[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 9834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02801]


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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, 
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 9834]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-24-0001]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that the 
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Resilient 
Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is available for public 
review and comments.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 13, 2024 to be 
assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments may be submitted electronically by 
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#742632273d34010710155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e1c081d070e3b3d2a2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments should reference the document number and 
the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. AMS 
will address comments received on the draft PEA in the final PEA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lara Shockey, Natural Resource 
Specialist, Transportation and Marketing Program; Telephone: (304) 373-
5875; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#721e1300135c015c011a1d1119170b32070116135c151d04"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4824293a29663b663b20272b232d31083d3b2c29662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Draft PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the establishment of the Resilient Food Systems 
Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. The United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed to 
fund cooperative agreements to coordinate initiatives for non-meat and 
poultry food products in the middle of the supply chain. Funds will 
support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, 
manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of 
locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty 
crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food 
products, excluding meat and poultry.
    States will make subawards to support local and regional food and 
farm businesses and other entities. States will also provide supply 
chain and market development services. Through these efforts, the RFSI 
program aims to enhance market access for small and mid-size producers 
and food businesses, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable 
food system.
    The RFSI Program is authorized by section 1001 (b)(4) of the 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (Pub. L. 117-2), which funds ``loans 
and grants and other assistance to maintain and improve food and 
agricultural supply chain resiliency.'' Recipients of funding from this 
proposed program would be allowed 48 months to complete work funded by 
the awards.
    The environmental impacts of funding projects to expand capacity 
for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, 
wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced, non-
meat and poultry food products and provide supply chain and market 
development services 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 Draft PEA has been prepared, and based on this analysis, AMS has 
preliminarily 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 Draft PEA is available for review online at the program 
website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi.

Comments Invited

    Interested stakeholders are invited to submit comments on the Draft 
PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific recommendation for changing AMS' 
proposed approach to assessing environmental impacts, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting information. 
AMS will consider all comments received on or before the closing date.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02801 Filed 2-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P


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