80 FR 18352 - Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Renewal and Nominations

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

Page Range		18352-18353
FR Document		2015-07499

Pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C 2155(c)(1)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), intends to renew the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade. In addition, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is requesting nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees for a term of 4 years. The APAC provides advice on the operation of various existing U.S. trade agreements and on negotiating objectives for new trade agreements, as well as other matters arising from the administration of U.S. trade policy. The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and experience of the members.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18352-18353]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07499]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 18352]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; and the Agricultural 
Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Renewal and Nominations

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C 
2155(c)(1)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 
U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR), intends to renew the Agricultural Policy 
Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the six Agricultural Technical 
Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade. In addition, the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) is requesting nominations for persons to 
serve on these seven committees for a term of 4 years. The APAC 
provides advice on the operation of various existing U.S. trade 
agreements and on negotiating objectives for new trade agreements, as 
well as other matters arising from the administration of U.S. trade 
policy. The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues 
that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of 
the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and 
experience of the members.

DATES: Written nominations for this round of appointments must be 
received no later than April 30, 2015. Any applications received after 
April 30, 2015 will be considered for future appointments (i.e., CY 
2016), as appropriate to maintain staggered terms.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be mailed (e.g., FedEx, DHL, 
UPS, USPS) in a single, complete package to Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1001, Attn: APAC/ATACs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries may be directed to JonAnn 
Flemings or Steffon Brown by telephone at (202) 720-4934; by fax to 
(202) 720-6103; or by Email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The APAC and the ATACs are authorized by sections 135(c)(1) and (2) 
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. 93-618, 19 U.S.C. 2155). 
The purpose of these committees is to advise the Secretary and the USTR 
concerning agricultural trade issues and policy. The committees are 
intended to ensure that representative elements of the private sector 
have an opportunity to express their views to the U.S. Government.

Re-Chartering of Existing Committees

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II), 
FAS gives notice that the Secretary and USTR intend to renew the APAC 
and the following six ATACs:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and,
     Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts.
    In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives 
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. The private 
sector advisory committee system currently consists of three tiers:Show 
citation box
     The President's Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy 
Negotiations;
     Five general policy advisory committees, including the 
APAC; and,
     Twenty-two technical advisory committees, including the 
ATACs.
    The establishment and renewal of such committees is in the public 
interest in connection with the duties of the USDA imposed by the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended.

Background

    1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives 
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charter, the APAC has the 
following responsibilities: (A) The Committee will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR concerning the 
trade policy of the United States and the matters arising in the 
administration of such policy; (B) The Committee will provide 
information and advice regarding the following: negotiating objectives 
and bargaining positions of the United States before the United States 
enters into trade agreements, the operation of any trade agreement once 
entered into, and matters arising in connection with the administration 
of the trade policy of the United States. It will keep abreast of the 
ongoing work of the technical-level committees (ATACs); (C) The 
Committee will furnish such other advisory opinions and reports as the 
Secretary and USTR deem necessary.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charters, the ATACs have 
the following responsibilities: (A) The Committees will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR on matters 
that are of mutual concern to the United States and to its consumers, 
producers, processors, and traders of commodities of their respective 
sectors in connection with the trade policy activities undertaken by 
the United States. (B) The Committees will provide advice and 
information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and 
foreign production and trade concerning commodities in their respective 
sectors. The Committees will furnish advisory opinions and reports 
regarding trade policy as requested by the Secretary and USTR, or their 
designees.

General Committee Information

    Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the 
membership of that committee. Committees meet as needed, and all 
committee meetings are typically held in Washington, DC or by telephone 
conference. Committee meetings may be closed if USTR determines that a 
committee will be

[[Page 18353]]

discussing issues that justify closing a meeting or portions of a 
meeting, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 2155(f). Throughout the year, 
members are requested to review sensitive trade policy information and 
provide comments regarding trade negotiations. In addition to their 
other advisory responsibilities, at the conclusion of negotiations of 
any trade agreement, all committees are required to provide a report on 
each agreement to the President, Congress, and USTR.

Committee Membership Information

    All committee members are appointed by, and serve at the discretion 
of the Secretary and the USTR. Committee appointments are typically for 
a period of approximately 4 years, but the Secretary and USTR may renew 
an appointment for an additional term or appoint a member to fill out 
the remainder of someone's term. All committee members must be a U.S. 
citizen and must represent a U.S. entity with an interest in 
agricultural trade, and must not be registered with the Department of 
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. To attend most 
meetings, committee members must have a current security clearance. New 
members will be guided in how to apply for a security clearance and 
their appointment will be contingent on successful completion of the 
investigation. Committee members serve without compensation and are not 
reimbursed for their travel expenses. No person may serve on more than 
one USDA advisory committee at the same time unless a specific 
exception is granted by the USDA Committee Management Officer. No 
entity may have more than one representative on any single trade 
advisory committee.

