[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35053-35054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09267]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket ID: NRCS-2024-0007]


Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice to solicit nominees.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Urban 
Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is seeking nominations 
for individuals to serve on the Urban Agriculture and Innovative 
Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). The UAIPAC advises the 
Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach 
relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production 
practices. The 12 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture are 
expected to serve a 3-year term. The nomination period includes four 
vacancies, including the: urban producer representative; higher 
education or extension program representative; business and economic 
development representative; and representative with related experience 
in urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices.

DATES: USDA will consider nominations received via email or postmarked 
by July 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please send nominations via email to: 
[email protected]. Email is the 
preferred method for sending nominations; alternatively, nominations 
can be mailed to Brian Guse, Director of the Office of Urban 
Agriculture and Innovative Production, Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 4083, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Markus Holliday, Coordinator, Office 
of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production; telephone: (301) 974-
1287; 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 Overview and Membership

    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 of Agriculture to 
establish an ``Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory 
Committee'' to advise the Secretary 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. For additional background and member information 
visit the UAIPAC website at https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/federal-advisory-committee-urban-ag.
    The UAIPAC consists of 12 members including:
     4 representatives who are agriculture producers including 
2 individuals who are located in an urban

[[Page 35054]]

area or urban cluster; and 2 individuals who are farmers that use 
innovative technology;
     2 representatives from an institution of higher education 
or extension program;
     1 representative from a nonprofit organizaton, which may 
include a public health, environmental, or community organization;
     1 representative who represents business and economic 
development, which may include a business development entity, a chamber 
of commerce, a city government, or a planning organization;
     1 expert with supply chain experience, which may include a 
food aggregator, wholesale food distributor, food hub, or an individual 
who has direct-to-consumer market experience;
     1 representative from a financing entity; and
     2 representatives with related experience or expertise in 
urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices, as 
determined by the Secretary.

Member Nominations

    Nominations are open to the public. Any interested person or 
organization may nominate qualified individuals for membership, 
including self-nominations. Individuals who wish to be considered for 
membership must submit a nomination package to include the following 
required items:
    (1) A completed background disclosure form (Form AD-755) signed by 
the nominee (see https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf);
    (2) A brief summary explaining the nominee's interest in one or 
more open vacancies including any unique qualifications that address 
the membership composition and criteria described above; and
    (3) A r[eacute]sum[eacute] providing the nominee's background, 
experience, and educational qualifications.
    It will be helpful to include the following optional items in your 
nomination package:
    (1) Recent publications by the nominee relative to extending 
support for urban agriculture or innovative production; and
    (2) Letter(s) of endorsement.
    Please send nominations via email to: 
[email protected] as the preferred 
method. Alternatively, nominations can be mailed to Brian Guse, 
Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4083, 
Washington, DC 20250.

Ethics Statement

    To maintain the highest levels of honesty, integrity, and ethical 
conduct, no committee or subcommittee member may participate in any 
``specific party matters'' (for example, matters are narrowly focused 
and typically involve specific transactions between identified parties) 
such as a lease, license, permit, contract, claim, grant, agreement, or 
related litigation with USDA in which the committee or subcommittee 
member has a direct financial interest. This includes the requirement 
for committee or subcommittee members to immediately disclose to the 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO) (for discussion with USDA's Office of 
Ethics) any specific party matter in which the member's immediate 
family, relatives, business partners or employer would be directly 
seeking to financially benefit from the committee's recommendations.
    All members will receive ethics training to identify and avoid any 
actions that would cause the public to question the integrity of the 
committee's advice and recommendations. Members who are appointed as 
``Representatives'' are not subject to Federal ethics laws because the 
appointment allows them to represent the point(s) of view of a 
particular group, business sector or segment of the public.
    Members appointed as ``Special Government Employees'' (SGEs) are 
considered intermittent Federal employees and are subject to Federal 
ethics laws. SGE's are appointed due to their personal knowledge, 
academic scholarship, background or expertise. No SGE may participate 
in any activity in which the member has a prohibited financial 
interest. Appointees who are SGEs are required to complete and submit a 
Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450 form) via the 
FDonline e-filing database system. Upon request USDA will assist SGEs 
in preparing these financial reports. To ensure the highest level of 
compliance with applicable ethical standards USDA will provide ethics 
training to SGEs on an annual basis. The provisions of these paragraphs 
are not meant to exhaustively cover all Federal ethics laws and do not 
affect any other statutory or regulatory obligations to which advisory 
committee members are subject.

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 UAIPC have taken into 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 persons 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: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) 
email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Dated: April 25, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
Committee Management Officer, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2024-09267 Filed 4-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P