National Organic Program; Nominations for Task Force Members, 12422-12423 [2015-05403]
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12422
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 45
Monday, March 9, 2015
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
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS–NOP–15–0004;
NOP–15–03]
National Organic Program;
Nominations for Task Force Members
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is soliciting nominees to
participate in a task force to examine
hydroponic and aquaponic practices
and their alignment with the USDA
organic regulations and the Organic
Foods Production Act (OFPA). The
USDA organic regulations do not
include specific provisions for organic
hydroponic or aquaponic production.
However, these production systems
have obtained certification under the
USDA organic regulations by complying
with the existing requirements for
organic crop production. The task force
will inform the National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB) of their
findings and advise on what practices
should be allowed or restricted in
organic hydroponic and aquaponic
production.
SUMMARY:
Written nominations, with
resumes, must be post-marked on or
before May 8, 2015. Electronic
submissions must be received on or
before May 8, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent
to Rita Meade, USDA–AMS–NOP, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room
2648–So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington,
DC 20250–0268 or via email to
Rita.Meade@ams.usda.gov. Electronic
submittals by email are preferred.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Bradley, Assistant to the Deputy
Administrator, National Organic
Program, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Room 2648, STOP 0268;
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DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:04 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 235001
Washington, DC 20250–0268;
Telephone (202) 720–3252; Fax: (202)
205–7808; email: Mark.Bradley@
ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why is this task force being formed?
The Organic Foods Production Act of
1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501–6522)
provides for the certification of
agricultural products for human
consumption. To implement this Act,
AMS published the USDA organic
regulations on December 20, 2000. The
regulations provide for the certification
of crops and livestock production and
operations that handle and process
agricultural products. Hydroponic and
aquaponic operations are currently
being certified under the USDA organic
regulations.
Hydroponics is a method of growing
plants using mineral nutrient solutions
in water without soil. Terrestrial plants
may be grown with their roots in the
mineral nutrient solution only or in an
inert medium, such as perlite, gravel,
biochar, or coconut husk. Aquaponics
combines the features of hydroponics
and aquaculture. In these systems, the
metabolic waste from fish tanks
provides a source of nutrients for
vegetables grown hydroponically. The
USDA organic regulations do not
include specific provisions for organic
hydroponic or aquaponic production.
However, there are certified organic
operations observing the crop
production requirements of the USDA
organic regulations to produce organic
crops via hydroponic or aquaponic
growing methods. These operations, for
example, must maintain water quality
and use only approved inputs as
fertilizers and pest control practices.
Organic hydroponic production is
allowed as long as the producer can
demonstrate compliance with the USDA
organic regulations.
In 2010, the NOSB provided
recommendations to the NOP on
Production Standards for Terrestrial
Plants in Containers and Enclosures
(Greenhouses). The NOSB
recommended practice standards for
growing terrestrial plants in containers
using growing media rather than soil.
The NOSB recommended not allowing
organic hydroponic production because
these systems are not soil based.
AMS is assembling a task force to
assess the diversity of these soilless
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
production practices and advise on
what specific practices may or may not
be supported by the current USDA
organic regulations.
What are the hydroponics task force’s
objectives and time requirements?
There are two main objectives of the
task force: (i) To describe current
hydroponic and aquaponic production
methods used in organic production,
and (ii) to assess whether these practices
align with OFPA and the USDA organic
regulations. The task force will prepare
a report advising the NOSB on proposed
standards or guidelines for hydroponic
and aquaponic methods in organic
agriculture. The report may be used to
inform the NOSB on recommendations
concerning hydroponic and aquaponic
systems and for possible guidance or
rulemaking by the NOP.
USDA will name the members of the
task force approximately 120 days after
the publication of this notice. The
discussions between task force members
will be conducted through electronic
mail and conference calls with no
requirement for travel. We expect the
task force to present its completed
report to the NOSB in the spring of
2016.
What are the minimum skills and
experience requirements to be
considered for this task force?
Candidates for the hydroponics and
aquaponics task force should have 3
years of demonstrable work experience
in hydroponic or aeroponic production
in any of the following roles: Producer;
researcher or scientist; consumer
representative; conservationist; systems
designer; organic inspector; or
accredited certifying agent. Candidates
with demonstrable knowledge of
organic production or certification
procedures are preferred.
