National Organic Program: Notice of Interim Instruction on Material Review, 59521-59522 [2016-20806]
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mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules
The employee must also agree that if he
or she does not return to work or the
employing office cannot recover the
debt in full from salary, the employing
office may recover the debt from
whatever other sources it normally has
available for recovery of a debt to the
Federal Government.
(iii) If an employee elects to terminate
enrollment, the effective date of the
termination is retroactive to the end of
the last pay period in which the
premium was withheld from pay.
(3) If the employee does not return the
signed form within the time period
described in paragraph (c)(2) of this
section, the employing office will
terminate the enrollment and notify the
employee in writing of the termination.
(4) If an employee has not elected to
terminate enrollment and is prevented
by circumstances from returning a
signed form indicating the employee
elects to continue their enrollment
under the option that the employer has
chosen, the employee may request
reinstatement.
(i) If the employee is prevented by
circumstances beyond his or her control
from returning a signed form to the
employing office within the time period
described in paragraph (c)(2) of this
section, he or she may write to the
employing office and request
reinstatement of the enrollment. The
employee must describe the
circumstances that prevented him or her
from returning the form. The request for
reinstatement must be made within 30
calendar days from the date the
employing office gives the employee
notice of the termination. The
employing office will determine if the
employee is eligible for reinstatement of
coverage. When the determination is
affirmative, the employing office will
reinstate the enrollment of the employee
retroactive to the date of termination. If
the determination is negative, the
employee may request a review of the
decision from the employing office (see
§ 890.104).
(ii) If the employee is subject to a
court or administrative order as
discussed in § 890.301(g)(3), the
coverage cannot terminate unless the
employee has provided documentation
to the employing office that he or she
has other coverage for the child or
children, and the employing office has
determined the coverage is appropriate,
as discussed in 5 CFR 890.301(g)(3). If
the employee does not return the signed
form, the coverage will continue and the
employee will incur a debt to the
Federal Government, and the employing
office will recover the amount of
accrued unpaid premium as a debt
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Aug 29, 2016
Jkt 238001
under as discussed in paragraph(c)(2)(ii)
of this section.
(5) Terminations of enrollment under
paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section
are retroactive to the last day of the last
pay period in which the premium was
withheld from pay. The employee and
covered family members, if any, are
entitled to the 31-day temporary
extension of coverage and opportunity
to convert to a non-group policy under
§ 890.401. An employee whose coverage
is terminated under this paragraph may
re-enroll upon his or her return to duty
in pay status in a position in which the
employee is eligible for coverage under
this part.
(6) If an employee signs and returns
a form to the employing office stating
that he or she will make premium
payments directly to the agency and
keep the payments current in
accordance with paragraph (c)(2)(i) but
fails to pay currently, as soon as it
becomes aware of the nonpayment of
premium, the employing office shall
notify the employee that he or she has
31 days to make payments current or
she or he will have coverage terminated
retroactively to the day that follows the
last day of the last pay period for which
a current employee contribution was
received.
(i) If the employee does not make a
payment within the 31 days of the
notification, the employing office must
terminate the employee’s enrollment
retroactively to the day that follows the
last day of the last pay period for which
a current employee contribution was
received.
(ii) Termination of an enrollment for
failure to pay premiums after the
employee had elected to continue
coverage and to pay premiums currently
under (c)(2)(i) and (c)(6), is considered
a cancellation as described in
§ 890.401(a)(2) and the employee is not
entitled to a 31-day temporary extension
of coverage or opportunity to convert to
an individual policy.
(iii) If an employee that has
enrollment terminated under this part
was prevented by circumstances beyond
his or her control from making payment
within 31 days after receipt of the notice
of termination, he or she may request
reinstatement of coverage by writing to
the employing office. Such a request
must be filed within 30 calendar days
from the date of termination and must
be accompanied by verification that the
employee was prevented by
circumstances beyond his or her control
from paying within the time limit. The
verification must describe the
circumstances that prevented him or her
from making a payment within 31 days
after receipt of the notice of termination.
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
59521
The employing office will determine if
the employee is eligible for
reinstatement of coverage; and, when
the determination is affirmative, notify
the carrier of the decision. The notice
must set forth the findings on which the
decision was based. If the employing
office determines that the employee was
prevented from making payments
current within the timeframe due to
circumstances beyond his or her
control, the employee’s enrollment will
be reinstated retroactive to the date of
termination.