Nominations and Appointments of Members

    Nominations for APAC and ATAC membership are open to individuals 
representing U.S. entities with an interest in agricultural trade 
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, 
mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. 
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with the U.S. Government 
policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To 
ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership 
shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. 
Members should have expertise and knowledge of agricultural trade as it 
relates to policy and commodity specific issues. Members will normally 
come from an entity with an interest in agriculture, and will serve as 
a Representative, presenting the views and interests of a particular 
U.S. entity that has an interest in the subject matter of the 
committee.
    However, should a member be appointed primarily for his or her 
expertise, and not as a representative of an interest group, he or she 
shall be designated as a Special Government Employee (SGE). SGEs are 
subject to specific provisions of the ethics laws if they are appointed 
because of their personal knowledge, background, or expertise. USDA 
will assist SGEs in disclosing their financial interest and will 
provide ethics training on an annual basis. Appointments are made of 
individuals only and are not transferrable. No person, company, 
producer, farm organization, trade association, or other entity has a 
right to membership on a committee. In making appointments, every 
effort will be made to maintain balanced representation on the 
committees with representation from producers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, and consumers. Geographical 
diversity on each committee will also be sought.
    Nominations: Nominating a person to serve on any of the committees 
requires submission of a current resume for the nominee and the 
following form: AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information, OMB Number 0505-0001), available on the Internet at: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/trade-advisory-committees-applying-membership. 
A cover letter should also be submitted indicating the specific 
committee for which the individual is being nominated, why the nominee 
wants to be a committee member, his or her qualifications for 
membership, and how the submitter learned about this call for 
nominations. The cover letter should also include the statements 
required below related to Federally Registered Lobbyists and Foreign 
Firms. If applicable, a sponsor letter on the non-Federal governmental 
entity's letterhead that contains a brief description of the manner in 
which international trade affects the entity and why the applicant 
should be considered for membership. Forms may also be requested by 
sending an email to [email protected], or by phone at (202) 720-4934.
    Federally Registered Lobbyists: All nominees must provide a 
statement confirming their lobbyist status. Pursuant to the Revised 
Guidance on the Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory 
Committees, Boards and Commissions, published by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) on August 13, 2014, federally-registered 
lobbyists are no longer prohibited from serving on the advisory 
committees in a representative capacity. In light of OMB's recent 
policy clarification that the eligibility restriction does not apply to 
advisory committee members who are specifically appointed to represent 
the interests of a nongovernmental entity, a recognizable group of 
persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry sector, labor unions, 
environmental groups, etc.), or state or local governments. The 
lobbyist prohibition continues to apply to persons serving on advisory 
committees in their individual capacity (e.g., SGEs).
    Foreign Firms: If the nominee is to represent an entity or 
corporation with ten percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the nominee 
must state the extent to which the organization or interest to be 
represented by the nominee is owned by non-U.S. citizens, 
organizations, or interests and demonstrate at the time of nomination 
that this ownership interest does not constitute control and will not 
adversely affect his or her ability to serve as an advisor on the U.S. 
agriculture advisory committee for trade.

    Dated: March 24, 2015.
Suzanne Palmieri,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07499 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / Notices 18353

