80 FR 36966 - Request for Nominations to the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 124 (June 29, 2015)

The Secretary of Agriculture invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for a 2-year term on the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) established by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on agricultural air quality issues. This notice solicits nominations for membership on AAQTF.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36966-36967]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15933]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Request for Nominations to the Agricultural Air Quality Task 
Force

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Nominations to the Agricultural Air 
Quality Task Force.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture invites nominations of qualified 
candidates to be considered for a 2-year term on the Agricultural Air 
Quality Task Force (AAQTF) established by the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to provide recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture on agricultural air quality issues. This 
notice solicits nominations for membership on AAQTF.

DATES: Effective Date: This is effective June 29, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be postmarked no later than August 13, 
2015 to Greg Johnson, Designated Federal Official, Department of 
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1201 Northeast 
Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1000, Portland, Oregon 97232, or sent by email 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Johnson, Designated Federal 
Official, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, 1201 Northeast Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1000, Portland, Oregon 
97232; telephone: (503) 273-2424; fax: (503) 273-2401; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

AAQTF Purpose

    Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996, Public Law 104-127, 7 U.S.C. 5405, requires the Chief of the 
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to establish a task force 
to address air agricultural quality issues. The task force advises the 
Secretary of Agriculture on the role of the Secretary for providing 
oversight and coordination related to agricultural air quality. The 
requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.2, 
apply to this task force.
    The Task Force will:
    1. Strengthen vital research efforts related to agricultural air 
quality;
    2. Determine the extent to which agricultural activities contribute 
to air pollution;
    3. Determine cost-effective ways in which the agricultural industry 
can improve air quality;
    4. Coordinate and ensure intergovernmental cooperation on research 
activities related to agricultural air quality issues to avoid 
duplication, and ensure data quality and sound interpretation of data; 
and
    5. Advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the role of the Secretary 
for providing oversight and coordination related to agricultural air 
quality.

AAQTF Membership

    The task force expects to meet two to three times each year, with 
meetings held at various locations across the United States. A task 
force member will serve for a term of 2 years, starting with the date 
of charter establishment for this task force. The Chief of NRCS serves 
as Chair of the task force. The task force is composed of United States 
citizens representing a broad spectrum of individuals with interest in 
agricultural air quality issues. This includes, but is not limited to, 
representatives from the agricultural production and processing sector, 
as well as those from academia, agribusiness, regulatory organizations, 
environmental organizations, and local or State agencies.
    Nominees to AAQTF will be evaluated on a number of criteria, 
including expertise in or experience with agricultural air quality 
research, agricultural production, and air quality environmental or 
regulatory issues.
    Serving as a task force member will not constitute employment by, 
or the holding of, an office of the United States for the purpose of 
any Federal law. Persons selected for membership on the task force will 
not receive compensation from NRCS for their service as task force 
members, except that while away from home or regular place of business 
the member will be eligible for travel expenses paid by NRCS, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the same rate as a person employed 
intermittently in the government service, under section 5703 of Title 
5, U.S.C. Additional information about AAQTF may be found on the World 
Wide Web at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/air/taskforce/.

Member Nominations

    Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified 
individuals for membership. Interested candidates may nominate 
themselves. Previous nominees and task force members who wish to be 
considered for membership on the task force must submit a new 
nomination with updated information,

[[Page 36967]]

including a new background disclosure form (Form AD-755).
    Nominations should be typed and include the following:
    1. A brief summary, no more than two pages, explaining the 
nominee's qualifications to serve on AAQTF and addressing the criteria 
described above.
    2. A resume providing the nominee's background, experience, and 
educational qualifications.
    3. A completed background disclosure form (Form AD-755) signed by 
the nominee (http://www.usda.gov/documents/OCIO_AD_755_Master_2012.pdf).
    4. Any recent publications by the nominee relative to air quality 
(if appropriate).
    5. At least two letters of endorsement (optional).
    Send written nominations to Greg Johnson, Designated Federal 
Official, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, 1201 Northeast Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1000, Portland, Oregon 
97232; or email: [email protected]. The Designated Federal 
Official will acknowledge receipt of nominations.

Equal Opportunity Statement

    To ensure that recommendations of the task force take into account 
the needs of underserved and diverse communities served by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), membership will include, to the 
extent practicable, individuals representing minorities, women, and 
persons with disabilities. USDA prohibits discrimination in all of its 
programs and activities on the basis of race, sex, color, national 
origin, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. 
Additionally, discrimination on the basis of political beliefs and 
marital status or family status is also prohibited by statutes enforced 
by USDA (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with 
disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program 
information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact 
USDA's Technology and Accessible Resources Give Employment Today Center 
at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity 
provider and employer.

    Signed this 29th day of May 2015, in Washington, DC.
Jason A. Weller,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15933 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P