[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 46681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19113]


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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. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 46681]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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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 a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: The meeting dates are August 27-28, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
each day.

ADDRESSES: Columbia Ballroom B, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol 
Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20001.

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 next meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for August 27-28, 2012. 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 Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the Department of State, 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 
5:00 p.m. on each day. The objective for the meeting is to complete all 
substantive work on a report to USDA addressing the following charge 
from Secretary Vilsack:

    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 unintended presence of GE material(s)?
    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?
    3. In addition to the above, what other actions would be 
appropriate to bolster or facilitate coexistence among different 
agricultural production systems in the United States?

    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. An 
electronic copy of the draft report under discussion will be available 
on that Web site at least one week prior to the meeting. Members of the 
public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. 
Schechtman in writing or via email at the indicated addresses at least 
three business days before the meeting. On May 29, 2012, 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 or by Email at 
[email protected] at least 5 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 27, 2012.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2012-19113 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P