Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council: Notice of Intent To Establish Charter and Solicitation for Nominations, 65836-65838 [2024-17938]
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Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 89, No. 156
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
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public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
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examples of documents appearing in this
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Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Information Collection Generic
Clearance Request for USAID
Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
Under the Foreign Assistance Act
Agency for International
Development (USAID).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
USAID invites public
comment on our intent to request the
Office of Management and Budget’s
(OMB’s) approval for a new information
collection. USAID proposes a generic
clearance to collect feedback and
conduct research, monitoring and
evaluations of programs and policies
through surveys, interviews, and focus
groups to understand effectiveness of
programs and policies and to discern
how programs are affected by crises and
other unexpected changes in context.
This will help the Agency make better
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from USAID partners, stakeholders and
program participants is a valuable
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and operations remain safe, relevant,
efficient and effective.
DATES: All comments should be
submitted within 30 calendar days from
the date of this publication.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Roen, eroen@usaid.gov, 202–
712–1493.
USAID is
requesting a general clearance to collect
feedback and conduct research,
monitoring and evaluations of programs
and policies through surveys,
interviews, and focus groups to
understand effectiveness of programs
and policies and to discern how
programs are affected by crises and
other unexpected changes in context.
USAID conducts programs outside of
the United States and will collect data
from approximately 450,000
respondents per year, made up
primarily of foreign nationals
participating in USAID programs, other
stakeholders local to the programs, and
federal contractors and grantees
implementing the programs. The
collection of personally identifiable
information will be kept to the
minimum. The total estimated number
of annual burden hours is 225,000
hours. USAID, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)
(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the
general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on the
proposed information collection. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), USAID is providing the
general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on the
proposed collection of information. This
proposed information collection was
previously published in the Federal
Register (89 FR 48550) on June 7, 2024.
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comments.
OMB Control Number: To be issued
by OMB.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY:
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
Elizabeth Roen,
Deputy Director, Office of Learning,
Evaluation and Research, Bureau for
Planning, Learning and Resource
Management, USAID.
[FR Doc. 2024–18018 Filed 8–12–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS–LP–24–0012]
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance
Provider and Third-Party Verifier
Program Advisory Council: Notice of
Intent To Establish Charter and
Solicitation for Nominations
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to establish
charter and call for nominations.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Secretary’s intent to establish the
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance
Provider and Third-Party Verifier
Program Advisory Council (Council)
under the Growing Climate Solutions
Act and in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA),
solicits nominations for membership on
the Council, and solicits nominations
for a pool of candidates to fill future
unexpected vacancies in any of the
position categories should that occur.
DATES: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments will be accepted until
11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2024, via
https://www.regulations.gov: Document
# AMS–LP–24–0012. Nomination
packages including a cover letter to the
Secretary, the nominee’s typed resume
or curriculum vitae, and a completed
USDA Advisory Committee
Membership Background Information
Form AD–755 must be postmarked on or
before October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Nomination packages can
be submitted electronically by email to
Sasha.Strohm@usda.gov, or mailed to:
Sasha Strohm, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Stop 0249, Washington, DC 20250,
Attn: GCSA Advisory Council.
Electronic submittals are preferred.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sasha Strohm by telephone at 202–720–
5705 or email at Sasha.Strohm@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Background and Authority
The Growing Climate Solutions Act
(GCSA) directs the Secretary of USDA to
establish a non-discretionary advisory
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committee to be known as the
‘‘Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance
Provider and Third-Party Verifier
Program Advisory Council’’ (Council).
The GCSA was signed into law as part
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act
of 2023 (Pub. L. 117–328) and is
codified in relevant part at 7 U.S.C.
6712. The GCSA specifies that the
Council shall be subject to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10,
1001–1014), except that section 14(a)(2)
of that Act (5 U.S.C. 1013(a)(2)),
concerning the automatic termination of
advisory committees, shall not apply.
The purpose of the Council is to support
the newly established Greenhouse Gas
Technical Assistance Provider and
Third-Party Verifier Program (Program)
in facilitating the participation in
voluntary environmental credit markets
of farmers, ranchers, and private forest
landowners, including beginning,
socially disadvantaged, limited
resource, and veteran farmers.
