[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 15307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05352]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will hold a 
workshop entitled ``Cellulose Nanomaterial--A Path Towards 
Commercialization'' on May 20-21, 2014 in collaboration with and co-
sponsored by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). The workshop 
is intended to bring together executives and experts from the federal 
government, academia, and private sector to identify critical 
information gaps that need to be filled and technical barriers that 
need to be overcome to enable the commercialization of cellulose 
nanomaterials. Workshop presenters and participants will identify 
pathways for the commercialization of cellulosic nanomaterials and the 
workshop will facilitate communication across multiple industry 
sectors; between users and cellulose nanomaterials producers; and among 
government, academia and industry to determine common challenges. An 
important goal of the workshop is to identify the critical information 
gaps and technical barriers in the commercialization of cellulose 
nanomaterials from the perspective of nanocellulose user communities. 
The outcomes of the workshop are expected to be used to guide federal 
government and private sector investments in nanocellulose research and 
development. The workshop also supports the announcement last December 
by USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack regarding the formation of a public 
private-partnership to rapidly advance the commercialization of 
cellulose nanomaterials. The USDA announcement can be found at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013%2F12%2F0235.xml.
    This workshop also supports the goals of the NNI Sustainable 
Nanomanufacturing Signature Initiative.

DATES: The Workshop will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. 
until 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. until 
5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the USDA Conference & Training 
Center, Patriots Plaza III, 355 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, 
please contact Cheryl David-Fordyce at National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office, by telephone 703-292-2424 or email 
[email protected]. Additional information about the meeting, 
including the agenda, is posted at http://www.nano.gov/NCworkshop.
    Registration: Registration opens on March 17, 2014 at http://www.nano.gov/NCworkshop. Due to space limitations, pre-registration for 
the workshop is required. Written notices of participation by email 
should be sent to [email protected] or mailed to Cheryl David-
Fordyce, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Stafford II, Suite 405, Arlington, VA 
22230. Please provide your full name, title, affiliation and email or 
mailing address when registering. Registration is on a first-come, 
first-served basis until capacity is reached. Written or electronic 
comments should be submitted by email to [email protected] until 
close of business April 30, 2014.
    Meeting Accomodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access this public meeting should contact Cheryl David-Fordyce 703-
292-2424 at least ten business days prior to the meeting so that 
appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: March 6, 2014.
Theodore H. Wegner,
Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-05352 Filed 3-18-14; 8:45 am]
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