Notice2024-02801
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 9834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02801]
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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.
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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: <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi">https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi</a>.
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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