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[Notice from the Federal Register: August 22, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 164) Notices, Page 43330-43331]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Notice of Request for Nominations for the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality.

DATES: Nominations must be received in writing or reaffirmed (see Supplementary Information section) by September 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written nominations to Chief , Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George C. Bluhm, National Agricultural Meteorologist, NRCS, (916) 752-1018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Task Force Purpose

As required by Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (FAIR) of 1996, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) shall establish a task force to review research results by any Federal Agency that addresses air quality issues related to agriculture or agriculture infastructure. Recommendations from the Task Force will be provided to the Secretary of Agriculture for guidance on air policy implementations. NRCS intends to meet all requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) relative to this Task Force.

The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will review any policy recommendations issued by any federal agency that would establish controls over farming or ranch operations in behalf of cleaner air. Specifically the task force is to provide insights to potential local impacts of proposed policy changes. The Task Force will:
  1. Review research on agricultural air quality supported financially and technically by any federal agency,
  2. Base recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture upon sound scientific findings after adequate peer review and taking into account economic feasibility,
  3. Work to ensure intergovernmental (Federal, state, and local) cooperation to establish policy for agriculture air quality and to avoid duplication,
  4. To the extent practical, assist any federal agency to correct their erroneous data with respect to agriculture air quality.

Task Force Membership

The Task Force will be made up of United States citizens. The Task Force will be composed of:

  1. Individuals with expertise in agricultural air quality and/or agricultural production.

  2. Individuals representing regional concerns.

  3. Representatives of institutions with expertise in agricultural air quality impacts on human health.

  4. Five representatives from commodity groups having expertise in production agriculture.

  5. Six representatives from state or local agencies having expertise in agriculture and air quality.

  6. An atmospheric scientist.


Task Force nominations must be in writing and provide the the appropriate background documents required by USDA policy. Forms are available from the above contact. Previous nominations should consider the desirability of updating their nominations and must provide the required background disclosures (AD-755) to reaffirm their candidacy. Service as a member of the Task Force shall not constitute employment by, or the holding of an office of the United States for the purpose of any Federal law.

A Task Force member will serve for a term of 2 years, except that members appointed to the initial Task Force shall serve, proportionally for terms of 1 and 2 years, as determined by the Chief of NRCS. No individual may serve more than 2 consecutive 2-year terms as a member of the Task Force. A member of the Task Force shall receive no compensation from the NRCS for the service as a member of the Task Force except as described below.

While away from home or regular place of business of a member of the Task Force, the member will be eligible for travel expenses paid by the NRCS, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at the same rate as a person employed intermittently in the government service is allowed under section 5703 of title 5, United States code.

Submitting Nominations

Nominations should be typed and should include the following:
  1. A brief summary of no more than two pages explaining the nominee's suitability to serve on the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force.
  2. Resume.
  3. A completed copy of form AD-755.
  4. Send nominations to Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013.
  5. Nominations are due post marked no later than 30 days after the date of this announcement.
Richard L. Duesterhaus,
Deputy Chief, Soil Science and Resource Assessment, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21467 Filed 8-21-96; 8:45 am]