[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28170]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2373]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Document Number AMS-NOP-17-0057; NOP-17-08]


Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 the Organic Foods Production Act.

DATES: The Board will receive public comments via webinars on April 17 
and 19, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(ET). An in-person meeting will be held April 25-27, 2018, from 8:30 
a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time. In-person oral comments 
will be heard on Wednesday, April 25, and Thursday, April 26, 2018. 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, April 4, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: The webinars are virtual and will be accessed via the 
internet and/or phone. Access information will be available on the AMS 
website prior to the webinars. The in-person meeting will take place at 
the Tucson University Park Hotel, 880 East Second Street, Tucson, 
Arizona 85719, United States. Detailed information pertaining to the 
webinars 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. The NOSB is holding a public meeting 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 and webinars are 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 website at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings. Please check the 
website 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 on April 4, 2018, via http://www.regulations.gov: 
Document #AMS-NOP-17-0057. 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) via mail to 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by or before 
the deadline.
    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, April 
4, 2018, and can register for only one speaking slot: Either during the 
webinars scheduled for April 17 and 19, or at the in-person meeting, 
scheduled for April 25-27, 2018. Due to the limited time allotted for 
in-person public comments during the in-person meeting, 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: December 26, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-28170 Filed 1-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P