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.

Notices Federal Register

33897

Vol. 61, No. 127

Monday, July 1, 1996

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[TM–96–00–1]

Nominations for Members of the

National Organic Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Organic Foods

Production Act (OFPA) of 1990, as

amended, requires the establishment of

a National Organic Standards Board

(NOSB) to assist in the development of

standards for substances to be used in

organic production and to advise the

Secretary of Agriculture on any other

aspects of the implementation of the

Act. The NOSB was originally

established on January 24, 1992, with

individual members appointed for

staggered appointments of 3, 4, and 5

years. Appointments for five members

will be up in January 1997, and the

Secretary seeks nominations of

individuals to be considered for

selection as NOSB members.

DATES: Written nominations, with

resumes, must be postmarked on or

before August 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent

to Dr. Harold S. Ricker, Program

Manager, National Organic Program,

Transportation and Marketing Division,

Room 2945 South Building, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA), P. O. Box 96456,

Washington, D.C. 20090–6456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Harold S. Ricker, (202) 720–3252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OFPA

of 1990 requires the Secretary to

establish an organic certification

program for producers and handlers of

agricultural products that have been

produced using organic methods. In

developing this program, the Secretary

is required to establish an NOSB. The

purpose of the NOSB is to assist in the

development of standards for substances

to be used in organic production and to

advise the Secretary on any other

aspects of the implementation of the

program.

The current NOSB has worked to

develop recommendations to the

Secretary to establish the initial

program. It is anticipated that the NOSB

will continue to work on

recommendations as appropriate and on

the continuing review of substances

considered for organic production and

processing.

A member of the NOSB shall serve for

a term of 5 years, except that the

Secretary appointed the original

members of the NOSB for staggered

terms of 3, 4, and 5 years. The terms of

five members of the current NOSB, who

were appointed for 5-year terms, will be

completed on January 24, 1997. A

member may serve consecutive terms if

such member served an original term

that was less than 5 years as provided

for in the OFPA of 1990.

Nominations are sought for the

positions of farmer/grower (1), handler/

processor (1), consumer/public interest

(1), environmentalist (1), and scientist

(1). Individuals desiring to be appointed

to the NOSB at this time must be either

an owner or operator of an organic

farming operation, an owner or operator

of an organic handling operation, an

individual who represents public

interest or consumer interest groups, an

expert in the area of environmental

protection or resource conservation, or

an individual with expertise in the

fields of toxicology, ecology, or

biochemistry.

Selection criteria will include such

factors as: demonstrated experience and

interest in organics; commodity and

geographic representation; endorsed

support of consumer and public interest

organizations; demonstrated experience

with environmental concerns; and other

factors as may be appropriate for

specific positions.

After applications have been

reviewed, individuals receiving

nominations will be contacted and

supplied with biographical forms. The

biographical information must be

completed and returned to USDA

within 10 working days of its receipt, to

expedite the background clearance that

is required by USDA.

Dated: June 24, 1996.

Eileen S. Stommes,

Director, Transportation and Marketing

Division.

[FR Doc. 96–16634 Filed 6–28–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

[Docket No. 96–036–1]

Availability of Environmental

Assessments and Findings of No

Significant Impact

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public

that four environmental assessments

and findings of no significant impact

have been prepared by the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service relative

to the issuance of permits to allow the

field testing of genetically engineered

organisms. The environmental

assessments provide a basis for our

conclusion that the field testing of the

genetically engineered organisms will

not present a risk of introducing or

disseminating a plant pest and will not

have a significant impact on the quality

of the human environment. Based on its

findings of no significant impact, the

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service has determined that

environmental impact statements need

not be prepared.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental

assessments and findings of no

significant impact are available for

public inspection at USDA, room 1141,

South Building, 14th Street and

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except holidays. Persons wishing to

inspect those documents are requested

to call ahead on (202) 690–2817 to

facilitate entry into the reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Arnold Foudin, Deputy Director,

Biotechnology Permits, BBEP, APHIS,

Suite 5B05, 4700 River Road Unit 147,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1237; (301) 734–

7612. For copies of the environmental

assessments and findings of no

significant impact, contact Mr. Clayton

Givens at (301) 734–7612; e-mail:

cgivens@aphis.usda.gov. Please refer to