Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board, 23522 [2019-10614]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 23522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10614]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 / 
Notices

[[Page 23522]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-19-0038-NOP-18-06]


Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic 
Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of 
standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises 
the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation 
of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

DATES: An in-person meeting will be held October 23-25, 2019, from 8:30 
a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Board will hear oral 
public comments via webinars on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 and Thursday, 
October 17, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time, and at the in-person meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 and 
Thursday, October 24, 2019. The deadline to submit written comments 
and/or sign up for oral comment at either the webinar or in-person 
meeting is 11:59 p.m. ET, October 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The webinars are virtual and will be accessed via the 
internet and/or phone. Access information will be available on the AMS 
website prior to the webinars. The in-person meeting will take place at 
the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown, One 
Bigelow Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States. Detailed 
information pertaining to the webinars and in-person meeting can be 
found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-pittsburgh-pa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Arsenault, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, National Organic Standards Board, USDA-AMS-NOP, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2642-S, Mail Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268; Phone: (202) 720-3252; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NOSB makes recommendations to the USDA 
about whether substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic 
production and/or handling, assists in the development of standards for 
organic production, and advises the Secretary on other aspects of the 
implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB is holding a public meeting to 
discuss and vote on proposed recommendations to the USDA, to receive 
updates from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) on issues 
pertaining to organic agriculture, and to receive comments from the 
organic community. The meeting and webinars are open to the public. No 
registration is required except to sign up for oral comments. All 
meeting documents and instructions for participating will be available 
on the AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/national-organic-standards-board-nosb-meeting-pittsburgh-pa. Please check the website 
periodically for updates. Meeting topics will encompass a wide range of 
issues, including substances petitioned for addition to or removal from 
the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), 
substances on the National List that are under sunset review, and 
guidance on organic policies. Participants and attendees may take 
photos and video at the meeting, but not in a manner that disturbs the 
proceedings.
    Public Comments: Comments should address specific topics noted on 
the meeting agenda.
    Written Comments: Written public comments will be accepted on or 
before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 3, 2019, via https://www.regulations.gov: Document #AMS-NOP-19-0038. Comments submitted 
after this date will be provided to the NOSB, but Board members may not 
have adequate time to consider those comments prior to making 
recommendations. The NOP strongly prefers comments be submitted 
electronically. However, written comments may also be submitted (i.e., 
postmarked) via mail to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT by or before the deadline.
    Oral Comments: The NOSB is offering the public multiple dates and 
opportunities to provide oral comments and will accommodate as many 
individuals and organizations as time permits. Persons or organizations 
wishing to make oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 p.m. ET, 
October 3, 2019, and can register for only one speaking slot: Either 
during the webinars scheduled for October 15 & 17, or at the in-person 
meeting, scheduled for October 23-25, 2019. Due to the limited time 
allotted for in-person public comments during the in-person meeting, 
commenters are strongly encouraged to comment during the webinar(s). 
Instructions for registering and participating in the webinar can be 
found at www.ams.usda.gov/NOSBMeetings.

Meeting Accommodations

    The meeting hotel is Americans with Disabilities Act Compliant, and 
the USDA provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with 
disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation 
to participate in this public meeting, please notify the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Determinations for reasonable 
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    Dated: May 16, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10614 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-00-P