Key activities of the Council include
periodically reviewing and
recommending any appropriate changes
to the protocols recognized by the
Program for generating environmental
credits; the required qualifications for
entities that provide technical assistance
to farmers, ranchers, and landowners;
and the activities available to farmers,
ranchers, and landowners under the
Program to prevent, reduce, or mitigate
greenhouse gas emissions.
The Council responsibilities include
advising the Secretary regarding: (1)
current methods used in voluntary
environmental credit markets to
quantify and verify the prevention,
reduction, or mitigation of greenhouse
gas emissions; and (2) ways to reduce
the barriers to entry and transaction
costs associated with such markets.
Finally, the Council will submit an
initial assessment to Congress about the
Program, and it will consult with the
Secretary regarding subsequent periodic
assessments. For more information
about the Council’s duties and
functions, interested persons are
encouraged to review the GCSA, as set
forth in 7 U.S.C. 6712, particularly
subsections (f) and (g) of the law.
II. Structure
The Secretary will appoint the
Council members. The GCSA requires
that the Council be broadly
representative of the agriculture and
private forest sectors; include beginning,
socially disadvantaged, limited
resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers,
and private forest landowners; and be
composed of not less than 51 percent
farmers, ranchers, or private forest
landowners.
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In accordance with the GCSA,
members appointed shall include:
• Up to four representatives from
USDA, Environmental Protection
Agency, and National Institute of
Standards and Technology, including:
Æ Not more than two from USDA, as
determined by the Secretary;
Æ Not more than one from the
Environmental Protection Agency, as
determined by the Administrator; and
Æ Not more than one from the
National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
The selection process for the Federal
employee seats referenced above
consists of the submission of a
memorandum/letter from USDA to the
Agency Head/Department Secretary
requesting the agency/department
identify a representative to serve on the
Council by a certain date. The
corresponding agency would respond
with a letter of recommendation to
USDA.
• Not fewer than twelve
representatives of the agriculture
industry (of which not fewer than six
must be active farmers and ranchers).
• Not fewer than four representatives
of private forest landowners or the
forestry and forest products industry.
• Up to four representatives of the
relevant scientific research community,
including:
Æ Not fewer than two representatives
from land-grant colleges and
universities (as defined in section 1404
of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)
D Of which one shall be a
representative of a college or university
eligible to receive funds under the Act
of August 30, 1890 (commonly known
as the ‘‘Second Morrill Act’’) (26 Stat.
417, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.),
including Tuskegee University.
• Up to two experts or professionals,
serving as Special Government
Employees (SGE), familiar with
voluntary environmental credit markets
and the verification requirements in
those markets.
• Up to three public representatives
(i.e., members of nongovernmental or
civil society organizations with relevant
expertise):
Æ Of which not fewer than one shall
represent the interests of socially
disadvantaged groups.
• Up to three representatives from
private sector businesses or
organizations that participate in
voluntary environmental credit markets.
The Council will be balanced in its
membership in terms of the points of
view represented and the functions to
be performed. Fresh points of view are
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65837
encouraged through staggered
membership terms and limiting the
number of years a member may serve on
the Council. In accordance with the
GCSA, a member term shall be 2 years,
except that of the members first
appointed:
• not fewer than 8 members shall
serve for a term of 1 year;
• not fewer than 12 members shall
serve for a term of 2 years; and
• not fewer than 12 members shall
serve for a term of 3 years.
After a member’s initial term on the
Council, the member may serve not
more than 4 additional 2-year terms.
The Council shall meet not less
frequently than annually. During the 90day period beginning on the date on
which the members are appointed, the
Council shall hold an initial meeting.
All meetings are open to the public in
accordance with the FACA and its
implementing regulations and
guidelines. Pursuant to the GCSA, the
Agriculture Secretary shall designate a
member of the Council to serve as the
Chair.
A permanent Federal employee is to
be appointed in accordance with agency
procedures and will serve as the
Designated Federal Official (DFO). The
DFO will approve the Council’s and
subcommittees’ meetings, prepare and
approve all meeting agendas, attend all
council and subcommittee meetings,
adjourn any meeting when the DFO
determines adjournment to be in the
public interest, and chair meetings
when directed to do so by the official to
whom the Council reports.
The Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) has the authority to create
subcommittees. Subcommittees must
report back to the parent Council and
must not provide advice or work
products directly to the agency.
