Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the New Water Challenge Area Within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, 40689-40690 [2013-16204]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 130 / Monday, July 8, 2013 / Notices through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. Ms. Dorothy Wayson, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 851–2036. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart— Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56– 1 through 319.56–58), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States. Section 319.56–4 contains a performance-based process for approving the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. APHIS received a request from the Government of Colombia to allow the importation of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla (L.) Koch) into the United States. Currently, Swiss chard is not authorized for entry from Colombia. We completed a pest risk assessment (PRA) to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation if such imports were to be allowed. Based on the PRA, we then completed a risk management document (RMD) to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating the identified pests via the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia. We have concluded that Swiss chard can safely be imported into the continental United States from Colombia using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 319.56–4(b). These measures are that: • Swiss chard may be imported into the continental United States in commercial consignments only; • The Swiss chard is subject to inspection at the port of entry; and • The Swiss chard must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Colombia with an additional declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jul 05, 2013 Jkt 229001 found free of Copitarsia incommoda and Liriomyza huidobrensis. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing the availability of our PRA and RMD for public review and comment. The PRA and RMD may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may also request paper copies of the PRA and RMD by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis that you wish to review when requesting copies. After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the import status of Swiss chard from Colombia in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will authorize the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia into the continental United States subject to the requirements specified in the RMD. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and 7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of July 2013. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–16207 Filed 7–5–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the New Water Challenge Area Within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for stakeholder input. AGENCY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA intends to initiate a new challenge area within AFRI in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to address water issues. NIFA will be holding a web-based listening session in order to solicit stakeholder input on this SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40689 new challenge area. It is open to the public and the focus of the listening session is to gather stakeholder input that will be used in developing the Request for Applications (RFA) in FY 2014. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to achieve the most impact, within budget constraints, in the early years of this new challenge area. All comments must be received by close of business on July 30, 2013, to be considered in the initial drafting of the FY 2014 AFRI Water program RFA. DATES: The web-based listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST). All written comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe Connect. On July 16th, please access the following Web site, https://nifaconnect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-water/. In addition, audio conference call capabilities can be accessed at 1–888– 858–2144, participant code 1512861#. You may submit written comments, identified by NIFA–2013–0010, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: AFRI@nifa.usda.gov. Include NIFA–2013–0010 in the subject line of the message. Fax: 202–401–1782. Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM submissions should be submitted to AFRI; Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2240, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2220. Hand Delivery/Courier: AFRI, IFPS, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 3444, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name (NIFA) and reference to NIFA–2013–0010. All comments received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Joya, (202) 401–1282 (phone), (202) 401–1782 (fax), or tjoya@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional Web-based Listening Session and Comment Procedures—Persons wishing to present oral comments during the web-based listening session on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 are requested E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1 40690 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 130 / Monday, July 8, 2013 / Notices emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES to pre-register by contacting Ms. Terri Joya at (202) 401–1282, by fax at (202) 401–1782 or by email to tjoya@nifa. usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment period. More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. All other participants may provide comments during the webbased listening session if time permits, or submit written comments. All written comments must be received by close of business July 30, 2013, to be considered. All comments and the official transcript of the meeting, when they become available, may be reviewed on the NIFA Web page, https://www.nifa.usda.gov/ funding/afri/afri_listen_session.html for six months. Additional AFRI Programspecific web-based listening sessions may occur after July 16, 2013 to obtain public comments for use in developing other AFRI RFAs. Dates and times will be posted to the following URL: https:// www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/ afri_faq_webinars.html. Background and Purpose Significant variations from the historical rate of water supply and availability are projected to have major impacts on agricultural, forest, and range production systems. The new water program area within AFRI will be coordinated with, and leverage, efforts in other AFRI challenge areas, such as the Food Security, Food Safety, Climate Variability and Change and Sustainable Bioenergy challenge areas, and help solve critical water resource problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. The program will focus on developing solutions for water management that link food, water, climate change, energy, and environmental issues. Funding will be used to develop and transfer management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. NIFA’s approach will link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical sciences and engineering to address watershed- or aquifer-scale problems. NIFA has tentatively identified three critical topics that warrant immediate, comprehensive, and coordinated efforts in research, education, and extension. These three topics are: (1) Ensuring agricultural water security, addressing surface water, groundwater and reclaimed water needed to produce a wide array of agricultural goods and services now and into the future; (2) Improving nutrient management in VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jul 05, 2013 Jkt 229001 agricultural landscapes with focus on nitrogen and phosphorous; and (3) Reducing impacts of chemicals of emerging concern and the presence and movement of waterborne pathogens in the landscape. Information regarding the AFRI program can be found at https:// www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/ afri.html. AFRI grants are authorized for FYs 2009–2013, of which the Secretary may retain no more than 4 percent for administrative costs. Grants will be awarded on the basis of merit, quality, and relevance and may have terms of up to 10 years. Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out the research component of the AFRI program, the Secretary may award grants to State agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities. The integrated component of the AFRI program, the Secretary may awards grants to colleges and universities; 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Implementation Plans NIFA plans to consider stakeholder input received from this web-based listening session as well as other written comments in developing the FY 2014 solicitations for this program. • Discussion re: Proposed Findings and Recommendations for the 2013 Statutory Enforcement Report • Status Update on the Sex Trafficking: A Gender-Based Violation of Civil Rights Report • Status Update on the Federal Civil Rights Engagement with Arab and Muslim American Communities Post 9/11 Report III. Management and Operations • Staff Director’s report • Acting Chief of Regional Programs’ report IV. Approval of State Advisory Committee Appointment Slates • • • • • Kentucky Maine Minnesota New Hampshire New York V. Adjourn Meeting FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT PERSON: Lenore Ostrowsky, Acting Chief, Public Affairs Unit (202) 376– 8591. Hearing-impaired persons who will attend the meeting and require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact Pamela Dunston at (202) 376–8105 or at signlanguage@usccr.gov at least seven business days before the scheduled date of the meeting. Dated: July 3, 2013. TinaLouise Martin, Director of Management/Human Resources. Done at Washington, DC, this 26th day of June, 2013. Sonny Ramaswamy, Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2013–16454 Filed 7–3–13; 4:15 pm] [FR Doc. 2013–16204 Filed 7–5–13; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BILLING CODE 3410–22–P Bureau of Economic Analysis COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Sunshine Act Meetings United States Commission on Civil Rights ACTION: Revised Notice of Business Meeting. AGENCY: Friday, July 12, 2013; 9:30 a.m. EST PLACE: 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20425 DATE AND TIME: MEETING AGENDA I. Approval of Agenda II. Program Planning • Approval of Final Draft of 2013 Statutory Enforcement Report PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 6335–01–P Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE–577, Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40689-40690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16204]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the New Water 
Challenge Area Within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for 
stakeholder input.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's 
(NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Agriculture and Food 
Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA intends to initiate a new challenge 
area within AFRI in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to address water issues. NIFA 
will be holding a web-based listening session in order to solicit 
stakeholder input on this new challenge area. It is open to the public 
and the focus of the listening session is to gather stakeholder input 
that will be used in developing the Request for Applications (RFA) in 
FY 2014. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to 
achieve the most impact, within budget constraints, in the early years 
of this new challenge area.
    All comments must be received by close of business on July 30, 
2013, to be considered in the initial drafting of the FY 2014 AFRI 
Water program RFA.

