Departmental Management; Public Meeting on BioPreferredSM, 66614-66615 [E9-29957]

Download as PDF 66614 Notices Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 240 Wednesday, December 16, 2009 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. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Departmental Management; Public Meeting on BioPreferredSM Voluntary Labeling Program AGENCY: Departmental Management, Office of Procurement and Property Management, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public meeting on January 5, 2010, for interested stakeholders to discuss the issue of evaluating environmental assessment of biobased products, including the proposed determination and use of product life cycle assessment (LCA), as that issue pertains to (1) The designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of biobased products for a Federal procurement preference, as mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill, and (2) the need for supplementary information about a product’s environmental aspects under the pending ‘‘USDA Certified Biobased Product’’ labeling program. Given the growing importance of biobased products to consumers, industry, and government, there is a clear need to assess the sustainability of these products, and to do so using an agreed-upon and credible process/ procedure. DATES: January 5, 2010, 8:30 a.m. (EST) to 1 p.m. (EST). Meeting Location: Jefferson Auditorium, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–9911. Pre-registration for the January 5, 2010, meeting is not required but would be helpful, particularly if you wish to make a presentation. If you wish to register to attend please do so at this Web site: https://www.cepd.iastate.edu/ biopreferred and state whether or not you wish to be recognized to make a formal presentation. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:18 Dec 15, 2009 Jkt 220001 For security purposes and to facilitate a smooth entry into a Federal facility, attendees may provide their names in advance, as spelled on government issued identification, via e-mail to: BioPreferred@usda.gov. This list will be given to security personnel to expedite the entry process. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to gain entry into the building at Wing 7 on the corner of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., and will be required to present government issued identification. (You may also enter through Wing 1 near the Metro at 12th St. and Independence Ave. Escorts will be available to make sure you find the Jefferson Auditorium with no difficulty.) Those attending are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes early to pass through security. Those unable to attend the public meeting in person may listen to the meeting by calling 800–857–5233. The pass code is ‘‘USDA’’. Participants using the audio bridge may e-mail comments or questions during the meeting to BioPreferred@usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Procurement and Property Management, Ron Buckhalt, BioPreferred Manager, 342 Reporters Building, 300 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024, (202) 205– 4008. RonB.Buckhalt@DA.USDA.GOV. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (Pub. L. 107–171) established a program for the procurement of USDA designated biobased products by Federal agencies and a voluntary program for the labeling of USDA certified biobased products. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 110– 246) continued these programs and made certain changes to the Federal procurement preference program. USDA refers to the procurement preference program and the voluntary labeling program together as the BioPreferred Program. Due to the changes mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill, and the passage of five years since USDA first published the Guidelines for Designated Biobased Products for Federal Procurement (Guidelines) (7 CFR 2902), USDA intends to revise the Guidelines. USDA is holding a series of public meetings to gather input from interested stakeholders on what should be PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 considered when revising the Guidelines. The goal of this public meeting is to gather information about the determination and use of product life cycle assessment (LCA) as it relates to the BioPreferred program. BioPreferred is a Federal program that encourages the purchase and use of biobased products—those made from biological or renewable agricultural materials. Program management is seeking input on (1) How best to determine if biobased products are environmentally preferable to conventional products (e.g., the optimum process for analyzing these biological ingredients and materials) and (2) what measures/methods other stakeholders are using to determine and clarify this issue based on ongoing work by numerous entities in this area. Under the current Guidelines, USDA determines life cycle costs, environmental and health benefits, and performance of biobased products using Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES), an analytic tool used to determine the environmental and health benefits and life cycle costs of items. The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), developed the BEES model. BEES measures the environmental performance of products by using the internationally standardized and science-based life cycle assessment approach specified in the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 14040 standards. All stages in the life of a product are analyzed: raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, installation, use, and recycling and waste management. Biobased product economic performance is measured using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard life cycle cost method, which covers the costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal. The working definition of LCA under consideration for the January 5, 2010 meeting is ‘‘the compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle, including manufacture, use, and disposal.’’ LCA is one of several E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM 16DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 16, 2009 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES environmental management techniques (e.g., risk assessment, environmental performance evaluation, environmental auditing, and environmental impact assessment). To set the stage before opening the forum for public comment, USDA has invited to the public meeting speakers from USDA and EPA, as well as individuals from academia and industry who are well-versed in sustainable practices and determination and implementation of product LCA. USDA is seeking answers to a series of questions about LCA and the role of BEES in designating biobased products for Federal procurement. These questions include: • How should USDA use LCA to designate categories of biobased products for preferred Federal procurement? • Should USDA use LCA to determine which biobased/BioPreferred products will be eligible for voluntary product labeling and, if so, how? • Is BEES the most appropriate tool for LCA for the BioPreferred program? • Should USDA consider a more simplified approach to environmental assessment such as carbon footprinting rather than multivariate analyses such as BEES? Additionally, USDA will hold two meetings in 2010 to hear from interested stakeholders about their input on two other subjects. The first meeting will focus on how to designate complex biobased products. The second meeting will address how to designate intermediate ingredients and feedstocks that can be used to produce items subject to the Federal procurement preference program and how to automatically designate items composed of designated intermediate ingredients and feedstocks if the content of the designated intermediate ingredients and feedstocks exceeds 50 percent of the item (unless the Secretary determines a different composition percentage is appropriate). One of these two 2010 meetings will be held in Iowa and the other in California. USDA will post notices in the Federal Register when details are final regarding these meetings. Done in Washington, DC, this eleventh day of December 2009. Robin E. Heard, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture. [FR Doc. E9–29957 Filed 12–15–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:18 Dec 15, 2009 Jkt 220001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economic Development Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Form ED–840P Petition by a Firm for Certification of Eligibility To Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance; Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 16, 2010. Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Diane Rodriguez, Program Analyst, Performance and National Programs Division, Room 7009, Economic Development Administration, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482–4495, facsimile (202) 482–2838 (or via the Internet at drodriguez@eda.doc.gov). ADDRESSES: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract EDA administers the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) Program, which is authorized under chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.) (Trade Act), through a national network of 11 non-profit and university-affiliated Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs), each of which serves a different geographic service region. EDA certifies firms as eligible to participate in the TAAF Program and provides funding to allow eligible client-firms to receive adjustment assistance through the TAACs. The information collected on Form ED–840P and relevant supporting PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66615 documentation is used to determine if a firm is eligible to participate in the program. In accordance with the Trade Act and EDA’s regulations as set out at 13 CFR part 315, EDA must verify that the following have occurred: (1) A significant reduction in the number or proportion of the workers in the firm, a reduction in the workers’ wage or work hours, or an imminent threat of such reductions; (2) sales or production of the firm have decreased absolutely, as defined in EDA’s regulations, or sales or production, or both, of any article or service accounting for at least 25 percent of the firm’s sales or production has decreased absolutely; and (3) an increase in imports of articles or services like or directly competitive with those produced or provided by the petitioning firm has contributed importantly to the decline in employment and sales or production of the firm. Additionally, the firm must demonstrate that its customers have reduced purchases from the firm in favor of buying items or services from foreign suppliers. The use of the form standardizes and limits the information collected as part of the certification process and eases the burden on applicants and reviewers alike. After being determined eligible for TAAF Program assistance using the information provided on Form ED– 840P, firms must create an EDAapproved adjustment proposal, which is each firm’s business plan to remain viable in the current global economy, in order to receive financial assistance under the TAAF Program. Each adjustment proposal must meet certain requirements as set out in the Trade Act and EDA’s regulation at 13 CFR 315.16. This notice also includes an estimate for adjustment proposals. Form ED–840P was renewed in June 2009; however, an emergency request was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget due to the eligibility changes in the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program as specified in the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act (TGAAA) of 2009, which reauthorized the program. OMB approved this emergency request on August 12, 2009, and because of the time constraints of the emergency request, a notice for public comment was not processed. The emergency request is valid for six months and this notice will begin the process to extend the approval. In order to comply with and facilitate new reporting and eligibility requirements as stated in the TGAAA, three new collection items have been added to the form. In addition, a fourth E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM 16DEN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66614-66615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29957]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 16, 2009 / 
Notices

