[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 53759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21736]


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 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 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 173 / Tuesday, September 8, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53759]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-15-0037; NOP-15-11]


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 two webinars at which it will receive public 
comment: October 13 and October 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time. A face-to-face meeting will be held October 26-29, 2015, from 
approximately 9:00 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 October 13 and 20 meetings will take place via webinar 
(access information will be available prior to the webinars). The 
October 26-29, 2015 meeting will take place at the Stoweflake 
Conference Center, 1746 Mountain Road Stowe, VT 05672, (802) 253-7355, 
www.stoweflake.com. Detailed information pertaining to the meetings, 
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-So., 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 NOP 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 2017 sunset dates, and guidance on organic 
policies. At this meeting, the NOSB will complete its review of 
substances that have a sunset date in 2017, fulfilling the NOSB's 
responsibilities described in the Organic Foods Production Act's sunset 
provision (section 2118(e)).
    Public Comments:
    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 CONTACT.
    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 one of the two webinars, October 13 or 20, 2015, or 
at the face-to-face meeting October 26-29, 2015. 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: August 28, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21736 Filed 9-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P