[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 218 (Monday, November 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 66590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26661]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 218 / Monday, November 10, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 66590]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-TM-08-0086; TM-08-10A]


Notice of Amendment to 2008 National Organic Certification Cost-
Share Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Amended Funds Availability.

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SUMMARY: On September 22, 2008, the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) published in the Federal Register (73 FR 54555), a Notice of 
Funds Availability inviting all States of the United States of America, 
its territories, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, (collectively hereinafter called States) to submit an 
Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and to enter 
into a cooperative agreement with AMS for the allocation of National 
Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. This Notice informs that the 
National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (Program) is being 
amended to provide cost-share assistance through participating States, 
to organic producers and handlers receiving certification or 
continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent 
commencing October 1, 2007, rather than the originally announced 
October 1, 2008. To effectuate this amendment to the Program, AMS will 
issue amended cooperative agreements to participating States. Funding 
will be available for fiscal year 2008 (October 1, 2007, through 
September 30, 2008) in all States signing and returning an amended 
cooperative agreement. This action will make funds available to a 
greater number of eligible persons and achieve Congress' intent that 
use of National Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds begin with 
fiscal year 2008.
    AMS has allocated a total of $22.0 million for the National Organic 
Certification Cost-Share Program commencing in fiscal year 2008. Funds 
are available under this Program to interested States to assist organic 
producers and handlers certified under the National Organic Program 
(NOP), as appropriate.

DATES: Interested states should submit a signed, amended cooperative 
agreement (provided by AMS) by December 26, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Amended cooperative agreements must be submitted to: Robert 
Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, 
USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, Room 4008--South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: 
(202) 205-7808. Additional information may be found through the 
National Organic Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing 
Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4008--
South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0268; Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 
6523, as amended by section 10301 of the Food, Conservation and Energy 
Act of 2008 (Act). The Act authorizes the Department to provide 
certification cost share assistance to producers and handlers of 
organic agricultural products in all States. AMS has allocated $22 
million for this program commencing in fiscal year 2008. The Program 
provides financial assistance to organic producers and handlers 
certified to the NOP. The NOP is authorized under the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
    On September 22, 2008, AMS published a Notice of Funds Availability 
in the Federal Register (73 FR 54555). That notice invited all States 
to submit an application and signed cooperative agreement to AMS by 
September 26, 2008.
    This Notice informs that the Program is being amended to provide 
cost-share assistance through participating States, to organic 
producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of 
certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent commencing October 
1, 2007, rather than the originally announced October 1, 2008. To 
effectuate this amendment to the Program, AMS will issue amended 
cooperative agreements to participating States. Funding will be 
available for fiscal year 2008 (October 1, 2007, through September 30, 
2008) in all States signing and returning an amended cooperative 
agreement. This action will make funds available to a greater number of 
eligible persons and achieve Congress' intent that use of National 
Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds begin with fiscal year 2008.
    Under the Act, payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual 
producer's or handler's certification costs up to a maximum of $750.00 
per year.
    However, for producers in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, 
Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West 
Virginia, and Wyoming cost share funding is available to these states 
under the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification 
Cost-Share Program authorized under section 1524 of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524). As provided in a 
Notice of Funds Availability published in the Federal Register on 
August 28, 2008 (73 FR 50756), eligible States had until September 15, 
2008, to complete and return an application for federal assistance, 
along with the signed cooperative agreements. Information on this 
program can be found on the NOP's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6523.

    Dated: November 4, 2008.
James E. Link,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26661 Filed 11-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P