USDA-Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
About this Site
Welcome to the website for the USDA Agricultural Air
Quality Task Force. This site serves as a repository
of information about the task force, and provides public
access to Federal Register notices, meeting minutes, reports
and documents, and official communiqués from and about the
task force. Task Force information and documents can
be accessed by following one of the links under Quick Access
on the left hand side of the page.
Latest News
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The Federal Register notice announcing the request for nominations to
serve on the next Agricultural Air Quality Task Force in 2008 to 2010 is
available
here.
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The meeting materials from the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task
Force held October 2-5, 2007, in Indianapolis, IN are available
here.
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Task Force Mission
The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force has been created
in accordance with Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996, which directs the
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture,
to establish a task force to address agricultural air
quality issues.
The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) was
established to comply with Congress and consists of leaders
in farming, industry, health, and science. In 1996, Congress found that various studies have alleged
that agriculture is a source of PM10 emissions and that many
of these studies have often been based on erroneous data.
Congress also cited ongoing research by the Department of
Agriculture and that federal policy, in regard to air
pollution, be based on sound scientific findings that are
subject to adequate peer review and take into account
economic feasibility. The Secretary of Agriculture was
charged to ensure that Departmental federal air quality
research not report erroneous data.
Congressional Mandate
Congress directed the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service to establish a task force to address
air quality issues. This task force shall be comprised of
USDA employees, industry representatives, and other experts
in the fields of agriculture and air quality. This task
force shall advise the Secretary with respect to the role of
the Secretary to provide oversight and coordination related
to agricultural air quality.
Contact Us
We would like to hear from you regarding the Task Force
on Agricultural Air Quality in order to improve our service
and make this web site more useful. Please send your
questions or comments to:
Michele Laur, NRCS
Designated Federal Official
USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ecological
Sciences Division
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Room 6158-S
Washington, DC 20250
Phone: (202) 720-1858
FAX: (202) 720-2646
michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov
NRCS support staff for the
Agricultural Air Quality Task Force are listed
here.
AAQTF Home 
