[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23206-23207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09051]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Council for Native American Farming and Ranching
AGENCY: Office of Tribal Relations, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of The Council for
Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR) a public advisory
committee of the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR). Notice of the
meetings are provided in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). This
will be the third meeting of the CNAFR and will consist of, but not
limited to: hearing public comments; update of USDA programs and
activities; discussion of committee priorities. This meeting will be
open to the public.
DATES: The meeting will be held on May 3, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
EST. The meeting will be open to the public. Note that a period for
public comment will be held on May 3, 2013 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be conducted using webinar and
teleconference technology. This will not be an in-person meeting.
Webinar and teleconference access information for the meeting will be
posted to the OTR Web site at www.usda.gov/tribalrelations.
Written Comments: Written comments may be submitted to: John
Lowery, Tribal Relations Manager, Office of Tribal Relations (OTR),
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Whitten Bldg., 500-A, Washington, DC 20250;
by Fax: (202) 720-1058; or by email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed to John
Lowery, Tribal Relations Manager, OTR, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Whitten Bldg., 500A, Washington, DC 20250; by Fax: (202) 720-1058 or
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2),
USDA established an advisory council for Native American farmers and
ranchers. The CNAFR is a discretionary advisory committee established
under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, in furtherance of
the settlement agreement in Keepseagle v. Vilsack that was granted
final approval by the District Court for the District of Columbia on
April 28, 2011.
[[Page 23207]]
The CNAFR will operate under the provisions of the FACA and report
to the Secretary of Agriculture. The purpose of the CNAFR is (1) to
advise the Secretary of Agriculture on issues related to the
participation of Native American farmers and ranchers in USDA farm loan
programs; (2) to transmit recommendations concerning any changes to FSA
regulations or internal guidance or other measures that would eliminate
barriers to program participation for Native American farmers and
ranchers; (3) to examine methods of maximizing the number of new
farming and ranching opportunities created through the farm loan
program through enhanced extension and financial literacy services; (4)
to examine methods of encouraging intergovernmental cooperation to
mitigate the effects of land tenure and probate issues on the delivery
of USDA farm loan programs; (5) to evaluate other methods of creating
new farming or ranching opportunities for Native American producers;
and (6) to address other related issues as deemed appropriate.
The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members
representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing
solutions to the challenges of the aforementioned purposes. Equal
opportunity practices were considered in all appointments to the CNAFR
in accordance with USDA policies. The Secretary selected the members in
May 2012. Interested persons may present views, orally or in writing,
on issues relating to agenda topics before the CNAFR.
Written submissions may be submitted to the contact person on or
before April 26, 2013. Oral presentations from the public will be
scheduled between approximately 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2013.
Those individuals interested in making formal oral presentations should
notify the contact person and submit a brief statement of the general
nature of the issue they wish to present and the names and addresses of
proposed participants by April 26, 2013. All oral presentations will be
given three (3) to five (5) minutes depending on the number of
participants.
OTR will also make all agenda topics available to the public via
the OTR Web site: http://www.usda.gov/tribalrelations no later than 10
business days before the meeting and at the meeting. In addition, the
minutes from the meeting will be posted on the OTR Web site. OTR
welcomes the attendance of the public at the CNAFR meetings and will
make every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or
special needs. If you require special accommodations due to a
disability, please contact John Lowery, at least 10 business days in
advance of the meeting.
Dated: April 4, 2013.
Max Finberg,
Acting Director, Office of Tribal Relations.
[FR Doc. 2013-09051 Filed 4-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P