[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
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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. 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