[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80687-80688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25564]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-23-0076]


Notice of Availability of the Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for AMS Organic Market Development Grant Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that the 
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Organic 
Market Development Grant Program (OMDG) is available for public review 
and comments.

[[Page 80688]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 20, 2023 to be 
assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments may be submitted electronically by 
Email: [email protected]. Comments should reference the document number and 
the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. AMS 
will address comments received on the draft PEA in the final PEA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Rakola, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, Transportation and Marketing Program; Telephone: (202)-
690-1300; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Draft PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the establishment of the Organic Market 
Development Grant Program (OMDG). AMS has proposed to fund grants to 
support the development of new and expanded organic markets by 
providing additional resources for businesses transitioning to organic 
or initiating new organic production and processing capacity. These 
grants will create new and improved markets for domestically produced 
organic products through investments in expanded certified organic 
processing capacity; activities that develop, maintain, or expand 
commercial organic markets; and organic product developments which 
create new uses for producers that currently lack markets.
    Selected applicants for the OMDG program may invest in certified 
organic infrastructure and expand processing capacities, in addition to 
adding manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or 
distribution infrastructure. Funded activities will include developing 
new markets to increase demand for domestically produced organic 
agricultural products and providing additional market networks.
    The OMDG Program is authorized by authorized by section 5(e) of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act, (15 U.S.C. 714(e)). 
Section 5(e), as amended, authorizes USDA (through the CCC) to 
``increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities (other 
than tobacco) by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic 
markets or by developing or aiding in the development of new and 
additional markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such 
commodities''. Recipients of funding from this proposed program would 
be allowed 36 months to complete work funded by the grant awards.
    The environmental impacts of funding projects to enhance existing 
organic processing facilities have been considered in a manner 
consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, Public Law 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, as amended.
    A Draft PEA has been prepared, and based on this analysis, AMS has 
preliminarily determined there will not be a significant impact to the 
human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
has not been initiated (40 CFR 1501.6). AMS intends for this PEA to 
create efficiencies by establishing a framework that can be used for 
``tiering,'' where appropriate, to project-specific actions that 
require additional analysis. As decisions on specific applications are 
made, to the extent additional NEPA analysis is required, environmental 
review will be conducted to supplement the analysis set forth in this 
PEA.
    The Draft PEA is available for review online at the program 
website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/localmcap.

Comments Invited

    Interested stakeholders are invited to submit comments on the Draft 
PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific recommendation for changing AMS's 
proposed approach to assessing environmental impacts, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting information. 
AMS will consider all comments received on or before the closing date.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25564 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
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