[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38771-38772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16333]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-10-0036; FV10-996-1 N]


Notice of the Peanut Standards Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 requires 
the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board 
(Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and 
handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The 
initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 
5, 2002. USDA seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for 
selection as Board members for terms of office ending June 30, 2011, 
June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013. USDA values diversity. In an effort to 
obtain nominations of diverse

[[Page 38772]]

candidates, USDA encourages the nomination of men and women of all 
racial and ethnic groups. Selected nominees sought by this action would 
fill two currently vacant industry representative positions for the 
remainder of terms of office ending June 30, 2011, six producer and 
industry representatives who are currently serving for the term of 
office that ended June 30, 2009, and six producer and industry 
representatives who are currently serving for the term of office that 
will end June 30, 2010. The Board consists of 18 members representing 
producers and industry representatives. USDA had previously requested 
nominations for the two vacancies (terms ending June 30, 2011) and the 
six producer and industry representatives positions (terms ended June 
30, 2009) in a Request for Nominations that was published in the 
Federal Register on April 29, 2009. USDA is reissuing the notice in an 
effort to expand outreach to interested individuals.

DATES: Written nominations must be received on or before July 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Dawana J. Clark, Marketing 
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
Unit 155, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737: Telephone: (301) 734-
5247; Fax: (301) 734-5275; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1308 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) requires the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the 
purpose of advising the Secretary regarding the establishment of 
quality and handling standards for all domestic and imported peanuts 
marketed in the United States. The Farm Bill requires the Secretary to 
consult with the Board before the Secretary establishes or changes 
quality and handling standards for peanuts.
    The Farm Bill provides that the Board consist of 18 members, with 
three producers and three industry representatives from the States 
specified in each of the following producing regions: (a) Southeast 
(Alabama, Georgia, and Florida); (b) Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, and 
New Mexico); and (c) Virginia/Carolina (Virginia and North Carolina).
    For the initial appointments, the Farm Bill required the Secretary 
to stagger the terms of the members so that: (a) One producer member 
and peanut industry member from each peanut producing region serves a 
one-year term; (b) one producer member and peanut industry member from 
each peanut producing region serves a two-year term; and (c) one 
producer member and peanut industry member from each peanut producing 
region serves a three-year term. The term ``peanut industry 
representatives'' includes, but is not limited to, representatives of 
shellers, manufacturers, buying points, marketing associations and 
marketing cooperatives. The Farm Bill exempted the appointment of the 
Board from the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The 
initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 
5, 2002.
    USDA invites those individuals, organizations, and groups 
affiliated with the categories listed above to nominate individuals for 
membership on the Board. Nominees sought by this action would fill two 
currently vacant industry representative positions for the remainder of 
terms of office ending June 30, 2011, one from the Southeast and one 
from the Virginia-Carolina peanut producing regions. Nominees sought by 
this action would also replace twelve positions, two producers and two 
industry members from each peanut producing region who served for the 
term of office that ended June 30, 2009 and who served for the term of 
office that will end June 30, 2010. New members filling the two current 
vacancies would serve the remaining 3-year term of office ending June 
30, 2011. New members filling the positions expiring on June 30, 2009, 
and June 30, 2010, would serve for 3-year terms of office ending June 
30, 2012 and June 30, 2013. USDA had previously requested nominations 
for the two vacancies (terms ending June 30, 2011) and the six producer 
and industry representatives positions (terms ended June 30, 2009) in a 
Request for Nominations that was published in the Federal Register on 
April 29, 2009. USDA is reissuing the notice in an effort to expand 
outreach to interested individuals.
    Nominees should complete a Peanut Standards Board Background 
Information form and submit it to Mrs. Clark at the address provided in 
the ADDRESSES section above. Copies of this form may be obtained at the 
Internet site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard, or from 
Mrs. Clark. USDA seeks a diverse group of members representing the 
peanut industry.
    Equal opportunity practices will be followed in all appointments to 
the Board in accordance with USDA policies. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Board have taken into account the needs of the 
diverse groups within the peanut industry, membership shall include, to 
the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated abilities to 
represent the interests of racial and ethnic minorities, women, persons 
with disabilities, and limited resource agriculture producers.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7958.

    Dated: June 29, 2010.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16333 Filed 7-2-10; 8:45 am]
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