Cooperative Environmental Management

Continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community, on October 17, 2007, EPA announced the establishment of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee.  The Committee is being formed under the guidelines of EPA’s National Strategy for Agriculture, and it will advise the Administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches, and rural communities and operate under the rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Committee will meet approximately twice yearly and is intended to consist of approximately 30 members representing: large and small farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; rural suppliers, marketers, and processors; academics and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture; environmental, conservation, and citizens’ groups; and, state, local, and tribal governments.

Initially, EPA will ask the committee to focus on the following three issues:

1. Impacts of Agency agriculture-related programs, policies, and regulations regarding climate change and renewable energy.
   
2. Identification and development of a comprehensive environmental strategy for livestock operations.
   
3. Development of a constructive approach or framework to address areas of common interest between sustainable agriculture and protection of the environment.