Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), 68126-68127 [2011-28508]
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68126
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 76, No. 213
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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,
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Under Secretary,
Research, Education, and Economics;
Notice of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century
Agriculture Meeting
Agricultural Research Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. 2, the United States
Department of Agriculture announces
two meetings of the Advisory
Committee on Biotechnology and 21st
Century Agriculture (AC21).
DATES: The meeting dates are November
14, 2011, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
and November 15, 2011, from 10:30 a.m.
until 12 noon.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be
conducted in Webinar format entirely
by telephone and Internet.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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
AC21@ars.usda.gov.
SUMMARY:
The AC21
provides information and advice to the
Secretary of Agriculture on topics
related to the use of biotechnology in
agriculture. Background information
regarding the work and membership of
the AC21 is available on the USDA Web
site at https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/
usda/usdahome?contentid=
AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true.
The immediate work of the AC21 is to
address the following two questions: (1)
What types of compensation
mechanisms, if any, would be
appropriate to address economic losses
by farmers in which the value of their
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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crops is reduced by the unintended
presence of GE material(s)? and (2) What
would be necessary to implement such
mechanisms? That is, what would be
the eligibility standard for a loss and
what tools and triggers (e.g., tolerances,
testing protocols, etc.) would be needed
to verify and measure such losses and
determine if claims are compensable?
The purpose of the two meetings is to
provide background information in a
Webinar format to AC21 members on
existing USDA programs that may serve
as examples to help in the development
of potential compensation mechanisms
for the committee to consider, should it
deem compensation mechanisms
appropriate to recommend. During the
November 14, 2011, conference call,
AC21 members will be briefed on, and
have the opportunity to discuss,
background information on USDA’s
crop insurance programs under the Risk
Management Agency. During the
November 15, 2011, conference call
members will be briefed on, and have
the opportunity to discuss, background
information on the indemnification
programs for perishable agricultural
commodities under the Agricultural
Marketing Service and for diseased
livestock under the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
Members of the public who wish to
listen in to the November 14, 2011,
meeting may view the presentations and
listen to audio at https://
cc.readytalk.com/r/2bcp67fidhgq or to
dial in at Area Code (800) 705–8289.
Members of the public who wish to
listen in to the November 15, 2011,
meeting may view the presentations and
listen to audio at https://
cc.readytalk.com/r/jq96hzop0sp4 or dial
in at Area Code (800) 698–5986. There
will be an opportunity for the public to
comment on this background material at
the next in-person meeting of the AC21,
which will be scheduled later. This
notice of meeting agendas is given
pursuant to section 10 of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.
2 10).
Dated: October 26, 2011.
Yeshimebet Abebe,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2011–28469 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture
RIN 0524–AA43
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
Regarding the Veterinary Medicine
Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for stakeholder
input.
AGENCY:
The National Institute of Food
and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting
stakeholder input on the administration
of the Veterinary Medicine Loan
Repayment Program (VMLRP)
authorized under section 1415A of the
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151a). The purpose of
this program is for the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into
agreements with veterinarians under
which the veterinarians agree to
provide, for a specific period of time as
identified in the agreement, veterinary
services in veterinarian shortage
situations. As part of the stakeholder
input process, NIFA is inviting
comments regarding the current
procedures and processes in place for
the VMLRP. Input collected will be used
to modify and improve processes for
subsequent calls of shortage situation
nominations and request for
applications.
SUMMARY:
Written comments are invited
from interested individuals and
organizations. All comments must be
received by close of business on
December 5, 2011, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by NIFA–2012–0001, by any
of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov. Include
NIFA–2012–0001 in the subject line of
the message.
Fax: (202) 720–6486.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to
VMLRP, Policy and Oversight Division,
National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, U.S. Department of
Agriculture; STOP 2299, 1400
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
03NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–2299.
Hand Delivery/Courier: VMLRP;
Policy and Oversight Division, National
Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 2308,
Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
NIFA–2012–0001. All comments
received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Matthew Lockhart, Senior Policy
Specialist; National Institute of Food
and Agriculture; U.S. Department of
Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–2299; Voice:
(202) 570–7410; Email:
mlockhart@nifa.usda.gov.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
The VMLRP helps qualified
veterinarians offset a significant portion
of the debt incurred in pursuit of their
veterinary medicine degrees in return
for their service in certain high-priority
veterinary shortage situations. NIFA
will enter into educational loan
repayment agreements with
veterinarians who agree to provide
veterinary services in veterinarian
shortage situations for a determined
period of time. NIFA may repay up to
$25,000 of a veterinarian’s student loan
debt per year if the veterinarian
commits to at least three years to
provide veterinary services in a
designated veterinary shortage area.
