[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46950-46951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19276]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of Tribal Relations; 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 fourth meeting of the 2014-2016 CNAFR and will consist of, 
but not limited to: Hearing public comments, update of USDA programs 
and activities, and discussion of committee priorities. This meeting 
will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting will be held on September 21th, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m. and September 22th, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 
meeting will be open to the public on both days. Note that a period for 
public comment will be held on September 22th, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Whitten Building; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250. The public comment period and CNAFR meeting will 
take place within Room 107-A, Whitten Building.
    Written Comments: Written comments may be submitted to: Dana 
Richey, Designated Federal Officer, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of 
the Administrator Farm Service Agency, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Whitten Bldg., 501-A, Washington, DC 20250; by Fax: (202) 720-1058; or 
by email: [email protected] .gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed to Dana 
Richey, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Administrator, FSA, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Whitten Bldg., 501-A, Washington, DC 20250; by 
Fax: (202) 720-1058 or email: [email protected].gov.

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 Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement agreement that was granted final 
approval by the District Court for the District of Columbia on April 
28, 2011.
    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 by USDA farm loan programs 
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

[[Page 46951]]

Secretary selected the members in August 2014. 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 September 15th, 2015. Oral presentations from the public will be 
heard between approximately 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on September 22th, 
2015. 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 September 15th, 2015. All oral 
presentations will be given three (3) to five (5) minutes depending on 
the number of participants.
    The 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 Dana Richey, at least 10 business days in 
advance of the meeting.

Leslie Wheelock,
Director, Office of Tribal Relations.
[FR Doc. 2015-19276 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
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