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About FRRCC

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC) on February 20, 2008 to provide independent advice to the EPA Adminsistrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches, and rural communities. The Committee will also continue efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community. The Committee is a balanced panel of outside advisors who represent diverse interests from academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments.

The Committee will meet approximately twice yearly and consists 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 has asked 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.

STRUCTURE

The FRRCC is comprised of a Chair and Vice Chair, the FRRCC Designated Federal Officer (DFO), and Committee members as identified by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator.  Committee members may serve as members of other ad hoc work groups.  

VALUE

FRRCC provides a cost-effective and flexible forum that can quickly respond to continually evolving policy challenges.  The Committee provides valuable advice on broad, cross-media issues and specific priority programmatic topics. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The FRRCC held its first meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 13 and 14, 2008. After the FRRCC held its first meeting, it created three new workgroups in order to address the various aspects of the Committee's charge: the Climate Change and Renewable Energy Workgroup, the Livestock and Poultry Production Workgroup, and the Emerging Issues Workgroup.

EPA Region 7 hosted the FRRCC's second meeting in Kansas City, MO on September 8-10, 2008, where the Committee continued its efforts to produce key recommendations to the Agency regarding various topics. .

FRRCC Links

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