Successful candidates should be
familiar with the NOSB
recommendation on Production
Standards for Terrestrial Plants in
Containers and Enclosures
(Greenhouses).
Persons interested in serving on this
task force should submit their
qualifications in a resume or curriculum
vitae format. In addition to this
information, candidates should submit,
if applicable, a ‘‘declaration of interests’’
list. This list should state all direct
commercial, financial, consulting,
family, or personal relationships that
E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM
09MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 45 / Monday, March 9, 2015 / Notices
currently exist or have existed with
business entities that may be regulated
through any future rulemaking on these
issues. The declaration of interests lists
should cover activities undertaken by
the candidate during the past 12
months.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501–6522.
Dated: March 4, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–05403 Filed 3–6–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
March 4, 2015.
The Department of Agriculture will
submit the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 on or after the date
of publication of this notice. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), New Executive Office Building,
Washington, DC; New Executive Office
Building, 725 17th Street NW.,
Washington, DC, 20503. Commenters
are encouraged to submit their
comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_
Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202)
395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602.
Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured
of having their full effect if received by
April 8, 2015. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720–8681.
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18:04 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 235001
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Regulations for the Inspection of
Eggs.
OMB Control Number: 0581–0113.
Summary of Collection: Congress
enacted the Egg Products Inspection Act
(21 U.S.C. 1031–1056) (EPIA) to provide
a mandatory inspection program to
assure egg products are processed under
sanitary conditions, are wholesome,
unadulterated, and properly labeled; to
control the disposition of dirty and
checked shell eggs; to control
unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible
egg products and shell eggs that are
unfit for human consumption; and to
control the movement and disposition
of imported shell eggs and egg products
that are unwholesome and inedible.
Regulations developed under 7 CFR part
57 provide the requirements and
guidelines for the Department and
industry needed to obtain compliance.
The Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) will collect information using
several forms. Forms used to collect
information provide method for
measuring workload, record of
compliance and non compliance and a
basis to monitor the utilization of funds.
Need and Use of the Information:
AMS will use the information to assure
compliance with the Act and
regulations, to take administrative and
regulatory action and to develop and
revise cooperative agreements with the
States, which conduct surveillance
inspections of shell egg handlers and
processors. If the information is not
collected, AMS would not be able to
control the processing, movement, and
disposition of restricted shell eggs and
egg products and take regulatory action
in case of noncompliance.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit; Federal Government;
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 818.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 1,909.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Dairy Products Mandatory Sales
Reporting.
OMB Control Number: 0581–0274.
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12423
Summary of Collection: The
Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010
amended § 273(d) of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, requiring the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish an
electronic reporting system for certain
manufacturers of dairy products to
report sales information under 7 CFR
part 1170, the mandatory Dairy Product
Mandatory Reporting Program. Data
collection for cheddar cheese, butter,
dry whey, or nonfat dry milk sales is
limited to manufacturing plants
producing annually 1 million pounds or
more of one of the surveyed
commodities specified in the program.
Need and Use of the Information:
Persons engaged in manufacturing dairy
products are required to provide the
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
certain information, including the price,
quantity, and moisture content, where
applicable, of dairy products sold by the
manufacturer. Various manufacturer
reports are filed electronically on a
weekly basis. Additional paper forms
are filed by manufacturers on an annual
basis to validate participation in the
mandatory reporting program.
Manufacturers and other persons storing
dairy products must also report
information on the quantity of dairy
products stored. USDA publishes
composites of the information obtained
to help industry members make
informed marketing decisions regarding
dairy products. The information is also
used to establish minimum prices for
Class III and Class IV milk under
Federal milk marketing orders. Without
this information USDA would not be
able to verify compliance with
applicable regulations.
Description of Respondents:
Businesses—Cheddar Cheese, 40 lb.
Blocks.
Number of Respondents: 181.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion; Weekly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 2,331.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–05397 Filed 3–6–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Request for Information: Summer Meal
Programs Data Reporting
Requirements
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
AGENCY:
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09MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12422-12423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05403]
========================================================================
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. 80, No. 45 / Monday, March 9, 2015 /
Notices
[[Page 12422]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS-NOP-15-0004; NOP-15-03]
National Organic Program; Nominations for Task Force Members
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting
nominees to participate in a task force to examine hydroponic and
aquaponic practices and their alignment with the USDA organic
regulations and the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). The USDA
organic regulations do not include specific provisions for organic
hydroponic or aquaponic production. However, these production systems
have obtained certification under the USDA organic regulations by
complying with the existing requirements for organic crop production.