[[Page 66614]]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Departmental Management; Public Meeting on 
BioPreferred^SM Voluntary Labeling Program

AGENCY: Departmental Management, Office of Procurement and Property 
Management, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public 
meeting on January 5, 2010, for interested stakeholders to discuss the 
issue of evaluating environmental assessment of biobased products, 
including the proposed determination and use of product life cycle 
assessment (LCA), as that issue pertains to (1) The designation by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture of biobased products for a Federal 
procurement preference, as mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill, and (2) the 
need for supplementary information about a product's environmental 
aspects under the pending ``USDA Certified Biobased Product'' labeling 
program. Given the growing importance of biobased products to 
consumers, industry, and government, there is a clear need to assess 
the sustainability of these products, and to do so using an agreed-upon 
and credible process/procedure.

DATES: January 5, 2010, 8:30 a.m. (EST) to 1 p.m. (EST).
    Meeting Location: Jefferson Auditorium, South Building, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-9911.
    Pre-registration for the January 5, 2010, meeting is not required 
but would be helpful, particularly if you wish to make a presentation. 
If you wish to register to attend please do so at this Web site: https://www.cepd.iastate.edu/biopreferred and state whether or not you wish to 
be recognized to make a formal presentation.
    For security purposes and to facilitate a smooth entry into a 
Federal facility, attendees may provide their names in advance, as 
spelled on government issued identification, via e-mail to: 
BioPreferred@usda.gov. This list will be given to security personnel to 
expedite the entry process. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to 
gain entry into the building at Wing 7 on the corner of 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue, SW., and will be required to present government 
issued identification. (You may also enter through Wing 1 near the 
Metro at 12th St. and Independence Ave. Escorts will be available to 
make sure you find the Jefferson Auditorium with no difficulty.) Those 
attending are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes early to pass 
through security.
    Those unable to attend the public meeting in person may listen to 
the meeting by calling 800-857-5233. The pass code is ``USDA''. 
Participants using the audio bridge may e-mail comments or questions 
during the meeting to BioPreferred@usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office 
of Procurement and Property Management, Ron Buckhalt, BioPreferred 
Manager, 342 Reporters Building, 300 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20024, (202) 205-4008. RonB.Buckhalt@DA.USDA.GOV.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (Pub. L. 107-171) established a program 
for the procurement of USDA designated biobased products by Federal 
agencies and a voluntary program for the labeling of USDA certified 
biobased products. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 
Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 110-246) continued these programs and made certain 
changes to the Federal procurement preference program. USDA refers to 
the procurement preference program and the voluntary labeling program 
together as the BioPreferred Program.
    Due to the changes mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill, and the passage 
of five years since USDA first published the Guidelines for Designated 
Biobased Products for Federal Procurement (Guidelines) (7 CFR 2902), 
USDA intends to revise the Guidelines. USDA is holding a series of 
public meetings to gather input from interested stakeholders on what 
should be considered when revising the Guidelines.
    The goal of this public meeting is to gather information about the 
determination and use of product life cycle assessment (LCA) as it 
relates to the BioPreferred program. BioPreferred is a Federal program 
that encourages the purchase and use of biobased products--those made 
from biological or renewable agricultural materials. Program management 
is seeking input on (1) How best to determine if biobased products are 
environmentally preferable to conventional products (e.g., the optimum 
process for analyzing these biological ingredients and materials) and 
(2) what measures/methods other stakeholders are using to determine and 
clarify this issue based on ongoing work by numerous entities in this 
area.
    Under the current Guidelines, USDA determines life cycle costs, 
environmental and health benefits, and performance of biobased products 
using Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES), an 
analytic tool used to determine the environmental and health benefits 
and life cycle costs of items. The U.S. Department of Commerce, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, with support from the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), developed the BEES model.
    BEES measures the environmental performance of products by using 
the internationally standardized and science-based life cycle 
assessment approach specified in the International Organization for 
Standards (ISO) 14040 standards. All stages in the life of a product 
are analyzed: raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, 
installation, use, and recycling and waste management. Biobased product 
economic performance is measured using the American Society for Testing 
and Materials (ASTM) standard life cycle cost method, which covers the 
costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and 
repair, and disposal.
    The working definition of LCA under consideration for the January 
5, 2010 meeting is ``the compilation and evaluation of the inputs, 
outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system 
throughout its life cycle, including manufacture, use, and disposal.'' 
LCA is one of several

[[Page 66615]]

environmental management techniques (e.g., risk assessment, 
environmental performance evaluation, environmental auditing, and 
environmental impact assessment).
    To set the stage before opening the forum for public comment, USDA 
has invited to the public meeting speakers from USDA and EPA, as well 
as individuals from academia and industry who are well-versed in 
sustainable practices and determination and implementation of product 
LCA. USDA is seeking answers to a series of questions about LCA and the 
role of BEES in designating biobased products for Federal procurement. 
These questions include:
     How should USDA use LCA to designate categories of 
biobased products for preferred Federal procurement?
     Should USDA use LCA to determine which biobased/
BioPreferred products will be eligible for voluntary product labeling 
and, if so, how?
     Is BEES the most appropriate tool for LCA for the 
BioPreferred program?
     Should USDA consider a more simplified approach to 
environmental assessment such as carbon footprinting rather than 
multivariate analyses such as BEES?
    Additionally, USDA will hold two meetings in 2010 to hear from 
interested stakeholders about their input on two other subjects. The 
first meeting will focus on how to designate complex biobased products. 
The second meeting will address how to designate intermediate 
ingredients and feedstocks that can be used to produce items subject to 
the Federal procurement preference program and how to automatically 
designate items composed of designated intermediate ingredients and 
feedstocks if the content of the designated intermediate ingredients 
and feedstocks exceeds 50 percent of the item (unless the Secretary 
determines a different composition percentage is appropriate). One of 
these two 2010 meetings will be held in Iowa and the other in 
California. USDA will post notices in the Federal Register when details 
are final regarding these meetings.

    Done in Washington, DC, this eleventh day of December 2009.
Robin E. Heard,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.
[FR Doc. E9-29957 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

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