Loan repayment benefits are limited to
payments of the principal and interest
on government and commercial loans
received for the attendance at an
accredited college of veterinary
medicine that result in a degree of
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the
equivalent.
In December 2003, the National
Veterinary Medical Service Act
(NVMSA) was passed into law adding
section 1415A to the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(NARETPA). This law established a new
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing
the Secretary of Agriculture (secretary)
to carry out a program of entering into
agreements with veterinarians under
which they agree to provide veterinary
services in veterinarian shortage
situations. In November 2005, the
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related
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16:50 Nov 02, 2011
Jkt 226001
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
(Pub. L. 109–97), appropriated $495,000
to implement the VMLRP and
represented the first time funds had
been appropriated for this program. In
February 2007, the Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (Pub.
L. 110–5), appropriated an additional
$495,000 for support of the program,
and in December 2007, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110–
161), appropriated an additional
$868,875 for support of this program,
and in March 2009, the Omnibus
Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111–
8) was enacted, providing an additional
$2,950,000, for the VMLRP, and in
October 2009, the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L.
111–80) appropriated another
$4,800,000 for the VMLRP. On April 15,
2011, the President signed into law,
Pub. L. 112–10, Department of Defense
and Full-Year Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2011, which after a
.2% rescission, appropriated an
additional $4,790,400 for the VMLRP.
On October 1, 2009, CSREES became
the NIFA as mandated by the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008,
section 7511(f). Accordingly, the
authority to administer the VMLRP
transferred from CSREES to NIFA.
In FY 2010, VMLRP announced its
first funding opportunity and received
260 applications from which NIFA
issued 53 VMLRP awards totaling
$5,186,000. In FY 2011, VMLRP opened
its second funding opportunity and
received 159 applications from which
NIFA has made 80 VMLRP award offers
totaling $7,708,000. Each award offer is
contingent upon submission of a signed
contract, thereby executing the service
agreement between the veterinarian and
NIFA. Funding for future years is based
on annual appropriations and balances,
if any, remaining from prior years.
Section 7105 of the FCEA amended
section 1415A to revise the
determination of veterinarian shortage
situations to consider (1) Geographical
areas that the Secretary determines have
a shortage of veterinarians; and (2) areas
of veterinary practice that the Secretary
determines have a shortage of
veterinarians, such as food animal
medicine, public health, epidemiology,
and food safety. This section also added
that priority should be given to
agreements with veterinarians for the
practice of food animal medicine in
veterinarian shortage situations.
NARETPA section 1415A requires the
Secretary, when determining the
amount of repayment for a year of
service by a veterinarian, to consider the
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68127
ability of USDA to maximize the
number of agreements from the amounts
appropriated and to provide an
incentive to serve in veterinary service
shortage areas with the greatest need.
This section also provides that loan
repayments may consist of payments of
the principal and interest on
government and commercial loans
received by the individual for the
attendance of the individual at an
accredited college of veterinary
medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine or the
equivalent. This program is not
authorized to provide repayments for
any government or commercial loans
incurred during the pursuit of another
degree, such as an associate or bachelor
degree. Loans eligible for repayment
include educational loans made for one
or more of the following: Loans for
tuition expenses; other reasonable
educational expenses, including fees,
books, and laboratory expenses,
incurred by the individual; and
reasonable living expenses as
determined by the Secretary. In
addition, the Secretary is directed to
make such additional payments to
participants as the Secretary determines
appropriate for the purpose of providing
reimbursements to participants for
individual tax liability resulting from
participation in this program. The
Secretary delegated the authority to
carry out this program to NIFA.
NIFA is inviting stakeholder
comments to use in improving the
administration of the VMLRP. Written
comments and suggestions on issues
may be submitted to the NIFA Docket
Clerk at the address above.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of
October 2011.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Acting Director, National Institute of Food
and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2011–28508 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am]
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TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS
COMPLIANCE BOARD
Meetings
Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
AGENCY:
The Architectural and
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DC, Wednesday, November 9, 2011,
from 1:30–3 p.m.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68126-68127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28508]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
RIN 0524-AA43
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Veterinary
Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)
AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for stakeholder input.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is
soliciting stakeholder input on the administration of the Veterinary
Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) authorized under section 1415A
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151a). The purpose of this program is for the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into agreements with
veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a
specific period of time as identified in the agreement, veterinary
services in veterinarian shortage situations. As part of the
stakeholder input process, NIFA is inviting comments regarding the
current procedures and processes in place for the VMLRP. Input
collected will be used to modify and improve processes for subsequent
calls of shortage situation nominations and request for applications.
