81 FR 9419 - Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 37 (February 25, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 37 (February 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 9419-9420 | |
| FR Document | 2016-04025 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 9419-9420] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-04025] ======================================================================== 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. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices [[Page 9419]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture Meeting AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics, Agricultural Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21). The committee is being convened to: Consider work of the three ad hoc subgroups on the progress of their analyses relevant to the new AC21 charge; listen to presentations from outside experts on topics relevant to the work of the AC21; and continue overall discussions on the committee charge and planning subsequent work. DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday-Tuesday, March 14-15, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. This meeting is open to the public. On March 14, 2016, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each in duration, starting at 3:30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. Schechtman in writing or via Email at the indicated addresses below at least three business days before the meeting. ADDRESSES: Room 107A, USDA Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General information about the committee can also be found at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=BIOTECH_AC21&navtype=RT&parentnav=BIOTECH. However, Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; Telephone (202) 720- 3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; Email [email protected] may be contacted for specific questions about the committee or this meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AC21 has been established to provide information and advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on the broad array of issues related to the expanding dimensions and importance of agricultural biotechnology. The committee is charged with examining the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and agriculture system and USDA, and providing guidance to USDA on pressing individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. In recent years, the work of the AC21 has centered on the issue of coexistence among different types of agricultural production systems. The AC21 consists of members representing the biotechnology industry, the organic food industry, farming communities, the seed industry, food manufacturers, state government, consumer and community development groups, as well as academic researchers and a medical doctor. In addition, representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative serve as ``ex officio'' members. In its last report, issued on November 17, 2012, entitled ``Enhancing Coexistence: A Report to the Secretary of Agriculture,'' and available on the Web site listed below, the AC21 offered a diverse package of recommendations, among which was a recommendation that ``. . . USDA should facilitate development of joint coexistence plans by neighboring farmers,'' and that in a pilot program, USDA should, among other things, offer incentives for the development of such plans. At its last meeting, on December 14-15, 2015, USDA offered a specific new charge to the AC21 building on its previous work. Recognizing that USDA currently lacks the legal authority to offer any such incentives, the committee has been charged with considering the following two questions: Is there an approach by which farmers could be encouraged to work with their neighbors to develop joint coexistence plans at the State or local level? If so, how might the Federal government assist in that process? In devising an approach to respond to this charge, the AC21 has established 3 ad hoc subgroups to gather and analyze information and options for the full committee's consideration. These address: Development of a guidance document which could be made available to farmers and other stakeholders; potential models for facilitating conversations around coexistence and potential available incentives; and potential venues and conveners of coexistence conversations. The three objectives for the meeting are:To consider work of the three ad hoc subgroups on the progress of their analyses relevant to the new AC21 charge; to listen to presentations from outside experts on topics relevant to the work of the AC21; and to continue overall discussions on the committee charge and planning subsequent work. Background information regarding the work and membership of the AC21 is available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true. Register for the Meeting: The public is asked to pre-register for the meeting at least 10 business days prior to the meeting. Your pre- registration must state: The names of each person in your group; organization or interest represented; the number of people planning to give oral comments, if any; and whether anyone in your group requires special accommodations. Submit registrations to Ms. Dianne Fowler at (202) 720-4074 or by Email at [email protected] by February 26, 2016. The Agricultural Research Service will also accept walk-in registrations. Members of the public who request to give oral comments to the Committee, must arrive by 8:45 a.m. on March 14, 2016 and will be given their allotted time limit and turn at the check-in table. Public Comments: Written public comments may be mailed to Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal [[Page 9420]] Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; via fax to (202) 690-4265 or email to [email protected]. All written comments must arrive by March 9, 2016. Oral comments are also accepted. To request to give oral comments, see instructions under `Register for the Meeting' above. Availability of Materials for the Meeting: All written public comments will be compiled into a binder and available for review at the meeting. Duplicate comments from multiple individuals will appear as one comment, with a notation that multiple copies of the comment were received. Please visit the Web site listed above to learn more about the agenda for or reports resulting from this meeting. Meeting Accommodations: The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. USDA is committed to ensuring that all employees are included in our work environment, programs and events. If you are a person with a disability and request reasonable accommodations to participate in this meeting, please note the request in your registration. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Issued at Washington, DC, this 16th day of February 2016. Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics. [FR Doc. 2016-04025 Filed 2-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-03-P
![9420 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2016 / Notices
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, respond, including through the use of memoranda of understanding/
USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal appropriate automated, electronic, agreement). The restrictions may not
Building, 12th and Independence mechanical, or other technological apply if a Federal agency considers
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; collection techniques or other forms of suspension or debarment of the
via fax to (202) 690–4265 or email to information technology. corporation and determines that such
AC21@ars.usda.gov. All written Comments regarding this information action is not necessary to protect the
comments must arrive by March 9, collection received by March 28, 2016 interests of the Government. The U.S.
2016. Oral comments are also accepted. will be considered. Written comments Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
To request to give oral comments, see should be addressed to: Desk Officer for agencies and staff offices must comply
instructions under ‘Register for the Agriculture, Office of Information and with the restrictions.