DATES: The web-based listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 
16, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST). All 
written comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 30, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe 
Connect. On July 16th, please access the following Web site, https://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-water/. In addition, audio conference 
call capabilities can be accessed at 1-888-858-2144, participant code 
1512861.
    You may submit written comments, identified by NIFA-2013-0010, by 
any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: AFRI@nifa.usda.gov. Include NIFA-2013-0010 in the subject 
line of the message.
    Fax: 202-401-1782.
    Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to 
AFRI; Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS), National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2220.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: AFRI, IFPS, National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 3444, Waterfront 
Centre, 800 9th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
(NIFA) and reference to NIFA-2013-0010. All comments received will be 
posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Joya, (202) 401-1282 
(phone), (202) 401-1782 (fax), or tjoya@nifa.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional Web-based Listening Session and 
Comment Procedures--Persons wishing to present oral comments during the 
web-based listening session on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 are requested

[[Page 40690]]

to pre-register by contacting Ms. Terri Joya at (202) 401-1282, by fax 
at (202) 401-1782 or by email to tjoya@nifa.usda.gov. Participants may 
reserve one 5-minute comment period. More time may be available, 
depending on the number of people wishing to make a presentation. 
Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. All 
other participants may provide comments during the web-based listening 
session if time permits, or submit written comments. All written 
comments must be received by close of business July 30, 2013, to be 
considered. All comments and the official transcript of the meeting, 
when they become available, may be reviewed on the NIFA Web page, 
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri_listen_session.html for 
six months. Additional AFRI Program-specific web-based listening 
sessions may occur after July 16, 2013 to obtain public comments for 
use in developing other AFRI RFAs. Dates and times will be posted to 
the following URL: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri_faq_webinars.html.

Background and Purpose

    Significant variations from the historical rate of water supply and 
availability are projected to have major impacts on agricultural, 
forest, and range production systems. The new water program area within 
AFRI will be coordinated with, and leverage, efforts in other AFRI 
challenge areas, such as the Food Security, Food Safety, Climate 
Variability and Change and Sustainable Bioenergy challenge areas, and 
help solve critical water resource problems in rural and agricultural 
watersheds across the United States. The program will focus on 
developing solutions for water management that link food, water, 
climate change, energy, and environmental issues. Funding will be used 
to develop and transfer management practices, technologies, and tools 
for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, and citizens to 
improve water resource quantity and quality. NIFA's approach will link 
social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical 
sciences and engineering to address watershed- or aquifer-scale 
problems. NIFA has tentatively identified three critical topics that 
warrant immediate, comprehensive, and coordinated efforts in research, 
education, and extension. These three topics are: (1) Ensuring 
agricultural water security, addressing surface water, groundwater and 
reclaimed water needed to produce a wide array of agricultural goods 
and services now and into the future; (2) Improving nutrient management 
in agricultural landscapes with focus on nitrogen and phosphorous; and 
(3) Reducing impacts of chemicals of emerging concern and the presence 
and movement of waterborne pathogens in the landscape. Information 
regarding the AFRI program can be found at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html. AFRI grants are authorized for FYs 2009-2013, 
of which the Secretary may retain no more than 4 percent for 
administrative costs. Grants will be awarded on the basis of merit, 
quality, and relevance and may have terms of up to 10 years. Subject to 
the availability of appropriations to carry out the research component 
of the AFRI program, the Secretary may award grants to State 
agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university 
research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; 
Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or 
corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more of 
the aforementioned entities. The integrated component of the AFRI 
program, the Secretary may awards grants to colleges and universities; 
1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and Hispanic-serving agricultural 
colleges and universities.

Implementation Plans

    NIFA plans to consider stakeholder input received from this web-
based listening session as well as other written comments in developing 
the FY 2014 solicitations for this program.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 26th day of June, 2013.
Sonny Ramaswamy,
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2013-16204 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.