[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 32392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08971]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-24-0001]


Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for AMS Resilient Food 
Systems Infrastructure Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Resilient Food 
Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lara Shockey, Natural Resource 
Specialist, Transportation and Marketing Program; Telephone: (304) 373-
5875; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The final PEA and FONSI analyze and disclose the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the 
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. The United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
has proposed to fund cooperative agreements to coordinate initiatives 
for non-meat and poultry food products in the middle of the supply 
chain. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, 
processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and 
distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, 
including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, 
aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
    States will make subawards to support local and regional food and 
farm businesses and other entities. States will also provide supply 
chain and market development services. Through these efforts, the RFSI 
program aims to enhance market access for small and mid-size producers 
and food businesses, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable 
food system.
    The RFSI Program is authorized by section 1001 (b)(4) of the 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (Pub. L. 117-2), which funds ``loans 
and grants and other assistance to maintain and improve food and 
agricultural supply chain resiliency''. Recipients of funding from this 
proposed program would be allowed 48 months to complete work funded by 
the awards.
    The environmental impacts of funding projects to expand capacity 
for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, 
wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced, non-
meat and poultry food products and provide supply chain and market 
development services 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 final PEA and FONSI have been prepared, and based on this 
analysis, AMS has 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 final PEA and FONSI are available for review online at the 
program website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi.

Comments

    AMS published a Draft PEA for public comment on February 12, 2024. 
The public comment period ended on March 13, 2024. No comments were 
received during the public comment period.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08971 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P