[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48797-48798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20121]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics, Agricultural Research Service.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: August 30-31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Rooms 104A and 107A, USDA Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 
12th Street and Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten 
Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone (202) 720-3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first meeting of the reconstituted AC21 
has been scheduled for August 30-31, 2011. The AC21 consists of members 
representing the biotechnology industry, the organic food industry, 
farming communities, the seed industry, food manufacturers, state 
government, consumer and community development groups, as well as 
academic researchers and a medical doctor. In addition, representatives 
from the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and State, 
and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental 
Quality, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative have 
been invited to serve as ``ex officio'' members. The Committee meeting 
will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each day. The topics to be 
discussed will include: (1) Rules of procedure for the AC21; (2) 
assessment of informational needs of AC21 members; (3) organization of 
the AC21's work in developing practical recommendations on approaches 
for bolstering coexistence among different agricultural production 
methods; and (4) preliminary presentations and introductory discussions 
on above work topic.
    Background information regarding the work and membership of the 
AC21 will

[[Page 48798]]

be made available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true. Members 
of the public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. 
Schechtman in writing or via e-mail at the indicated addresses at least 
three business days before the meeting. On August 30, 2011, if time 
permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no 
more than five minutes each in duration.
    The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If 
you would like to attend the meetings, you must register by contacting 
Ms. Dianne Fowler at (202) 720-4074, by fax at (202) 720-3191 or by e-
mail at [email protected] at least 7 days prior to the 
meeting. Please provide your name, title, business affiliation, 
address, telephone, and fax number when you register. If you are a 
person with a disability and request reasonable accommodations to 
participate in this meeting, please note the request in your 
registration. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a 
case by case basis.

    Dated: July 29, 2011.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2011-20121 Filed 8-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P