[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16386]


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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. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 39376]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[Document Number AMS-NOP-18-0029; NOP-18-01]


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 (OFPA).

DATES: The Board will receive public comments via webinars on October 
16 and 18, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time. An in-person meeting will be held October 24-26, 2018, from 8:30 
a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In-person oral comments 
will be heard on Wednesday, October 24, and possibly Thursday, October 
25, 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, October 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 Intercontinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel, 11 Kellogg Boulevard 
East, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101, United States. Detailed information 
pertaining to the webinars and in-person meeting can be found at 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-st-paul-mn.

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 USDA 
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 OFPA. The NOSB is holding a public meeting to 
discuss and vote on proposed recommendations to the USDA, to receive 
updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues 
pertaining to organic agriculture, and to receive comments from the 
organic community. The meeting and webinars are open to the public. No 
registration is required except to sign up for oral comments. 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 https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-st-paul-mn. 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 October 4, 2018, via http://www.regulations.gov: Document #AMS-NOP-18-0029. 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, 
October 4, 2018, and can register for only one speaking slot: Either 
during the webinars scheduled for October 16 and 18, or at the in-
person meeting, scheduled for October 24-26, 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: July 26, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16386 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P