[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 56742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21292]


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 Notices
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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 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 22, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 56742]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Uniform Guidelines for Conducting Farm Service Agency 
County Committee Elections

AGENCY: Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments: reopening and extension of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reopening and extending the 
comment period for the notice with request for comments, Proposed 
Uniform Guidelines for Conducting Farm Service Agency County Committee 
Elections. The original comment period for the proposed rule closed on 
September 16, 2004 and FSA is reopening and extending it until October 
16, 2004. The Agency will also consider any comments received from 
September 16, 2004 to the date of this notice. This action responds to 
requests from the public to provide more time to comment on the 
proposed guidelines.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by October 16, 2004 to be assured 
consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to 
the extent practical.

ADDRESSES: The Agency invites interested persons to submit comments on 
this notice. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     E-Mail: Send comments to: 
[email protected]
     Mail: Send comments to: County Committee Election Reform 
Comments, Department of Agriculture, Room 3092-S, Mail Stop 0539, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0539.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above 
address.
    All comments, including names and addresses, provided by 
respondents become a matter of public record. Comments may be inspected 
in the office of the Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, FSA, at 
the above address. Make inspection arrangements by calling (202) 720-
7890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 17, 2004, FSA published a notice 
with request for comments, Proposed Uniform Guidelines for Conducting 
Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections, in the Federal Register 
(69 FR 51052). The notice requested comments on the proposed guidelines 
to ensure that the County Committee election process is fair and 
transparent and that producers are fairly represented on FSA County 
Committees. The uniform guidelines make public the principles and 
procedures under which FSA will conduct such elections, thus 
contributing to the transparency and accountability of the process. FSA 
will be required to follow such guidelines in conducting County 
Committee elections, and FSA regulations and directives on conducting 
such elections must conform to these guidelines.
    The Agency believes that the request for additional time to comment 
on the proposed guidelines is reasonable. As a result of the reopening 
and extension, the comment period for the proposed rule will close on 
October 16, 2004.

    Signed in Washington, DC, September 16, 2004.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 04-21292 Filed 9-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P