[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 53883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20094]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Public Meeting Will allow Interested Parties To Comment on the 
Activities of the Resource Conservation and Development Program

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation 
Service (NRCS) will hold a meeting to solicit comments on the 
activities of the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program. 
Section 2504 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-171) requires that the Secretary of Agriculture, in 
consultation with the National Association of Resource Conservation and 
Development Councils (NAR&DC), evaluate RC&D to determine whether it is 
effectively meeting the needs of, and purposes identified by States, 
units of government, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and 
councils participating in, or served by, the program. The Secretary of 
Agriculture, acting through NRCS, will conduct this evaluation, and 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report describing the results of the 
evaluation, together with any recommendations of the Secretary for 
continuing, terminating, or modifying the program, by June 30, 2005.
    As part of this evaluation, NRCS is conducting public meetings, 
with all interested parties, to solicit comments on the activities of 
the program. Comments will be solicited on, and should be limited to, 
the following topics: (1) RC&D effectiveness in meeting the needs of 
the States, units of government, Indian tribes, non-profit 
organizations, and RC&D councils served by the program; (2) RC&D 
effectiveness in developing community leadership; (3) RC&D Program 
elements that best serve regional conservation and development needs; 
and (4) RC&D Program elements that can be strengthened to better serve 
regional conservation and development needs.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The schedule for the remaining three listening 
sessions is as follows:
     September 2, 2004--Ogleby Resort and Conference Center, 
Wheeling, West Virginia, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
     September 22, 2004--Savannah Marriott Riverfront Hotel, 
Savannah, Georgia, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
     September 28, 2004--Campbell Resort, Chelan, Washington, 9 
a.m.-12 p.m.
    Written comments may also be submitted, no later than September 30, 
2004, to Terry D'Addio, National RC&D Program Manager, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
312, Cotton Annex Building, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry D'Addio, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, telephone: (202) 720-0557; fax (202) 690-0639; e-
mail: Terry.d'[email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC on August 23, 2004.
Bruce I. Knight,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20094 Filed 9-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P