(iv) An employee whose coverage is
terminated under paragraph (c)(6) may
enroll upon his or her return to duty in
pay status in a position in which the
employee is eligible for coverage.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2016–20565 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325–63–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 205
[Document Number AMS–NOP–16–0069;
NOP–16–08]
National Organic Program: Notice of
Interim Instruction on Material Review
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of interim
instruction with request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is announcing the
availability of an interim instruction
document intended for use by
accredited certifying agents. The interim
instruction document is entitled: NOP
3012: Material Review. This instruction
specifies the criteria and process that
USDA accredited organic certifying
agents (certifiers) must follow when
approving substances for use in organic
production and handling. This
instruction is directed at certifiers, who
must meet certain terms and conditions
as part of their accreditation. The AMS
invites interested parties to submit
comments about this instruction
document.
SUMMARY:
To ensure that NOP considers
your comment on this interim
instruction before it begins work on the
final version, submit written comments
on the interim instruction by October
31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for
hard copies of this interim instruction to
Dr. Paul Lewis, Standards Division,
National Organic Program (NOP),
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\30AUP1.SGM
30AUP1
59522
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules
USDA–AMS–NOP, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW., Room 2646—So., Ag Stop
0268, Washington, DC 20250–0268. See
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for electronic access to the interim
instruction document.
You may submit comments, identified
by AMS–NOP–16–0069; NOP–16–08, by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Dr. Paul Lewis, Standards
Division, National Organic Program,
USDA–AMS–NOP, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW., Room 2646—So., Ag Stop
0268, Washington, DC 20250–0268.
Instructions: Written comments
responding to this request should be
identified with the document number
AMS–NOP–16–0069; NOP–16–08. You
should clearly indicate your position
and the reasons supporting your
position. If you are suggesting changes
to the interim instruction document,
you should include recommended
language changes, as appropriate, along
with any relevant supporting
documentation.
USDA intends to make available all
comments, including names and
addresses when provided, regardless of
submission procedure used, on
www.regulations.gov and at USDA,
AMS, NOP, Room 2646—South
building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to noon
and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday (except official Federal holidays).
Persons wanting to visit the USDA
South building to view comments from
the public to this notice are requested to
make an appointment by calling (202)
720–3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Paul Lewis, Standards Director,
National Organic Program (NOP),
USDA–AMS–NOP, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW., Room 2646—So., Ag Stop
0268, Washington, DC 20250–0268;
Telephone: (202) 720–3252; Fax: (202)
205–7808; Email: PaulI.Lewis@
ams.usda.gov; or visit the NOP Web site
at: www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS
I. Background
This interim instruction specifies the
criteria and process that accredited
certifying agents (certifiers) must follow
when approving substances for use in
organic production and handling. This
instruction is directed at certifiers, who
must meet certain terms and conditions
as part of their accreditation (see 7 CFR
205.501(a)(21)).
The instruction defines the term
Material Review Organization (MRO)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Aug 29, 2016
Jkt 238001
and materials, and describes the USDA
organic regulations as they relate to
materials reviews. The instruction
describes the policy that all certifiers
must review all materials used by
organic producers and handlers for
compliance with the USDA organic
regulations, and outlines options that
certifiers have for determining whether
materials may be used in organic
production or handling under the USDA
organic regulations.
The instruction also outlines certifier
requirements for maintaining
documentation, making synthetic vs.
nonsynthetic or agricultural vs.
nonagricultural determinations;
demonstrating appropriate education,
training, and experience levels for
personnel conducting material reviews;
and creating clear written protocols and
procedures related to materials reviews.
This instruction also outlines the
process that occurs when different
certifying agents and MROs reach
different conclusions on whether a
product complies with the USDA
organic regulations.
A notice of availability of the final
instruction on this topic will be issued
upon review of comments and final
approval of the document. Upon final
approval, this instruction will be
available in ‘‘The Program Handbook:
Guidance and Instructions for
Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs)
and Certified Operations’’. This
Handbook provides those who own,
manage, or certify organic operations
with guidance and instructions that can
assist them in complying with the
USDA organic regulations. The current
edition of the Program Handbook is
available online at https://
www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/
organic.
II. Electronic Access
Persons with access to Internet may
obtain the interim instruction at either
NOP’s Web site at https://
www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/
organic or https://www.regulations.gov.
Requests for hard copies of the interim
instruction document can be obtained
by submitting a written request to the
mailing address listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this Notice.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501–6522.
