AMS No. 244-02

George Chartier (202) 720-8998

george.chartier@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2002 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board will meet Oct. 19 and 20 at the Radisson Barceló Hotel Washington, 2121 P Street NW, in Washington, D.C. Meeting sessions will run from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 20. All sessions are open to the public.

At this meeting the board will receive committee reports and updates from USDA's National Organic Program, the Materials Task Force, and Compost Task Force. The board will also review 10 materials to determine if they should be recommended for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.

Time has been scheduled for public comment on Oct. 19 from 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and on Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Those wishing to provide comments to the board on any organic issue should mail requests to: Katherine Benham, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 4008-S, Mail Stop 0268, Washington DC 20250-0268. Requests may also be sent by close of business on Oct. 9 by fax to (202) 205-7808 or by e-mail to: katherine.benham@usda.gov.

For more information, call (202) 205-7806 or visit the National Organic Program website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.