[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65836-65838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17938]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LP-24-0012]


Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party 
Verifier Program Advisory Council: Notice of Intent To Establish 
Charter and Solicitation for Nominations

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to establish charter and call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Secretary's intent to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical 
Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council 
(Council) under the Growing Climate Solutions Act and in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), solicits nominations 
for membership on the Council, and solicits nominations for a pool of 
candidates to fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the position 
categories should that occur.

DATES: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites interested 
persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments will be accepted 
until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2024, via https://www.regulations.gov: Document # AMS-LP-24-0012. Nomination packages 
including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee's typed resume 
or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership 
Background Information Form AD-755 must be postmarked on or before 
October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages can be submitted electronically by email 
to [email protected], or mailed to: Sasha Strohm, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0249, Washington, DC 
20250, Attn: GCSA Advisory Council. Electronic submittals are 
preferred.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sasha Strohm by telephone at 202-720-
5705 or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    The Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA) directs the Secretary of 
USDA to establish a non-discretionary advisory

[[Page 65837]]

committee to be known as the ``Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance 
Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council'' (Council). 
The GCSA was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act of 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) and is codified in relevant part at 7 
U.S.C. 6712. The GCSA specifies that the Council shall be subject to 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10, 1001-1014), except 
that section 14(a)(2) of that Act (5 U.S.C. 1013(a)(2)), concerning the 
automatic termination of advisory committees, shall not apply. The 
purpose of the Council is to support the newly established Greenhouse 
Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program 
(Program) in facilitating the participation in voluntary environmental 
credit markets of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, 
including beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and 
veteran farmers.
    Key activities of the Council include periodically reviewing and 
recommending any appropriate changes to the protocols recognized by the 
Program for generating environmental credits; the required 
qualifications for entities that provide technical assistance to 
farmers, ranchers, and landowners; and the activities available to 
farmers, ranchers, and landowners under the Program to prevent, reduce, 
or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
    The Council responsibilities include advising the Secretary 
regarding: (1) current methods used in voluntary environmental credit 
markets to quantify and verify the prevention, reduction, or mitigation 
of greenhouse gas emissions; and (2) ways to reduce the barriers to 
entry and transaction costs associated with such markets. Finally, the 
Council will submit an initial assessment to Congress about the 
Program, and it will consult with the Secretary regarding subsequent 
periodic assessments. For more information about the Council's duties 
and functions, interested persons are encouraged to review the GCSA, as 
set forth in 7 U.S.C. 6712, particularly subsections (f) and (g) of the 
law.

II. Structure

    The Secretary will appoint the Council members. The GCSA requires 
that the Council be broadly representative of the agriculture and 
private forest sectors; include beginning, socially disadvantaged, 
limited resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers, and private forest 
landowners; and be composed of not less than 51 percent farmers, 
ranchers, or private forest landowners.
    In accordance with the GCSA, members appointed shall include:
     Up to four representatives from USDA, Environmental 
Protection Agency, and National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
including:
    [cir] Not more than two from USDA, as determined by the Secretary;
    [cir] Not more than one from the Environmental Protection Agency, 
as determined by the Administrator; and
    [cir] Not more than one from the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology.
    The selection process for the Federal employee seats referenced 
above consists of the submission of a memorandum/letter from USDA to 
the Agency Head/Department Secretary requesting the agency/department 
identify a representative to serve on the Council by a certain date. 
The corresponding agency would respond with a letter of recommendation 
to USDA.
     Not fewer than twelve representatives of the agriculture 
industry (of which not fewer than six must be active farmers and 
ranchers).
     Not fewer than four representatives of private forest 
landowners or the forestry and forest products industry.
     Up to four representatives of the relevant scientific 
research community, including:
    [cir] Not fewer than two representatives from land-grant colleges 
and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103)
    [ssquf] Of which one shall be a representative of a college or 
university eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 
(commonly known as the ``Second Morrill Act'') (26 Stat. 417, chapter 
841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University.
     Up to two experts or professionals, serving as Special 
Government Employees (SGE), familiar with voluntary environmental 
credit markets and the verification requirements in those markets.
     Up to three public representatives (i.e., members of 
nongovernmental or civil society organizations with relevant 
expertise):
    [cir] Of which not fewer than one shall represent the interests of 
socially disadvantaged groups.
     Up to three representatives from private sector businesses 
or organizations that participate in voluntary environmental credit 
markets.
    The Council will be balanced in its membership in terms of the 
points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Fresh 
points of view are encouraged through staggered membership terms and 
limiting the number of years a member may serve on the Council. In 
accordance with the GCSA, a member term shall be 2 years, except that 
of the members first appointed:
     not fewer than 8 members shall serve for a term of 1 year;
     not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 2 
years; and
     not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 3 
years.

After a member's initial term on the Council, the member may serve not 
more than 4 additional 2-year terms.
    The Council shall meet not less frequently than annually. During 
the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the members are 
appointed, the Council shall hold an initial meeting. All meetings are 
open to the public in accordance with the FACA and its implementing 
regulations and guidelines. Pursuant to the GCSA, the Agriculture 
Secretary shall designate a member of the Council to serve as the 
Chair.
    A permanent Federal employee is to be appointed in accordance with 
agency procedures and will serve as the Designated Federal Official 
(DFO). The DFO will approve the Council's and subcommittees' meetings, 
prepare and approve all meeting agendas, attend all council and 
subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines 
adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when 
directed to do so by the official to whom the Council reports.
    The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has the authority to 
create subcommittees. Subcommittees must report back to the parent 
Council and must not provide advice or work products directly to the 
agency.

III. Compensation

    In accordance with the GCSA, members of the Council shall serve 
without compensation. However, members may be reimbursed for travel 
expenses, including per diem instead of subsistence, while engaged in 
the performance of duties away from their homes or regular places of 
business. All travel for Council business must be approved in advance 
by the DFO.

IV. Nominations

    AMS will consider nominations of all qualified individuals to 
ensure the Council includes the areas of subject matter expertise noted 
above (see ``Structure''). Individuals may nominate themselves or other 
individuals, and professional associations and organizations may 
nominate one or

[[Page 65838]]

more qualified persons for membership on the Council. Nominations must 
state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council.
    A nomination package should include the following information for 
each nominee:
    (1) A completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information Form AD-755, (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf).
    (2) A curriculum vitae and/or resume, and
    (3) A biographical sketch of the nominee (cover letter) explaining 
which group the nominee would represent (see ``Structure''), how they 
are qualified to represent that group, and why they want to serve on 
the Council.
    The following is optional:
     A letter of nomination stating the nominee's name, 
affiliation, and contact information, the basis for the nomination 
(i.e., what specific attributes recommend him/her for service in this 
capacity), and the nominee's field(s) of expertise.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will 
be followed in all member appointments to the Council. To ensure that 
the recommendations of the Council consider the needs of the diverse 
groups served by USDA, 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 prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities 
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender 
identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, 
age, marital status, family/parental status, political beliefs, income 
derived from a public assistance program, 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).
    The Charter and additional information on the Council will be 
available on the website at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/GCSA or 
may be requested by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

     Dated: August 7, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-17938 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P