SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to reestablish the
Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) and requests nominations for
qualified persons to serve as members.
DATES: Nominations must be received in writing (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section) by August
4, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written nominations to:
Michele Laur, Designated Federal
Official
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service
Post Office Box 2890
Room 6165–South,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions or comments should be directed to Michele Laur, Designated Federal Official, telephone:
(202) 720–1858; fax: (202) 720–2646; or e-mail: michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AAQTF 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 that addresses air
quality issues related to agriculture or the agriculture infrastructure. The
task force will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on the
development and implementation of air quality policy and air quality research
needs. The requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 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
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.
AAQTF Membership
The task force will be made up 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
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 must completely 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
Additional information about AAQTF is located on the Internet at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/AAQTF/.
Submitting Nominations
Nominations should be typed and include the following:
1. A brief summary of no more than two pages explaining the
nominee’s qualifications to serve on AAQTF;
2. Resume;
3. A completed copy of Form AD–755;
4. Any recent publications relative to air quality; and
5. Any letters of endorsement.
Nominations should be sent to Michele Laur
at the address listed above and postmarked no later than August 4, 2008.
Equal Opportunity Statement
To ensure that recommendations of the task force take into account
the needs of underserved and diverse communities served by USDA, membership
shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals representing minorities,
women, and persons with disabilities.
Signed in
2008.
Arlen L. Lancaster,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
[FR Doc. E8–13675 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am]
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