Dated: August 25, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–20806 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
PO 00000
Frm 00005
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Sfmt 4702
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
7 CFR Part 319
[Docket No. APHIS–2015–0098]
RIN 0579–AE27
Importation of Fresh Persimmon With
Calyxes From Japan Into the United
States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
We are proposing to amend
the regulations concerning the
importation of fruits and vegetables to
allow the importation of fresh
persimmon with calyxes from Japan into
the United States. As a condition of
entry, the persimmons would have to be
produced in accordance with a systems
approach that would include
requirements for orchard certification,
orchard pest control, post-harvest
safeguards, fruit culling, traceback, and
sampling. The persimmons would also
have to be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate with an
additional declaration stating that they
were produced under, and meet all the
components of, the agreed upon systems
approach and were inspected and found
to be free of quarantine pests in
accordance with the proposed
requirements. This action would allow
the importation of fresh persimmons
with calyxes from Japan while
continuing to protect against the
introduction of plant pests into the
United States.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before October 31,
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0098.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2015–0098, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0098 or
in our reading room, which is located in
room 1141 of the USDA South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading
room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30AUP1.SGM
30AUP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59521-59522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20806]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 205
[Document Number AMS-NOP-16-0069; NOP-16-08]
National Organic Program: Notice of Interim Instruction on
Material Review
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of interim instruction with request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the
availability of an interim instruction document intended for use by
accredited certifying agents. The interim instruction document is
entitled: NOP 3012: Material Review. This instruction specifies the
criteria and process that USDA accredited organic certifying agents
(certifiers) must follow when approving substances for use in organic
production and handling. This instruction is directed at certifiers,
who must meet certain terms and conditions as part of their
accreditation. The AMS invites interested parties to submit comments
about this instruction document.
DATES: To ensure that NOP considers your comment on this interim
instruction before it begins work on the final version, submit written
comments on the interim instruction by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for hard copies of this interim
instruction to Dr. Paul Lewis, Standards Division, National Organic
Program (NOP),
[[Page 59522]]
USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646--So., Ag Stop 0268,
Washington, DC 20250-0268. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for electronic access to the interim instruction document.
You may submit comments, identified by AMS-NOP-16-0069; NOP-16-08,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Dr. Paul Lewis, Standards Division, National Organic
Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646--So., Ag
Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268.
Instructions: Written comments responding to this request should be
identified with the document number AMS-NOP-16-0069; NOP-16-08. You
should clearly indicate your position and the reasons supporting your
position. If you are suggesting changes to the interim instruction
document, you should include recommended language changes, as
appropriate, along with any relevant supporting documentation.
USDA intends to make available all comments, including names and
addresses when provided, regardless of submission procedure used, on
www.regulations.gov and at USDA, AMS, NOP, Room 2646--South building,
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to noon and
from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except official Federal
holidays). Persons wanting to visit the USDA South building to view
comments from the public to this notice are requested to make an
appointment by calling (202) 720-3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Paul Lewis, Standards Director,
National Organic Program (NOP), USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Room 2646--So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0268;
Telephone: (202) 720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808; Email:
PaulI.Lewis@ams.usda.gov; or visit the NOP Web site at:
www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This interim instruction specifies the criteria and process that
accredited certifying agents (certifiers) must follow when approving
substances for use in organic production and handling. This instruction
is directed at certifiers, who must meet certain terms and conditions
as part of their accreditation (see 7 CFR 205.501(a)(21)).
The instruction defines the term Material Review Organization (MRO)
and materials, and describes the USDA organic regulations as they
relate to materials reviews. The instruction describes the policy that
all certifiers must review all materials used by organic producers and
handlers for compliance with the USDA organic regulations, and outlines
options that certifiers have for determining whether materials may be
used in organic production or handling under the USDA organic
regulations.
The instruction also outlines certifier requirements for
maintaining documentation, making synthetic vs. nonsynthetic or
agricultural vs. nonagricultural determinations; demonstrating
appropriate education, training, and experience levels for personnel
conducting material reviews; and creating clear written protocols and
procedures related to materials reviews. This instruction also outlines
the process that occurs when different certifying agents and MROs reach
different conclusions on whether a product complies with the USDA
organic regulations.
A notice of availability of the final instruction on this topic
will be issued upon review of comments and final approval of the
document. Upon final approval, this instruction will be available in
``The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited
Certifying Agents (ACAs) and Certified Operations''. This Handbook
provides those who own, manage, or certify organic operations with
guidance and instructions that can assist them in complying with the
USDA organic regulations. The current edition of the Program Handbook
is available online at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic.
II. Electronic Access
Persons with access to Internet may obtain the interim instruction
at either NOP's Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic or https://www.regulations.gov. Requests for hard copies of the
interim instruction document can be obtained by submitting a written
request to the mailing address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
Notice.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.
Dated: August 25, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20806 Filed 8-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
