[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 36665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17216]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 7, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36665]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


National Drought Policy Commission

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Commission meeting and public hearing and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Drought Policy Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-199) and 
Departmental Regulation No. 1042-131 established the National Drought 
Policy Commission (Commission). The Farm Service Agency (FSA) was 
identified to provide support to the Commission. The Commission shall 
conduct a thorough study and submit a report to the President and 
Congress on national drought policy. This notice seeks comments on 
issues that the Commission should address and recommendations that the 
Commission should consider as part of its report. The first meeting of 
the Commission will be held July 22, 1999, and the first public hearing 
will be held July 23, 1999. All meetings are open to the public; 
however, seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

DATES: The Commission will meet on July 22, 1999, from 10:00 a.m. to 
4:00 p.m. in the Williamsburg Room, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 12th and 
Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC. All times noted are Eastern 
Daylight Time. The first part of the meeting will be devoted to the 
organization of the Commission. The remainder of the meeting will be 
dedicated to informational presentations and committee business.
    The Commission will conduct a public hearing on July 23, 1999, from 
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Jefferson Auditorium, South Agriculture 
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. Anyone wishing 
to make an oral presentation to the Commission must contact the 
Executive Director, Leona Dittus, in writing (by letter, fax or 
internet) no later than 12 noon, July 16, 1999, in order to be included 
on the agenda. Presenters will be approved on a first-come basis. The 
request should identify the name and affiliation of the individual who 
will make the presentation and an outline of the issues to be 
addressed. Thirty-five copies of any written presentation material 
shall be given to the Executive Director by all presenters no later 
than the time of the presentation for distribution to the Commission 
and the interested public. Oral presentations will be limited to 5 
minutes. Those wishing to testify, but who are unable to notify the 
Commission office by July 16, 1999, will be able to sign up as a 
presenter the day of the hearing (July 23) between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 
a.m. These presenters will testify on a first-come, first-served basis 
and comments will be limited based on the time available and the number 
of presenters. Written statements will be accepted at the meeting, or 
may be mailed or faxed to the Commission office. Comments must be 
received by September 17, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments and statements should be sent to Leona Dittus, 
Executive Director, National Drought Policy Commission, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6701-S, STOP 0501, 
Washington, DC 20250-0501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leona Dittus, Executive Director, 
National Drought Policy Commission, at the address above or telephone 
(202) 720-3168; FAX (202) 720-4293; internet 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to provide 
advice and recommendations to the President and Congress on the 
creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy, designed to 
prepare for and respond to serious drought emergencies. Tasks for the 
Commission include developing recommendations that will (a) better 
integrate Federal laws and programs with ongoing State, local, and 
tribal programs (b) improve public awareness of the need for drought 
mitigation, prevention, and response and (c) determine whether all 
Federal drought preparation and response programs should be 
consolidated under one existing Federal agency, and, if so, identify 
the agency. The Commission will be chaired by the Secretary of 
Agriculture or his designee, and a Vice Chair shall be selected from 
among the members who are not Federal officers or employees. In the 
absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair will act in his stead. 
Administrative staff support essential to the execution of the 
Commission's responsibilities shall be provided by USDA, FSA.
    Commission members specifically cited in Public Law 105-199 include 
the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Army, and Commerce, the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration; two persons 
nominated by the National Governors' Association, a person nominated by 
the National Association of Counties, and a person nominated by the 
Conference of Mayors. Those four members are to be appointed by the 
President. Six additional Commission members have been appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
Interior and the Secretary of the Army. The six at-large members 
represent groups acutely affected by drought emergencies, such as the 
agricultural production community, the credit community, rural and 
urban water associations, Native Americans, and fishing and 
environmental interests.
    If special accommodations are required, please contact Leona 
Dittus, at the address specified above, by COB July 16, 1999.

    Signed at Washington, DC on July 1, 1999.
Parks Shackelford,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 99-17216 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P