Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards, 47121 [2024-12015]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 47121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12015]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 106 / Friday, May 31, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 47121]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-CN-22-0093]


Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards

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 Advisory Committee 
on Universal Cotton Standards (Committee). This meeting is being 
convened to review the Universal Standards for American Upland cotton 
that are prepared by USDA and make recommendations to the Secretary of 
Agriculture regarding the establishment, revision, or change of the 
standards.

DATES: An in-person three-day meeting will be held June 25, 2024, from 
1:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m. central time (CT), June 26, 2024, 
from 9 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. CT and June 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. 
to approximately 12 p.m. CT.

ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by 
Hilton Memphis, 5069 Sanderlin Avenue, Memphis, TN 38117 on June 25, 
2024, from 1:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m. CT and on June 26, 2024, 
from 9 a.m. CT to approximately 12 p.m. CT. The meeting will reconvene 
on June 26, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. CT to approximately 5 p.m. CT and on 
June 27, 2024, at 9 a.m. CT to approximately 12 p.m. CT at USDA, AMS, 
Cotton & Tobacco Program, 3275 Appling Road, Memphis, TN 38133. 
Information and instructions pertaining to the meeting can be found at 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/30th-universal-cotton-standards-conference or https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/facas-advisory-councils/acucs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Deatherage, Designated 
Federal Officer, Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards, 
USDA-AMS-Cotton and Tobacco Program, 3275 Appling Road, Memphis, TN 
38133; Telephone: (901) 384-3030; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 10), the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) re-
established the Committee in 2023 as announced in the Federal Register 
on May 2, 2023 (88 FR 27431). The Committee includes representatives of 
all segments of the U.S. cotton industry and the twenty international 
associations that are signatories to the Universal Cotton Standards 
Agreement which is authorized under the United States Cotton Standards 
Act (7 U.S.C. 51-65). The purpose of the meeting is: (1) to recommend 
to the Secretary of Agriculture any changes considered necessary to the 
Universal Standards; and (2) to visually review and approve the 2024 
practical forms of the American Upland Cotton Grade Standards.
    The meeting will be open to the public. The meeting agenda for June 
25th includes presentations on a proposed standard for High Volume 
Instrument (HVI) color grade and a proposal to refresh the 1986 
Original Standards. A formal meeting of the Committee will take place 
on the morning of June 26th, where presentations by invited speakers 
and formal Committee action will take place. On the afternoon of June 
26th, Committee members will review the 1986 original set and reserve 
sets of standard guide boxes for authenticity. New practical forms will 
then be matched and approved on June 27th.
    Public Comments: Written comments for the Committee's consideration 
during the meeting should be submitted no later than June 19, 2024, and 
will be accepted via https://www.regulations.gov: Doc. No. AMS-CN-22-
0093. Comments can also be sent via email to 
[email protected] or by mail to USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco 
Program, 3275 Appling Road, Room #5, Memphis, TN 38133. Any comments 
received after June 19th will be reviewed by AMS but may not receive 
Committee consideration.
    Meeting Accommodations: The meeting locations are compliant with 
the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the USDA provides reasonable 
accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If 
you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make 
requests in advance for sign language interpretation, assistive 
listening devices, or other reasonable accommodation to the person 
listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. 
Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-
case basis.
    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public 
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for 
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or 
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will 
be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of 
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, 
backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, 
including underserved communities.

    Dated: May 28, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-12015 Filed 5-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P