The task force will inform the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
of their findings and advise on what practices should be allowed or
restricted in organic hydroponic and aquaponic production.
DATES: Written nominations, with resumes, must be post-marked on or
before May 8, 2015. Electronic submissions must be received on or
before May 8, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Rita Meade, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 2648-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250-0268 or via email to Rita.Meade@ams.usda.gov. Electronic
submittals by email are preferred.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Bradley, Assistant to the Deputy
Administrator, National Organic Program, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Room 2648, STOP 0268; Washington, DC 20250-0268; Telephone (202) 720-
3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; email: Mark.Bradley@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why is this task force being formed?
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C.
6501-6522) provides for the certification of agricultural products for
human consumption. To implement this Act, AMS published the USDA
organic regulations on December 20, 2000. The regulations provide for
the certification of crops and livestock production and operations that
handle and process agricultural products. Hydroponic and aquaponic
operations are currently being certified under the USDA organic
regulations.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient
solutions in water without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with
their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert
medium, such as perlite, gravel, biochar, or coconut husk. Aquaponics
combines the features of hydroponics and aquaculture. In these systems,
the metabolic waste from fish tanks provides a source of nutrients for
vegetables grown hydroponically. The USDA organic regulations do not
include specific provisions for organic hydroponic or aquaponic
production. However, there are certified organic operations observing
the crop production requirements of the USDA organic regulations to
produce organic crops via hydroponic or aquaponic growing methods.
These operations, for example, must maintain water quality and use only
approved inputs as fertilizers and pest control practices. Organic
hydroponic production is allowed as long as the producer can
demonstrate compliance with the USDA organic regulations.
In 2010, the NOSB provided recommendations to the NOP on Production
Standards for Terrestrial Plants in Containers and Enclosures
(Greenhouses). The NOSB recommended practice standards for growing
terrestrial plants in containers using growing media rather than soil.
The NOSB recommended not allowing organic hydroponic production because
these systems are not soil based.
AMS is assembling a task force to assess the diversity of these
soilless production practices and advise on what specific practices may
or may not be supported by the current USDA organic regulations.
What are the hydroponics task force's objectives and time requirements?
There are two main objectives of the task force: (i) To describe
current hydroponic and aquaponic production methods used in organic
production, and (ii) to assess whether these practices align with OFPA
and the USDA organic regulations. The task force will prepare a report
advising the NOSB on proposed standards or guidelines for hydroponic
and aquaponic methods in organic agriculture. The report may be used to
inform the NOSB on recommendations concerning hydroponic and aquaponic
systems and for possible guidance or rulemaking by the NOP.
USDA will name the members of the task force approximately 120 days
after the publication of this notice. The discussions between task
force members will be conducted through electronic mail and conference
calls with no requirement for travel. We expect the task force to
present its completed report to the NOSB in the spring of 2016.
What are the minimum skills and experience requirements to be
considered for this task force?
Candidates for the hydroponics and aquaponics task force should
have 3 years of demonstrable work experience in hydroponic or aeroponic
production in any of the following roles: Producer; researcher or
scientist; consumer representative; conservationist; systems designer;
organic inspector; or accredited certifying agent. Candidates with
demonstrable knowledge of organic production or certification
procedures are preferred.
Successful candidates should be familiar with the NOSB
recommendation on Production Standards for Terrestrial Plants in
Containers and Enclosures (Greenhouses).
Persons interested in serving on this task force should submit
their qualifications in a resume or curriculum vitae format. In
addition to this information, candidates should submit, if applicable,
a ``declaration of interests'' list. This list should state all direct
commercial, financial, consulting, family, or personal relationships
that
[[Page 12423]]
currently exist or have existed with business entities that may be
regulated through any future rulemaking on these issues. The
declaration of interests lists should cover activities undertaken by
the candidate during the past 12 months.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.
Dated: March 4, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05403 Filed 3-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