Meeting’ above. Regulatory Affairs, Office of During fiscal years 2012–2014, similar
Availability of Materials for the Management and Budget (OMB), New provisions were not uniform across the
Meeting: All written public comments Executive Office Building, 725 17th government. For USDA, one set of
will be compiled into a binder and Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. provisions applied to all agencies and
available for review at the meeting. Commenters are encouraged to submit staff offices except the Forest Service
Duplicate comments from multiple their comments to OMB via email to: and a second set of slightly different
individuals will appear as one OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or provisions applied only to the Forest
comment, with a notation that multiple fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Service. To facilitate compliance with
copies of the comment were received. Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail the appropriations restrictions, USDA
Please visit the Web site listed above to Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– created two sets of forms—one for use
learn more about the agenda for or 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may by all USDA agencies and staff offices
reports resulting from this meeting. be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. (Forms AD–3030–Y and AD–3031–Y
Meeting Accommodations: The An agency may not conduct or and one for use only by the Forest
meeting will be open to the public, but sponsor a collection of information Service (Forms AD–3030 FS and AD–
space is limited. USDA is committed to unless the collection of information 3031 FS). In FY 2015 Congress enacted
ensuring that all employees are displays a currently valid OMB control slightly different government-wide
included in our work environment, number and the agency informs provisions for all agencies and
programs and events. If you are a person potential persons who are to respond to departments. In response, USDA created
with a disability and request reasonable the collection of information that such a new set of forms that adhered to the
accommodations to participate in this person are not required to respond to change for use by all of its agencies and
meeting, please note the request in your the collection of information unless it staff offices including the Forest Service
registration. All reasonable displays a currently valid OMB control (Forms AD–3030 and AD–3031).
accommodation requests are managed number. USDA must also comply with prior
on a case by case basis. year provisions issued between FY
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Issued at Washington, DC, this 16th day of 2012–2014 to the extent that carry over/
February 2016.
Title: Information Collection Request; no year funds provided by those years’
Representations Regarding Felony appropriations were used in awards or
Catherine E. Woteki,
Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status award adjustments.
Under Secretary, Research, Education and
for Corporate Applicants and Awardees. Need and Use of the Information: To
Economics.
OMB Control Number: 0505–0025. comply with the appropriations
[FR Doc. 2016–04025 Filed 2–24–16; 8:45 am] Summary of Collection: The restrictions, the information collection
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P appropriations restrictions contained in requires corporate applicants and
all of the respective appropriations acts awardees for USDA programs to
since fiscal year (FY) 2012 regarding represent accurately whether they have
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE financial transactions with corporations or do not have qualifying tax
Office of the Chief Financial Officer; that have tax delinquencies or felony delinquencies or convictions which
Submission for OMB Review; convictions were continued in the would prevent USDA from entering into
Comment Request Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, a proposed business transaction with
Public Law 114–113. The restrictions the corporate applicant. For non-
February 19, 2016. are located in Division E, Title VII, procurement programs and transactions,
The Department of Agriculture has sections 745 and 746, respectively. The these representations will be submitted
submitted the following information restrictions apply to transactions with on the proposed information collection
collection requirement(s) to OMB for corporations that (1) have any ‘‘unpaid Forms AD–3030, AD–3031, AD–3030–Y,
review and clearance under the Federal tax liability that has been AD–3031–Y, AD–3030–FS and AD–
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, assessed, for which all judicial and 3031–FS. This information collection,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are administrative remedies have been deals only with USDA non-procurement
requested regarding (1) whether the exhausted or have lapsed, and that is transactions. The categories of non-
collection of information is necessary not being paid in a timely manner procurement transactions covered by
for the proper performance of the pursuant to an agreement with the this information collection are: non-
functions of the agency, including authority responsible for collecting the procurement contracts, grants, loans,
whether the information will have tax liability, where the awarding agency loan guarantees, cooperative
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practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the is aware of the unpaid tax liability and agreements, and some memoranda of
agency’s estimate of burden including (2) were ‘‘convicted of a felony criminal understanding/agreement. Accordingly,
the validity of the methodology and violation under any Federal law within this information collection is not
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the preceding 24 months, where the intended for use with USDA
the quality, utility and clarity of the awarding agency is aware of the procurement transactions. . For more
information to be collected; (4) ways to conviction. The restricted transactions specific information about whether a
minimize the burden of the collection of include contracts, grants, loans, loan particular non-procurement program or
information on those who are to guarantees, cooperative agreements, and transaction is included in this list please
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:35:13
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:35:13
| 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 of public meeting. | |
| Dates | The meeting will be held on Monday-Tuesday, March 14-15, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. This meeting is open to the public. On March 14, 2016, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each in duration, starting at 3:30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. Schechtman in writing or via Email at | |
| Contact | General information about the committee can also be found at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/ usdahome?navid=BIOTECH_AC21&navtype=RT&parentnav=BIOTECH. However, Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; Telephone (202) 720- 3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; Email [email protected] may be contacted for specific questions about the committee or this meeting. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 9419 |
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