[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 108 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30297-30298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14308]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 108 / Monday, June 7, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to establish the Advisory Committee on 
Agricultural Biotechnology

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to establish the 
Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology (ACAB). The Secretary 
of Agriculture is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve 
as members of the ACAB.

DATES: Written nominations must be received on or before July 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Michael Schechtman, Designated 
Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. 
Whitten Federal Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Official, telephone (202) 720-3817; fax (202) 690-4265; email 
[email protected]. To obtain form AD-755 ONLY please 
contact Dianne Harmon, Office of Pest Management Policy, telephone 
(202) 720-4074, fax (202) 720-3191; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Advisory Committee Purpose

    The Secretary of Agriculture is establishing the Advisory Committee 
on Agricultural Biotechnology (ACAB) to advise the Secretary of 
Agriculture on the broad array of issues related to the expanding 
dimensions and importance of agricultural biotechnology. USDA has 
complex and crucial roles in protecting public health and safety, the 
natural environment, and a competitive, vibrant, and diverse farm 
economy; ensuring the quality and availability of our food and fiber 
supply; and maintaining the competitive position of American 
agricultural products in the international marketplace. These topics 
are of critical concern in the conduct of agricultural biotechnology 
research, regulation, and commercialization. Some of the topics that 
the Secretary of Agriculture has identified for the ACAB's initial 
consideration include: effects of industry concentration and 
consolidation on farmers; intellectual property rights and grower 
autonomy; effects of biotechnology on small farmers; ways to maximize 
or encourage potential benefits of biotechnology in different 
agricultural sectors; and USDA's role in assuring that farmers have an 
array of choices for future agricultural technology and practices. The 
ACAB will meet in Washington, DC, up to four (4) times per year.

Task Force Membership

    The ACAB will consist of 25 members of whom no more than five (5) 
will be federal employees. Members of ACAB should have recognized 
expertise in one or more of the following areas: Recombinant-DNA (rDNA) 
research and applications using plants; rDNA research and applications 
using animals; rDNA research and applications using microbes; food 
science; silviculture and related forest science; fisheries science; 
ecology; veterinary medicine; the broad range of farming or 
agricultural practices; weed science; plant pathology; small farm 
advocacy; biodiversity issues; applicable laws and regulations relevant 
to agricultural biotechnology policy; risk assessment; consumer 
advocacy and public attitudes; public health/epidemiology; occupational 
health; ethics, including bioethics; human medicine; biotechnology 
industry activities and structure; intellectual property rights 
systems; and international trade. Members will be selected by the 
Secretary of Agriculture in order to achieve a balanced representation 
of viewpoints to address effectively USDA biotechnology policy issues 
under consideration.
    Nominations for ACAB membership must be in writing and provide the 
appropriate background documents required by USDA policy, including 
background disclosure form AD-755. Neither the form nor the information 
it contains may be released to the public, except under an order issued 
by a Federal court or as otherwise provided under the Privacy Act (5 
U.S.C.552a).
    No member may serve on the ACAB for more than three (3) consecutive 
terms. Nominees will initially serve for terms of 1 or 2 years for 
purposes of continuity.
    Members of the ACAB and its subcommittees shall serve without pay, 
but with reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem for attendance 
at ACAB and subcommittee functions for those ACAB members who require 
assistance in order to attend the meetings. While away from home or 
their regular place of business, those members will be eligible for 
travel expenses paid by REE, USDA, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, at the same rate as a person employed intermittently in 
the government service is allowed under section 5703 of Title 5, United 
States Code.

Submitting Nominations

    Nominations should be typed and include the following:
    1. A brief summary of no more than two (2) pages explaining the 
nominees suitability to serve on the ACAB.
    2. A resume or curriculum vitae.
    3. A completed copy of form AD-755.

Nominations should be sent to Michael Schechtman at the address listed 
above, and be post marked no later than July 7, 1999.
    USDA is actively soliciting nominations of qualified minorities, 
women, persons with disabilities and members of low income populations 
through outreach to minority-focused media outlets, Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, including Clark Atlanta University, the 
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the National 
Congress of Native American Indians, the Intertribal Agriculture 
Council, Gallaudet and Purdue Universities, and the Rural Coalition. To 
ensure that recommendations of the ACAB take into account the needs of 
underserved and diverse communities served by the USDA, membership 
shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent

[[Page 30298]]

minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
I.M. Gonzalez,
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 99-14308 Filed 6-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P