discussing issues that justify closing a trade as it relates to policy and Management and Budget (OMB) on
meeting or portions of a meeting, in commodity specific issues. Members August 13, 2014, federally-registered
accordance with 19 U.S.C. 2155(f). will normally come from an entity with lobbyists are no longer prohibited from
Throughout the year, members are an interest in agriculture, and will serve serving on the advisory committees in a
requested to review sensitive trade as a Representative, presenting the representative capacity. In light of
policy information and provide views and interests of a particular U.S. OMB’s recent policy clarification that
comments regarding trade negotiations. entity that has an interest in the subject the eligibility restriction does not apply
In addition to their other advisory matter of the committee. to advisory committee members who are
responsibilities, at the conclusion of However, should a member be specifically appointed to represent the
negotiations of any trade agreement, all appointed primarily for his or her interests of a nongovernmental entity, a
committees are required to provide a expertise, and not as a representative of recognizable group of persons or
report on each agreement to the an interest group, he or she shall be nongovernmental entities (an industry
President, Congress, and USTR. designated as a Special Government sector, labor unions, environmental
Employee (SGE). SGEs are subject to groups, etc.), or state or local
Committee Membership Information specific provisions of the ethics laws if governments. The lobbyist prohibition
All committee members are appointed they are appointed because of their continues to apply to persons serving on
by, and serve at the discretion of the personal knowledge, background, or advisory committees in their individual
Secretary and the USTR. Committee expertise. USDA will assist SGEs in capacity (e.g., SGEs).
appointments are typically for a period disclosing their financial interest and Foreign Firms: If the nominee is to
of approximately 4 years, but the will provide ethics training on an represent an entity or corporation with
Secretary and USTR may renew an annual basis. Appointments are made of ten percent or greater non-U.S.
appointment for an additional term or individuals only and are not ownership, the nominee must state the
appoint a member to fill out the transferrable. No person, company, extent to which the organization or
remainder of someone’s term. All producer, farm organization, trade interest to be represented by the
committee members must be a U.S. association, or other entity has a right to nominee is owned by non-U.S. citizens,
citizen and must represent a U.S. entity membership on a committee. In making organizations, or interests and
with an interest in agricultural trade, appointments, every effort will be made demonstrate at the time of nomination
and must not be registered with the to maintain balanced representation on that this ownership interest does not
Department of Justice under the Foreign the committees with representation constitute control and will not adversely
Agents Registration Act. To attend most from producers, farm and commodity affect his or her ability to serve as an
meetings, committee members must organizations, processors, traders, and advisor on the U.S. agriculture advisory
have a current security clearance. New consumers. Geographical diversity on committee for trade.
members will be guided in how to apply each committee will also be sought.
for a security clearance and their Nominations: Nominating a person to Dated: March 24, 2015.
appointment will be contingent on serve on any of the committees requires Suzanne Palmieri,
successful completion of the submission of a current resume for the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
investigation. Committee members serve nominee and the following form: AD– [FR Doc. 2015–07499 Filed 4–3–15; 8:45 am]
without compensation and are not 755 (Advisory Committee Membership BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
reimbursed for their travel expenses. No Background Information, OMB Number
person may serve on more than one 0505–0001), available on the Internet at:
USDA advisory committee at the same http://www.fas.usda.gov/trade-advisory- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
time unless a specific exception is committees-applying-membership. A
granted by the USDA Committee cover letter should also be submitted Forest Service
Management Officer. No entity may indicating the specific committee for
Information Collection; Civil Rights
have more than one representative on which the individual is being
Compliance Review Record—Federally
any single trade advisory committee. nominated, why the nominee wants to
Assisted Programs
be a committee member, his or her
Nominations and Appointments of
qualifications for membership, and how AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
Members
the submitter learned about this call for ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
Nominations for APAC and ATAC nominations. The cover letter should
membership are open to individuals also include the statements required SUMMARY: In accordance with the
representing U.S. entities with an below related to Federally Registered Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
interest in agricultural trade without Lobbyists and Foreign Firms. If Forest Service is seeking comments
regard to race, color, religion, sex, applicable, a sponsor letter on the non- from all interested individuals and
national origin, age, mental or physical Federal governmental entity’s letterhead organizations on the renewal of the
handicap, marital status, or sexual that contains a brief description of the information collection, Civil Rights
orientation. Equal opportunity practices manner in which international trade Compliance Review Record—Federally
in accordance with the U.S. Government affects the entity and why the applicant Assisted Programs.
policies will be followed in all should be considered for membership. With this renewal, the Agency has
appointments to the Committee. To Forms may also be requested by sending changed the name of the information
ensure that the recommendations of the an email to ATACs@fas.usda.gov, or by collections from Equal Opportunity
Committee have taken into account the phone at (202) 720–4934. Compliance Review Record to Civil
tkelley on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

needs of the diverse groups served by Federally Registered Lobbyists: All Rights Compliance Review Record—
USDA, membership shall include to the nominees must provide a statement Federally Assisted Programs.
extent possible, individuals with confirming their lobbyist status. DATES: Comments must be received in
demonstrated ability to represent Pursuant to the Revised Guidance on writing on or before June 5, 2015 to be
minorities, women, and persons with the Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal assured of consideration. Comments
disabilities. Members should have Advisory Committees, Boards and received after that date will be
expertise and knowledge of agricultural Commissions, published by the Office of considered to the extent practicable.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Apr 03, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:17:53
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:17:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for nominations.
Dates		Written nominations for this round of appointments must be received no later than April 30, 2015. Any applications received after April 30, 2015 will be considered for future appointments (i.e., CY 2016), as appropriate to maintain staggered terms.
Contact		Inquiries may be directed to JonAnn Flemings or Steffon Brown by telephone at (202) 720-4934; by fax to (202) 720-6103; or by Email to [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 18352

80 FR 18352 - Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Renewal and Nominations

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForeign Agricultural Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service