[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40606-40607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16600]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Forest Service


Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: Maintaining Agriculture and Forestry in Rapidly Growing Areas 
Listening Forums hosted by members of the USDA Policy Advisory 
Committee on Farmland Protection. The USDA Policy Advisory Committee on 
Farm and Forest Lands Protection is holding listening forums this 
summer to solicit policy feedback and anecdotal information on what 
works and what doesn't from a community's perspective in working with 
federal tools designed to maintain land as farmland and forest land. 
The input received from these forums will be synthesized into a report 
that USDA will issue on this subject later this year.
    Specifically, the forums will ask for public comment on the 
following questions:
    1. What are the economic, environmental and social benefits of 
farms and forested lands for communities, especially those in rapidly 
growing regions?
    2. What are the challenges that communities and individuals face in 
trying to maintain farms and forested lands, especially in rapidly 
growing areas;
    3. What sorts of opportunities exist to capitalize on market 
opportunities (e.g. direct marketing and agri-tourism) to encourage 
maintenance of farmland and forestland.
    4. What role could the federal government play to better support 
farmers and forest operators in taking advantage of these 
opportunities?

DATES: The first forum will convene Thursday, July 13, 2000, at 9:00 
a.m. and conclude at 12:00 p.m.. It will be held at the Dekalb County 
Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture, 1350 West Prairie Drive, Sycamore, 
Illinois 60178. The second forum is scheduled for Friday, July 21, 
2000, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until 12:00 p.m., at the 
University of California, Davis, Alumni and Visitors Center, in Room 
AGR, located on Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive, Davis California. 
The

[[Page 40607]]

third forum will be in late July in Seattle, Washington (location to be 
determined). And, a fourth forum will be held early August in the 
Highlands Region in New Jersey (Date and location to be determined). 
Three informational gathering sessions are being considered.

ADDRESSES: Are included in the above information under DATES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these forums is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. Additional information 
about the USDA Policy Advisory Committee, including any revised agendas 
for the July 13 and 21, 2000 forums that may appear after this Federal 
Register Notice is published, may be found on the World Wide Web at 
http://www.usda.gov.

Draft Agenda for the Forums

A. Opening remarks
B. Panel presentations
C. Public participation: oral statements, questions and answer period.
D. Closing remarks

Procedural

    The forums are open to the general public. Members of the general 
public will have an opportunity to present their ideas and opinions 
during each forum. Persons wishing to make oral statements should pre-
register by contacting Ms. Mary Lou Flores at (202) 720-4525. Those who 
wish to submit written statements can do so by submitting 25 copies of 
their statements on or before July 11, 2000 for the Dekalb County, IL 
forum, on or before July 17, 2000 for the UC Davis, CA forum, and on or 
before July 20, 2000 for the Seattle, WA forum. Please send them to Ms. 
Stacie Kornegay, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, 
Washington, DC 20013, Room 6013. The written form of the oral 
statements must not exceed 5 pages in 12-point pitch. At each forum, 
reasonable provisions will be made for oral presentations of no more 
than three minutes each in duration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for special accommodations 
due to disability, questions or comments should be directed to Rosann 
Durrah, Designated Federal Official, telephone (202) 720-4072, fax 
(202) 690-0639, email [email protected].

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Anne Keys,
Acting Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA.
[FR Doc. 00-16600 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P