[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 68126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28469]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / 
Notices  

[[Page 68126]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics; Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces 
two meetings of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: The meeting dates are November 14, 2011, from 11 a.m. until 
12:30 p.m. and November 15, 2011, from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be conducted in Webinar format entirely by 
telephone and Internet.

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; Email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AC21 provides information and advice to 
the Secretary of Agriculture on topics related to the use of 
biotechnology in agriculture. Background information regarding the work 
and membership of the AC21 is available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true.
    The immediate work of the AC21 is to address the following two 
questions: (1) What types of compensation mechanisms, if any, would be 
appropriate to address economic losses by farmers in which the value of 
their crops is reduced by the unintended presence of GE material(s)? 
and (2) What would be necessary to implement such mechanisms? That is, 
what would be the eligibility standard for a loss and what tools and 
triggers (e.g., tolerances, testing protocols, etc.) would be needed to 
verify and measure such losses and determine if claims are compensable?
    The purpose of the two meetings is to provide background 
information in a Webinar format to AC21 members on existing USDA 
programs that may serve as examples to help in the development of 
potential compensation mechanisms for the committee to consider, should 
it deem compensation mechanisms appropriate to recommend. During the 
November 14, 2011, conference call, AC21 members will be briefed on, 
and have the opportunity to discuss, background information on USDA's 
crop insurance programs under the Risk Management Agency. During the 
November 15, 2011, conference call members will be briefed on, and have 
the opportunity to discuss, background information on the 
indemnification programs for perishable agricultural commodities under 
the Agricultural Marketing Service and for diseased livestock under the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    Members of the public who wish to listen in to the November 14, 
2011, meeting may view the presentations and listen to audio at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/2bcp67fidhgq or to dial in at Area Code (800) 705-
8289. Members of the public who wish to listen in to the November 15, 
2011, meeting may view the presentations and listen to audio at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/jq96hzop0sp4 or dial in at Area Code (800) 698-
5986. There will be an opportunity for the public to comment on this 
background material at the next in-person meeting of the AC21, which 
will be scheduled later. This notice of meeting agendas is given 
pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2 10).

    Dated: October 26, 2011.
Yeshimebet Abebe,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2011-28469 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
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