[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 24659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10987]


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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. 82, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 30, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 24659]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-17-0024; NOP-17-03]


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), 
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 a webinar on October 
24, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). 
If the number of commenters registered for the webinar exceeds the time 
allotted, a second webinar will be held on October 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 
approximately 4:00 p.m. ET. An in-person meeting will be held October 
31-November 2, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. ET. Oral 
comments will be heard on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. 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, October 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The webinar(s) are 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 in-person meeting will take place at 
the Omni Jacksonville Hotel, 245 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32202, 
United States. Detailed information pertaining to the webinar and in-
person meeting 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 are under sunset 
review, 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 October 11, 2017 via http://www.regulations.gov: Document#AMS-NOP-17-0024. 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, 
October 11, 2017, and can only register for one speaking slot: Either 
during the webinar(s) scheduled for October 24 (and October 26 if 
needed) or at the in-person meeting, October 31, 2017. Due to the 
limited time allotted for in-person public comments, commenters are 
strongly encouraged to comment during the webinar(s). 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: May 23, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10987 Filed 5-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P