[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18516-18517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06536]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket ID: NRCS-2023-0006]


Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee 
Meeting

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of public and virtual meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a 
public meeting of the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production 
Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). UAIPAC will reconvene to continue the 
discussion of the interim recommendations for the Secretary of 
Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to 
urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices. 
UAIPAC is authorized under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 
(2018 Farm Bill) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended.

DATES: 
    Meeting: The UAIPAC meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 
2023, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
    Written Comments: Written comments will be accepted until 11:59 
p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom 
Webinar. Pre-registration is required to attend the UAIPAC meeting and 
access information will be provided to registered individuals via 
email. Registration details can be found at: https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/federal-advisory-committee-urban-ag.
    Written Comments: We invite you to send comments in response to 
this notice. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID 
NRCS-2023-0006. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. All 
written comments received will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Guse; Designated Federal 
Officer; telephone: (202) 205-9723; email: 
[email protected].
    Individuals who require alternative means for communication may 
contact the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text 
telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay service (both 
voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any 
telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

UAIPAC Purpose

    The Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative 
Production is one of several ways that USDA is extending support and 
building frameworks to support urban agriculture, including issues of 
equity and food and nutrition access. Section 222 of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, as amended by section 12302 of 
the 2018 Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. 6923; Pub. L. 115-334) directed the 
Secretary to establish an ``Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production 
Advisory Committee'' to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on any 
aspect of section 222, including the development of policies and 
outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban 
agriculture. UAIPAC will host public meetings to deliberate on 
recommendations for the Secretary of Agriculture. These recommendations 
provide advice to the Secretary on supporting urban agriculture and 
innovative production through USDA's programs and services.

Meeting Agenda

    The agenda items may include, but are not limited to, welcome and 
introductions; administrative matters; presentations from the UAIPAC or 
USDA staff; and deliberations for proposed recommendations and plans. 
The USDA UAIPAC website (https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/federal-advisory-committee-urban-ag) will be updated with the final agenda at 
least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Written Comments

    Comments should address specific topics pertaining to urban 
agriculture and innovative production. Written comments will be 
accepted until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. General 
questions and comments are also accepted at any time via email: 
[email protected].

Meeting Materials

    All written comments received by May 2, 2023, will be compiled for 
UAIPAC review and will be included in the meeting minutes. Duplicate 
comments from multiple individuals will appear as one comment, with a 
notation that multiple copies of the comment were received. Please 
visit https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/federal-advisory-committee-urban-ag to view the agenda and minutes from the meeting.

Meeting Accomodations

    If you require reasonable accommodation, please make requests in 
advance for sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, 
or other reasonable accommodation, to the person listed under the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Determinations for reasonable 
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public 
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for 
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or 
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Individuals who require alternative means of communication for 
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape, 
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 
USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) 
or dial 711 for Telecommunicaions Relay Service (both voice and text 
telephone users can initiate this call from any phone). Additionally, 
program information may be made available in languages other than 
English.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will 
be followed in all appointments to the FACA Committee: UAIPAC. To 
ensure that the recommendations of UAIPAC

[[Page 18517]]

have taken in account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, 
membership will include to the extent possible, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and person with 
disabilities. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and 
lender.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy 
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal 
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Dated: March 23, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
Committee Management Officer, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2023-06536 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P