[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1552]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Energy Policy and New Uses

7 CFR Part 2902

RIN 0503-AA26


Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal 
Procurement

AGENCY: Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA.

ACTION: Notification of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses is announcing a 
public meeting to discuss the proposed rule entitled ``Guidelines for 
Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement'' published in 
the Federal Register of December 19, 2003 (68 FR 70730). This meeting 
is intended to provide stakeholders and interested parties with a 
briefing on the proposed rule and an opportunity to ask questions and 
make comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2004, 
from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. 
Registration will occur on site on Thursday, January 29, 2004, 
beginning at 8 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250.
    A written transcript of the meeting and submitted comments will be 
available for viewing at the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, 
Reporters Building, Room 361, 300 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 
20024, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, 
Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin Duncan, Office of Energy Policy 
and New Uses, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Reporters Building, Room 
361, 300 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024, 202-401-0532, FAX: 202-
401-0533, or e-mail; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 9002 o9f the Farm security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) 
of 2002, 7 U.S.C. 8102, authorizes a program of preferred procurement 
of biobased products by Federal agencies. The proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register of December 19, 2003 (68 FR 70730) sets out the 
structure for implementing the program of preferred procurement of 
biobased products by Federal agencies.
    The public meeting will provide an opportunity to brief 
stakeholders and interested parties on the proposed rule and allow them 
to ask questions about the proposed rule. The meeting also will provide 
an opportunity for stakeholders and others to offer public comments on 
the proposed rule.
    The meeting will be video streamed in real time to enable 
stakeholders and other interested parties not attending the meeting in 
person to observe the discussion that takes place at the meeting. The 
video web streaming can be accessed by a hot link at the Current Issues 
Box on the Home Page of the Web site http://www.biobased.oce.usda.gov. 
The video web streaming can also be accessed on the USDA Home Page at 
http://www.usda.gov. During the meeting, members of the public can fax 
questions or public comments on the proposed rule to fax number (202) 
720-9553. Alternatively, questions or public comments can also be e-
mailed to the meeting at [email protected]. A transcript of the 
meeting, for the hearing impaired, will be prepared soon after the 
meeting is completed and posted on the Web site 
www.biobased.oce.usda.gov.
    Agenda: The daylong meeting will have two sessions: The morning 
session will include a presentation on the major provisions of the 
proposed rule and a panel of government officials will respond to 
questions for clarification of the proposed rule.
    In the afternoon session, public comments on the rule will be 
received. All public comments must include a printed text of the 
comment, identify the commenter, and provide contact information. 
Public comments may be faxed to the meeting site during the meeting 
using the fax number 202-720-9553. Alternatively, public comments can 
be e-mailed to the meeting at [email protected].
    To provide public comments on the proposed rule outside of the 
announced stakeholder meeting, please follow the instructions in the 
Addresses section of the proposed rule (68 FR 70730, December 19, 
20030.
    There is no registration fee for this meeting. Because the meeting 
will be held in a Federal building, you should bring a photo ID and 
plan for adequate time to pass through security screening systems.

II. Electronic Access

    You can access the proposed rule, as published in the Federal 
Register, on the Web site http://www.biobased.oce.usda.gov.

III. Transcripts

    The video web streaming of the meeting will be available to be 
viewed on the Web site www.biobased.oce.usda.gov for approximately 40 
days after the date of the stakeholder meeting. The transcript of the 
meeting and submitted comments will be available for public examination 
at the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, Reporters Building, 
Room 361, 300 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20024, between the hours 
of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday.

    Dated: January 20, 2004.
Keith Collins,
Chief Economist, USDA.
[FR Doc. 04-1552 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
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