[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38018-38019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09952]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 7, 2024 / Notices
[[Page 38018]]
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; correction.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Urban
Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) notice published in the
Federal Register on May 1, 2024, concerning nominations for four new
members to serve on the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). We are republishing the entire contents of
the May 1, 2024, notice to correct the list of the four vacancies for
which OUAIP is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on 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 2024
nomination period includes four vacancies, including one individual who
is an agriculture producer or farmer using innovative technology; one
individual from an institution of higher education or extension
program; one individual 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; and one
individual with related experience in urban, indoor, and other emerging
agriculture production practices.
DATES: USDA will consider nominations received via email or postmarked
by July 6, 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:
Correction
The USDA OUAIP notice published in the Federal Register on May 1,
2024, (89 FR 35053--35054) concerning nominations for four new members
to serve on the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory
Committee (UAIPAC). We are republishing the entire contents of the May
1, 2024, notice to correct the list of the four vacancies for which
OUAIP is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on UAIPAC. The
2024 nomination period includes four vacancies, including one
individual who is an agriculture producer or farmer using innovative
technology; one individual from an institution of higher education or
extension program; one individual 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; and one
individual with related experience in urban, indoor, and other emerging
agriculture production practices.
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 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 organization, 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
[[Page 38019]]
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.
The USDA OUAIP is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on
UAIPAC. The nomination period includes the following four vacancies:
One individual who is an agirculture producer or farmer
using innovative technology;
One individual from an institution of higher education or
extension program;
One individual 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; and
One individual with related experience in urban, indoor,
and other emerging agriculture production practices.
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 the Committee have taken into
account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department,
membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with
demonstrated ability to represent the many communities, identities,
races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of
the American people, including underserved communities. 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: May 2, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
Committee Management Officer, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2024-09952 Filed 5-2-24; 4:15 pm]
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