[Federal Register: September 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 186)]
[Notices]
[Page 60208-60209]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se02-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Request for Nominations for the Task Force on
Agricultural Air Quality
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to renew the Task Force
on Agricultural Air Quality and requests nominations for qualified
persons to serve as members.
DATES: Nominations must be received in writing or reaffirmed (see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section) by November 12, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Send written nominations to: Chief, USDA/Natural Resources
Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Sauerhaft, Designated Federal
Official, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, telephone (202)
720-8578, fax (202) 720-2646, e-mail beth.sauerhaft@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Task Force Purpose
As required by Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) shall establish a task force to review research results
by any Federal agency that addresses air quality issues related to
agriculture or agriculture infrastructure. The task force will provide
recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture for guidance on
development and implementation of air quality policy. The requirements
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) apply to this task force.
The task force will:
1. Review research on agricultural air quality supported by Federal
agencies;
2. Provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture,
regarding air quality and its relation to agriculture, based upon sound
scientific findings;
3. Work to ensure intergovernmental (Federal, state, and local)
coordination in establishing policy for agricultural air quality and to
avoid duplication of efforts;
4. Assist, to the extent practical, Federal agencies in correcting
their erroneous data with respect to agricultural air quality; and
5. Ensure that air quality research related to agriculture receives
adequate peer review and considers economic feasibility.
Task Force Membership
The task force will be made up of United States citizens and be
composed of:
1. Individuals with expertise in agricultural air quality and/or
agricultural production;
2. Representatives of institutions with expertise in the impacts of
air quality on human health;
3. Representatives from agriculture interest groups having
expertise in production agriculture;
4. Representatives from state or local agencies having expertise in
agriculture and air quality, and;
[[Page 60209]]
5. An atmospheric scientist.
Task force nominations must be in writing and provide the
appropriate background documents required by the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) policy, including Form AD-755. Previous nominees and
current task force members who wish to be reappointed should update
their nominations and provide a new background disclosure form (AD-755)
to reaffirm their candidacy. Service as a task force member shall not
constitute employment by, or the holding of an office of, the United
States for the purpose of any Federal law.
A task force member shall serve for a term of 2 years. Task force
members shall receive no compensation from the NRCS for their service
as task force members except as described below.
While away from home or regular place of business as a member of
the task force, the member will be eligible for travel expenses paid by
NRCS, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the same rate as a
person employed intermittently in the government service under section
5703 of Title 5, United States Code.
Additional information about the Task Force on Agricultural Air
Quality may be found on the World Wide Web at http://
fargo.nserl.purdue.edu/faca/.
Submitting Nominations
Nominations should be typed and should include the following:
1. A brief summary of no more than two pages explaining the
nominee's qualifications to serve on the Task Force on Agricultural Air
Quality.
2. Resume; and
3. A completed copy of Form AD-755.
Nominations should be sent to the Chief of NRCS at the address
listed above and postmarked no later than November 12, 2002.
Equal Opportunity Statement
To ensure that recommendations of the task force take into account
the needs of under served and diverse communities served by USDA,
membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals
representing minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Signed in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2002.
Bruce I. Knight,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24346 Filed 9-24-02; 8:45 am]
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