Notice2024-08971
Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Primary source
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Published
April 26, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 32392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08971]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-24-0001]
Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for AMS Resilient Food
Systems Infrastructure Program
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the
availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Resilient Food
Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.
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#bdd1dccfdc93ce93ced5d2ded6d8c4fdc8ced9dc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e884899a89c69bc69b80878b838d91a89d9b8c89c68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The final PEA and FONSI analyze and disclose the potential
environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural 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 final PEA and FONSI have been prepared, and based on this
analysis, AMS has 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 final PEA and FONSI are 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
AMS published a Draft PEA for public comment on February 12, 2024.
The public comment period ended on March 13, 2024. No comments were
received during the public comment period.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08971 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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