Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the AMS Organic Market Development Grant Program, 7353 [2024-02120]

Download as PDF 7353 Notices Federal Register Vol. 89, No. 23 Friday, February 2, 2024 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 [Doc. No. AMS–TM–23–0076] Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the AMS Organic Market Development Grant Program Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the AMS Organic Market Development Grant Program. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Rakola, Associate Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing Program; Telephone: (202) 690–1300; Email: OMDG@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Background The Final PEA and FONSI analyze and disclose the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the Organic Market Development Grant Program (OMDG). AMS has proposed to fund grants to support the development of new and expanded organic markets by providing additional resources for businesses transitioning to organic or initiating new organic production and processing capacity. These grants will create new and improved markets for domestically produced organic products through investments in expanded certified organic processing capacity; activities that develop, maintain, or expand commercial organic markets; and organic product developments which create new uses for producers that currently lack markets. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Feb 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 Selected applicants for the OMDG program may invest in certified organic infrastructure and expand processing capacities, in addition to adding manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution infrastructure. Funded activities will include developing new markets to increase demand for domestically produced organic agricultural products and providing additional market networks. The OMDG Program is authorized by authorized by section 5(e) of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act, (15 U.S.C. 714(e)). Section 5(e), as amended, authorizes USDA (through the CCC) to ‘‘increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities (other than tobacco) by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic markets or by developing or aiding in the development of new and additional markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such commodities.’’ Recipients of funding from this proposed program would be allowed 36 months to complete work funded by the grant awards. The environmental impacts of funding projects to enhance existing organic processing facilities 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/omdg. Comments AMS published a Draft PEA for public comment on November 20, 2023. The public comment period ended on PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 December 20, 2023. No comments were received during the designated timeframe, and as such, no substantial changes were made to the document. Melissa Bailey, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2024–02120 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS–LP–23–0027] Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Opportunity To Request a Referendum Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers want the Secretary to conduct a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). Participation in the Request for Referendum is voluntary. Producers should participate only if they wish to request a referendum on the program. If at least 10 percent (not in excess of onefifth of which may be producers in any one State) of the 413,358 eligible producers, as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), participate in the Request for Referendum, a referendum would be held within 1 year from that determination. If results of the Request for Referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum would not be conducted. The results of the Request for Referendum will be published in a notice in the Federal Register. DATES: Soybean producers may request a referendum during a 4-week period beginning on May 6, 2024, and ending May 31, 2024. To be eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum, producers must certify that they or the producer entity they are authorized to represent paid an assessment at any time between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM 02FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 7353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02120]


========================================================================
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. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 7353]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-23-0076]


Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the AMS Organic 
Market Development Grant Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

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 AMS Organic Market 
Development Grant Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Rakola, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, Transportation and Marketing Program; Telephone: (202) 
690-1300; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Final PEA and FONSI analyze and disclose the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the Organic 
Market Development Grant Program (OMDG). AMS has proposed to fund 
grants to support the development of new and expanded organic markets 
by providing additional resources for businesses transitioning to 
organic or initiating new organic production and processing capacity. 
These grants will create new and improved markets for domestically 
produced organic products through investments in expanded certified 
organic processing capacity; activities that develop, maintain, or 
expand commercial organic markets; and organic product developments 
which create new uses for producers that currently lack markets.
    Selected applicants for the OMDG program may invest in certified 
organic infrastructure and expand processing capacities, in addition to 
adding manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or 
distribution infrastructure. Funded activities will include developing 
new markets to increase demand for domestically produced organic 
agricultural products and providing additional market networks.
    The OMDG Program is authorized by authorized by section 5(e) of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act, (15 U.S.C. 714(e)). 
Section 5(e), as amended, authorizes USDA (through the CCC) to 
``increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities (other 
than tobacco) by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic 
markets or by developing or aiding in the development of new and 
additional markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such 
commodities.'' Recipients of funding from this proposed program would 
be allowed 36 months to complete work funded by the grant awards.
    The environmental impacts of funding projects to enhance existing 
organic processing facilities 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/omdg.

Comments

    AMS published a Draft PEA for public comment on November 20, 2023. 
The public comment period ended on December 20, 2023. No comments were 
received during the designated timeframe, and as such, no substantial 
changes were made to the document.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02120 Filed 2-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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