[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22652]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 172 / Friday, September 5, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 52736]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-075-1]


Public Meeting; Plant Protection and Quarantine Stakeholders

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance notice of public meeting and request for suggested 
agenda topics.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service will hold a public meeting for the purpose of 
exchanging information on our Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 
program. We are planning the meeting agenda and are requesting 
suggestions for topics of general interest to PPQ stakeholders.

DATES: The meeting will be held December 9 and 10, 2003. Suggestion for 
agenda topics should be submitted by October 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Melrose Hotel, 2430 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paula Henstridge, Special 
Assistant to the Deputy Administrator, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 
Room 302-E Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-1737; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service's Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program protects and 
safeguards the Nation's plant resources through programs and activities 
to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and noxious 
weeds. PPQ is planning a public meeting to present information about 
topics of interest to persons who are affected by PPQ programs, as well 
as to receive feedback on the PPQ mission, the way the mission is 
carried out, and the issues PPQ must be prepared to address in the 
future to continue to be a relevant and credible plant health 
organization. We believe that such an information exchange is 
particularly timely as PPQ moves forward from the operation of certain 
agricultural quarantine and inspection activities to the transfer of 
these activities to the newly established Customs and Border Protection 
function of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
    The agenda for the meeting is not yet complete. Topics will 
include, but are not limited to: Future priorities, budget update and 
outlook, update on the DHS transition, pest detection and emergency 
programs, and issues related to trade and risk assessments. Five 
interactive panel discussions and workshops are planned on the 
following topics: Pest risk assessments; permit systems; the 
stakeholder role in DHS; developing strategic approaches to export 
enhancement; and Federal, State, and industry roles in implementing 
incident command in response to pest threats. We are inviting key 
personnel from DHS, congressional committees, States, and certain 
stakeholder groups to serve on the panels. Before finalizing the 
agenda, we are seeking suggestions for additional meeting topics from 
the public.
    Please submit suggested meeting topics to the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by October 6, 2003. After the agenda is 
finalized, APHIS will announce the agenda topics in the Federal 
Register.
    We request that all persons wishing to attend the meeting 
preregister on the PPQ Web site, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/stakeholders/meeting/index.html. There is no registration fee. 
Attendance will be guaranteed to the first 100 persons who preregister 
by November 30, 2003. Persons who preregister should indicate which one 
of the five concurrent workshops they would like to attend. If you do 
not have access to the Internet, you may preregister by contacting Ms. 
Linda Toran at (301) 734-5307.
    The Melrose Hotel is setting aside a number of rooms at the 
conference rate. When reserving a room, please specify that you would 
like the USDA/APHIS rate. The telephone number for the hotel is (202) 
955-6400 or toll free (800) 635-7673. The hotel's Web site is http://www.melrosehotelwashingtondc.com.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of September 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22652 Filed 9-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P