Modification of the ``Vegetable Protein Products'' Requirements for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food ProgramExtention of Public Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Parts 210, 220, 225, and 226

RIN 0584-AC82

Modification of the ``Vegetable Protein Products'' Requirements

for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer

Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program--Extention

of Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The proposed rule entitled Modification of the ``Vegetable

Protein Products'' Requirements for the National School Lunch Program,

the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the

Child and Adult Care Food Program was published in the Federal Register

(64 FR 38839-38844) on July 20, 1999. Public comments were requested to

be postmarked on or before September 20, 1999. This action extends the

public comment period to November 19, 1999. This extension gives the

public additional time to analyze the provisions of the proposed

rulemaking and to develop substantive comments which will assist the

Department in modifying the requirements regarding ``Vegetable Protein

Requirements''.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, comments must be submitted or

postmarked on or before November 19, 1999.

COMMENTS: Comments may be mailed to: Mr. Robert M. Eadie, 3101 Park

Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. All written submissions will

be available for public inspection in Room 1007, 3101 Park Center

Drive, Alexandria, Virginia during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to

5:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Marion Hinners of Ms.

Janice Fabina, at the above address or by telephone at (703) 305-2621.

Copies of the proposed rule are available at the Food and Nutrition

Service Web site, located at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Department published the proposed Modification of the

``Vegetable Protein Products'' Requirements for the National School

Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service

Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program in the Federal

Register (64 FR 38839-38844) on July 30, 1999. The Department provided

a 60-day comment period. Commenters have indicated that the 60-day

comment period is not enough to provide a thorough analysis and to

develop detailed comments. Furthermore, since the rule was published in

July, during summer break for many schools, the comment period would

end at the beginning of the new school year, which would not provide

school food service personnel adequate opportunity to review the rule

and provide their comments.

The Department is eager to ensure that commentors have sufficient

time to evaluate the proposal and to develop substantive comments. To

achieve this end, the Department will continue to receive comments

submitted or postmarked on or before November 19, 1999.

Dated: August 19, 1999.

George A. Braley,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 99-22088 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-30-M