Information Meetings for the National Organic Program Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 205

[TM-98-00-1]

Information Meetings for the National Organic Program Proposed

Rule

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing four

public information meetings to discuss the proposed rule for the

National Organic Program which was published in the Federal Register on

December 16, 1997. The meetings are intended to provide an opportunity

for USDA to present an overview of the proposed rule, respond to

questions, and obtain public comments.

DATES: February 12, 1998, February 18, 1998, February 26, 1998, March

5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The sessions will be held at the following locations:

February 12, 1998: The Meeting Place Conference Center, 2100 Northland

Drive, Austin, Texas 78756, (512) 323-9500

February 18, 1998: Iowa State University, Iowa State Center, Scheman

Building, Benton Auditorium, Suite 4, Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-3218

February 26, 1998: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle,

Washington 98109, (206) 684-7202

March 5, 1998: Rutgers University, Rutgers Student Center, 126 College

Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, (732) 932-8821

Each of the meetings will be held during the hours of 9 a.m. to 4

p.m. in each of the respective locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hankin, National Organic

Program, Room 2945 South Building, USDA, Agricultural Marketing

Service, Transportation and Marketing, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C.

20090-6456. Telephone (202) 720-3252. Fax (202) 690-3924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 16, 1997, USDA published in the

Federal Register (62 FR 65849) a proposed rule, issued under the

Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et.

seq.), which addresses the methods, practices, and substances used in

producing and handling organic crops and livestock and their processed

products. Included in the proposed rule are provisions for: producing

and handling organic agricultural products; labeling organic products;

certification of organic operations; accreditation of State and private

certifying agents; compliance testing; equivalency of foreign organic

certification programs; approval of State organic programs; and fees.

The proposed rule also includes an assessment of the economic impact of

the rule, an analysis of its effects on small businesses, and an

estimate of the paperwork burden required under the proposed rule. The

purpose of the public meetings is to provide an opportunity for the

public to ask USDA questions about the proposed rule and to submit

public comments that will be included in the public record, together

with comments submitted by letter, fax, or through the Internet, as

provided for in the December 16, 1997, proposed rule.

Who Can Comment

Any member of the public may submit a comment; however, we request

that those persons who wish to comment register with USDA as soon as

possible prior to the meeting date. A person may register by calling

Karen Thomas at (202) 720-3252, at which time each person will be

requested to submit their name, the topic of the comment, and the

meeting location where the comment will be submitted. Registration will

help ensure that a person will be able to present his or her comment

during the meeting. Persons wishing to comment may also register by

sending an e-mail message to the NOP Webmaster at http://

www.ams.usda.gov/nop. Any person wishing to comment, but who is unable

to register prior to the meetings, will be able to sign up at each

meeting location on the day of the meeting between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00

p.m. These presenters may submit comments on a first-come, first-served

basis and these comments will be limited based on the time available

and the number of presenters.

Meeting Agenda

Each meeting will begin with a brief opening statement followed by

a 30-minute question and answer period. The remainder of the meeting

will be a listening session at which time interested parties may submit

public comment on the proposed rule. Oral comments will be limited to 5

minutes to enable the greatest number of presenters an opportunity to

speak. The question and answer period and the public comments will be

recorded and included in the public record of comments for the proposed

rule. We request that a printed copy of each person's comments be

provided to USDA at the time the comment is submitted orally to ensure

an accurate transcription.

Written Comments

As described in the Federal Register on December 16, 1997 (62 FR

65849), written comments may be mailed to Eileen S. Stommes, Deputy

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 4007-S, Ag

Stop 0275, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, or faxed to

(202) 690-4632 by March 16, 1998, or submitted via the Internet through

the National Organic Program's homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

Dated: January 28, 1998.

Eileen S. Stommes,

Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing.

[FR Doc. 98-2552 Filed 1-29-98; 9:56 am]

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