[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 23522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10614]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 23522]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS-NOP-19-0038-NOP-18-06]
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). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of
standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises
the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation
of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
DATES: An in-person meeting will be held October 23-25, 2019, from 8:30
a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Board will hear oral
public comments via webinars on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 and Thursday,
October 17, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, and at the in-person meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 and
Thursday, October 24, 2019. The deadline to submit written comments
and/or sign up for oral comment at either the webinar or in-person
meeting is 11:59 p.m. ET, October 3, 2019.
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 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown, One
Bigelow Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, 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-pittsburgh-pa.
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 and instructions for participating will be available
on the AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-pittsburgh-pa. Please check the website
periodically for updates. Meeting topics will encompass a wide range of
issues, including substances petitioned for addition to or removal 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 3, 2019, via http://www.regulations.gov: Document #AMS-NOP-19-0038. 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 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 offering 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 3, 2019, and can register for only one speaking slot: Either
during the webinars scheduled for October 15 & 17, or at the in-person
meeting, scheduled for October 23-25, 2019. 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 Americans with Disabilities Act 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 16, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10614 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-00-P