[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 227 (Friday, November 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 85205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28383]



[[Page 85205]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-16-0100; NOP-16-11]


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, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic 
Standards Board (NOSB) to assist the USDA 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 receive public comments via webinar on April 13, 
2017 from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). A 
face-to-face meeting will be held April 19-21, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 
approximately 6:00 p.m. ET. The deadline to submit written comments 
and/or sign up for oral comment at either the webinar or face-to-face 
meeting is 11:59 p.m. ET, March 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The April 13, 2017 webinar is virtual and will be accessed 
via the internet and/or phone. Access information will be available on 
the AMS Web site prior to the webinar. The April 19-21, 2017 meeting 
will take place at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Pl., 
Denver, CO 80202, United States. Detailed information pertaining to the 
webinar and face-to-face 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. All meeting 
documents, including 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. Please check the Web 
site periodically for updates. 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 2019 sunset dates, and guidance on organic 
policies. Participants and attendees may take photos and video at the 
meeting, but not in a manner that disturbs the proceedings.
    Public Comments: Comments should address specific topics noted on 
the meeting agenda.
    Written Comments: Written public comments will be accepted on or 
before 11:59 p.m. ET March 30, 2017 via http://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 recommendations. 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 the person 
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 11:59 p.m. ET, March 
30, 2017, and can only register for one speaking slot: Either during 
the webinar, April 13, 2017, or at the face-to-face meeting, April 19-
21, 2017. Once the schedule is full, individuals will be added to a 
waiting list. Instructions for registering and participating in the 
webinar can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.
    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 the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Determinations for reasonable 
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    Dated: November 21, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28383 Filed 11-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P