DATES: Written comments are invited from interested individuals and
organizations. All comments must be received by close of business on
December 5, 2011, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA-2012-0001, by
any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov. Include NIFA-2012-0001 in the subject
line of the message.
Fax: (202) 720-6486.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to
VMLRP, Policy and Oversight Division, National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2299, 1400
[[Page 68127]]
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2299.
Hand Delivery/Courier: VMLRP; Policy and Oversight Division,
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2308, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and NIFA-2012-0001. All comments received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Lockhart, Senior Policy
Specialist; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department
of Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20250-2299; Voice: (202) 570-7410; Email: mlockhart@nifa.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
The VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians offset a significant
portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medicine
degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary
shortage situations. NIFA will enter into educational loan repayment
agreements with veterinarians who agree to provide veterinary services
in veterinarian shortage situations for a determined period of time.
NIFA may repay up to $25,000 of a veterinarian's student loan debt per
year if the veterinarian commits to at least three years to provide
veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area. Loan
repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and
interest on government and commercial loans received for the attendance
at an accredited college of veterinary medicine that result in a degree
of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent.
In December 2003, the National Veterinary Medical Service Act
(NVMSA) was passed into law adding section 1415A to the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(NARETPA). This law established a new Veterinary Medicine Loan
Repayment Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing the Secretary of
Agriculture (secretary) to carry out a program of entering into
agreements with veterinarians under which they agree to provide
veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. In November
2005, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109-97),
appropriated $495,000 to implement the VMLRP and represented the first
time funds had been appropriated for this program. In February 2007,
the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (Pub. L. 110-5),
appropriated an additional $495,000 for support of the program, and in
December 2007, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-
161), appropriated an additional $868,875 for support of this program,
and in March 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8)
was enacted, providing an additional $2,950,000, for the VMLRP, and in
October 2009, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub.
L. 111-80) appropriated another $4,800,000 for the VMLRP. On April 15,
2011, the President signed into law, Pub. L. 112-10, Department of
Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, which after
a .2% rescission, appropriated an additional $4,790,400 for the VMLRP.
On October 1, 2009, CSREES became the NIFA as mandated by the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, section 7511(f). Accordingly, the
authority to administer the VMLRP transferred from CSREES to NIFA.
In FY 2010, VMLRP announced its first funding opportunity and
received 260 applications from which NIFA issued 53 VMLRP awards
totaling $5,186,000. In FY 2011, VMLRP opened its second funding
opportunity and received 159 applications from which NIFA has made 80
VMLRP award offers totaling $7,708,000. Each award offer is contingent
upon submission of a signed contract, thereby executing the service
agreement between the veterinarian and NIFA. Funding for future years
is based on annual appropriations and balances, if any, remaining from
prior years.
Section 7105 of the FCEA amended section 1415A to revise the
determination of veterinarian shortage situations to consider (1)
Geographical areas that the Secretary determines have a shortage of
veterinarians; and (2) areas of veterinary practice that the Secretary
determines have a shortage of veterinarians, such as food animal
medicine, public health, epidemiology, and food safety. This section
also added that priority should be given to agreements with
veterinarians for the practice of food animal medicine in veterinarian
shortage situations.
NARETPA section 1415A requires the Secretary, when determining the
amount of repayment for a year of service by a veterinarian, to
consider the ability of USDA to maximize the number of agreements from
the amounts appropriated and to provide an incentive to serve in
veterinary service shortage areas with the greatest need. This section
also provides that loan repayments may consist of payments of the
principal and interest on government and commercial loans received by
the individual for the attendance of the individual at an accredited
college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. This program is not authorized
to provide repayments for any government or commercial loans incurred
during the pursuit of another degree, such as an associate or bachelor
degree. Loans eligible for repayment include educational loans made for
one or more of the following: Loans for tuition expenses; other
reasonable educational expenses, including fees, books, and laboratory
expenses, incurred by the individual; and reasonable living expenses as
determined by the Secretary. In addition, the Secretary is directed to
make such additional payments to participants as the Secretary
determines appropriate for the purpose of providing reimbursements to
participants for individual tax liability resulting from participation
in this program. The Secretary delegated the authority to carry out
this program to NIFA.
NIFA is inviting stakeholder comments to use in improving the
administration of the VMLRP. Written comments and suggestions on issues
may be submitted to the NIFA Docket Clerk at the address above.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of October 2011.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Acting Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2011-28508 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
