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

	2009 Task Force Meeting Materials The meeting materials from the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Meeting held September 16-17, 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa are available here.

 

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

USDA support staff for the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force are listed here.