[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 115 (Friday, June 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27675-27676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12505]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 115 / Friday, June 16, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 27675]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Request for Nominations of Members for the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, Specialty 
Crop Committee, and National Genetics Advisory Council

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces the 
solicitation for nominations to fill vacancies on the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board and its subcommittees. There are 9 vacancies on the NAREEE 
Advisory Board; 3 vacancies on the Specialty Crop Committee; 3 
vacancies on the Citrus Disease Subcommittee; and 3 vacancies on the 
National Genetics Advisory Council.

DATES: All nomination materials should be submitted in a single, 
complete package and received or postmarked by July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The nominee's name, resume or CV, completed and signed Form 
AD-755, and any letters of support must be submitted via one of the 
following methods:
    (1) Email to [email protected]; or
    (2) By mail delivery service to Sonny Perdue, Secretary, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250, Attn: NAREEE Advisory Board, Room 332A, Whitten Building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Esch, Director, National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 332A, The Whitten Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-2255, telephone: 202-720-3684; fax: 202-720-6199; 
email: [email protected]. Committee Web site: 
www.nareeeab.ree.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Instructions for Nominations

    Nominations are solicited from organizations, associations, 
societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies that represent 
a wide variety of food and agricultural interests throughout the 
country. Nominations for one individual who fits several of the 
categories listed above, or for more than one person who fits one 
category, will be accepted.
    In your nomination letter, please indicate the specific membership 
category for each nominee if applying for the NAREEE Advisory Board or 
the subcommittee. Each nominee must submit a signed form AD-755, 
``Advisory Committee Membership Background Information'' (which can be 
obtained from the contact person below or from: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/AD-55_Master_2012_508%20Ver.pdf).
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure the 
recommendation of the Advisory Board take into account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by the USDA, membership shall include, to the 
extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
the needs of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons 
with disabilities.
    Please note, individuals may not serve on more than one USDA 
Federal Advisory Committee. As for Federal Register lobbyists, 
individuals appointed to the committees to exercise their own 
individual best judgment on behalf of the government (e.g., Special 
Government Employees) are ineligible to serve.
    All nominees will be carefully reviewed for their expertise, 
leadership, and relevance. All nominees will be vetted before 
selection.
    Appointments to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board and its subcommittees will be 
made by the Secretary of Agriculture.

National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board

    The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board was established in 1996 via Section 1408 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) to provide advice to the Secretary of 
Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities 
and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension, 
and economics. Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 was amended by the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reduce the number of 
members on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
and Economics Advisory Board to 25 members and required the Board to 
also provide advice to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on 
Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate.
    Since the Advisory Boards inception by congressional legislation in 
1996, each member has represented a specific category related to 
farming or ranching, food production and processing, forestry research, 
crop and animal science, land-grant institutions, non-land grant 
college or university with a historic commitment to research in the 
food and agricultural sciences, food retailing and marketing, rural 
economic development, and natural resource and consumer interest 
groups, among many others. The Board was first appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture in September 1996 and one-third of its members 
were appointed for a one, two, and three-year term, respectively. The 
terms for 9 members who represent specific categories will expire 
September 30, 2017. Nominations for a 3-year appointment for these 9 
vacant categories are sought. All nominees will

[[Page 27676]]

be carefully reviewed for their expertise, leadership, and relevance to 
a category.
    The 9 slots to be filled are:

Category B. Farm Cooperatives
Category D. Plant Commodity Producer
Category E. National Aquaculture Association
Category H. National Food Science Organization
Category J. National Nutritional Science Society
Category K. 1862 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
Category V. National Forestry Group
Category W. National Conservation or Natural Resource Group
Category Y. National Social Science Association

Specialty Crop Committee

    The Specialty Crop Committee was created as a subcommittee of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board in accordance with the Specialty Crops Competitiveness 
Act of 2004 under Title III, Section 303 of Public Law 108-465. The 
committee was formulated to study the scope and effectiveness of 
research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty 
crop industry. The legislation defines ``specialty crops'' as fruits, 
vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops (including 
floriculture). The Agricultural Act of 2014 further expanded the scope 
of the Specialty Crop Committee to provide advice to the Secretary of 
Agriculture on the relevancy review process of the Specialty Crop 
Research Initiative, a granting program of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture.
    Members should represent the breadth of the specialty crop 
industry. 6 members of the Specialty Crop Committee are also members of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board and 6 members represent various disciplines of the 
specialty crop industry.
    The terms of 3 members will expire on September 30, 2017. The 
Specialty Crop Committee is soliciting nominations to fill 3 vacant 
positions to represent the specialty crop industry. Appointed members 
will serve 3 years with their terms expiring in September 2020.

National Genetic Resources Advisory Council

    The National Genetic Resources Advisory Council was re-established 
in 2012 as a permanent subcommittee of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board to 
formulate recommendations on actions and policies for the collection, 
maintenance, and utilization of genetic resources; to make 
recommendations for coordination of genetic resources plans of several 
domestic and international organizations; and to advise the Secretary 
of Agriculture and the National Genetic Resources Program, part of the 
Agricultural Research Service, of new and innovative approaches to 
genetic resources conservation.
    The National Genetic Resources Advisory Council membership is 
required to have two-thirds of the appointed members from scientific 
disciplines relevant to the National Genetic Resources Program 
including agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, natural 
resource sciences, health sciences, and nutritional sciences; and one-
third of the appointed members from the general public including 
leaders in fields of public policy, trade, international development, 
law, or management.
    The terms of 3 members of the National Genetic Resources Advisory 
Council will expire on September 30, 2017. We are seeking nominations 
for a 3-year appointment effective October 1, 2017 through September 
30, 2020. The 3 slots to be filled are to be composed of 2 scientific 
members and 1 general public member.

Citrus Disease Subcommittee

    The Citrus Disease Subcommittee was established by the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (Sec. 7103) to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on 
citrus research, extension, and development needs, engage in regular 
consultation and collaboration with USDA and other organizations 
involved in citrus, and provide recommendations for research and 
extension activities related to citrus disease. The Citrus Disease 
Subcommittee will also advise the Department on the research and 
extension agenda of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension 
Program, a granting program of the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.
    The subcommittee is composed of 9 members who must be a producer of 
citrus with representation from the following States: Three members 
from Arizona or California, five members from Florida, and one member 
from Texas.
    The terms of 3 Citrus Disease Subcommittee will expire on September 
30, 2017. The Citrus Disease Subcommittee is soliciting nominations to 
fill 3 vacant positons for membership; 1 position is to represent 
Florida, 1 position is to represent California or Arizona, and 1 
position is to represent Texas. Appointed members will serve 3 years 
with their terms expiring in September 2020.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 8th day of June 2017.
Ann Bartuska,
Acting Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2017-12505 Filed 6-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-03-P