. We request that a printed copy of each person's comments be 
provided to USDA at the time the comment is submitted orally to ensure 
an accurate transcription.

Written Comments

    As described in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR 
65849), written comments may be mailed to Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy 
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 4007-S, Ag 
Stop 0275, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, or faxed to 
(202) 690-4632 by March 16, 1998, or submitted via the Internet through 
the National Organic Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

    Dated: January 28, 1998.
Eileen S. Stommes,
Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.
[FR Doc. 98-2552 Filed 1-29-98; 9:56 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P