[Federal Register: May 23, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 100)]
[Notices]
[Page 28419]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23my01-30]
========================================================================
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,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
[[Page 28419]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture Marketing Service
[TM-01-02]
Notice of Organic Certification Cost Share Program
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice invites eligible States to submit a Standard Form
424, Application for Federal Assistance, and to enter into a
Cooperative Agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service for the
Allocation of Organic Certification Cost-Share Funds. The Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) has allocated $1.0 million for an organic
certification cost-share program in Fiscal Year 2001. Funds will be
available under this program to 15 designated States to assist organic
crop and livestock producers in transitioning into the new National
Organic Program. Eligible States interested in obtaining cost-share
funds for their organic producers will have to submit an Application
for Federal Assistance, and will have to enter into a cooperative
agreement with AMS for the allocation of such funds.
DATES: Completed applications for federal assistance along with signed
cooperative agreements must be received by July 9, 2001 in order to
participate in the program.
ADDRESSES: Applications for federal assistance and cooperative
agreements shall be requested from and submitted to: Bob Pooler,
Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, PO
Box 96456, Room 2510-South, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20090-6456;
Telephone: (202) 690-3655; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail:
Bob.Pooler@usda.gov. Additional information may be found through the
National Organic Program s homepage at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Pooler, Marketing Specialist,
National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, PO Box 96456, Room 2510-
South, Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC, 20090-6456; Telephone: (202) 690-
3655; Fax: (202) 205-7808; e-mail: Bob.Pooler@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Organic Certification Cost-Share Program
is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance Program authorized
under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPR), Public Law
106-224, section 524, 114 Stat. 387 (2000), 7 U.S.C. 1524. Under the
applicable ARPR provisions, the Department is authorized to provide
cost share assistance to producers in not more than 15 states which
have a historically low participation rate in the Federal crop
insurance program. One of the purposes of the ARPR's cost-share program
is to assist producers in transitioning to the new National Organic
Program authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, 7
U.S.C. 6501-6522.
The Department has determined that the following States are
eligible to participate in the program: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
To participate in the program, eligible States must complete a
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and enter into a
written cooperative agreement with AMS. The program will provide cost-
share assistance, through participating States, to organic crop and
livestock producers who have been certified by a certifying agent as of
December 21, 2000. The Department has determined that payments will be
limited to 70 percent of an individual producer's certification costs
up to a maximum of $500.00.
Authority: Pub. L. 106-224, section 524, 114 Stat. 387 (2000), 7
U.S.C. 1524.
Dated: May 17, 2001.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-12937 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P