III. Compensation
In accordance with the GCSA,
members of the Council shall serve
without compensation. However,
members may be reimbursed for travel
expenses, including per diem instead of
subsistence, while engaged in the
performance of duties away from their
homes or regular places of business. All
travel for Council business must be
approved in advance by the DFO.
IV. Nominations
AMS will consider nominations of all
qualified individuals to ensure the
Council includes the areas of subject
matter expertise noted above (see
‘‘Structure’’). Individuals may nominate
themselves or other individuals, and
professional associations and
organizations may nominate one or
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65838
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 / Notices
more qualified persons for membership
on the Council. Nominations must state
that the nominee is willing to serve as
a member of the Council.
A nomination package should include
the following information for each
nominee:
(1) A completed USDA Advisory
Committee Membership Background
Information Form AD–755, (https://
www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
documents/ad-755.pdf).
(2) A curriculum vitae and/or resume,
and
(3) A biographical sketch of the
nominee (cover letter) explaining which
group the nominee would represent (see
‘‘Structure’’), how they are qualified to
represent that group, and why they want
to serve on the Council.
The following is optional:
• A letter of nomination stating the
nominee’s name, affiliation, and contact
information, the basis for the
nomination (i.e., what specific attributes
recommend him/her for service in this
capacity), and the nominee’s field(s) of
expertise.
Equal opportunity practices in
accordance with USDA’s policies will
be followed in all member appointments
to the Council. To ensure that the
recommendations of the Council
consider the needs of the diverse groups
served by USDA, membership shall
include, to the extent practicable,
individuals with demonstrated ability to
represent the many communities,
identities, races, ethnicities,
backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and
beliefs of the American people,
including underserved communities.
USDA prohibits discrimination in all
of its programs and activities on the
basis of race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, political beliefs, income
derived from a public assistance
program, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity in any program
or activity conducted or funded by
USDA (not all bases apply to all
programs).
The Charter and additional
information on the Council will be
available on the website at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/services/GCSA or
may be requested by contacting the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Dated: August 7, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–17938 Filed 8–12–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are
requested regarding: whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments regarding this information
collection received by September 12,
2024 will be considered. Written
comments and recommendations for the
proposed information collection should
be submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR part 1924–A, Planning
and Performing Construction and Other
Development.
OMB Control Number: 0575–0042.
Summary of Collection: The Rural
Housing Service (RHS) is the credit
Agency for rural housing and
community development within Rural
Development of the United States
Department of Agriculture. The Agency
offers a supervised credit program to
build modest housing and essential
community facilities in rural areas. This
regulation prescribes the policies and
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responsibilities, including the
information and collection necessary to
demonstrate compliance with
applicable acts for planning and
performing development work for these
facilities. Section 501 of Title V of the
Housing Act of 1949, as amended,
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture
to extend financial assistance to
construct, improve, alter, repair,
replace, or rehabilitate dwellings, farm
buildings and/or related facilities to
provide decent, safe, sanitary living
conditions and adequate farm buildings
and other structures in rural areas.
Section 506 of the Act requires that all
new buildings and repairs shall be
constructed in accordance with plans
and specifications as required by the
Secretary and that such construction be
supervised and inspected. Section 509
of the Act grants the Secretary the
power to determine and prescribe the
standards of adequate farm housing and
other buildings. The Housing and Urban
Rural Recovery Act of 1983 amended
section 509(a) and section 515 to require
residential buildings and related
facilities comply with the standards
prescribed by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the standards prescribed by
the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development, or the standards
prescribed in any of the nationally
recognized model building codes.
Similar authorizations are contained in
sections 303, 304, 306, and 339 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, as amended, which
authorized loans and grants for essential
community services. In several sections
of both acts, loan limitations are
established as percentages of
development costs, requiring careful
monitoring of those costs. Also, the
Secretary is authorized to prescribe
regulations to ensure that Federal funds
are not wasted or dissipated, and that
construction will be undertaken
economically and will not be of
elaborate or extravagant design or
materials.
Need and Use of the Information:
RHS provides several forms to assist in
the collection and submission of
information. The information is used by
Rural Development to determine
whether a loan/grant can be approved,
to ensure that Rural Development has
adequate security for the loans financed,
to provide for sound construction and
development work, and to determine
that the requirements of the applicable
acts have been met. The information is
also used to monitor compliance with
the terms and conditions of the loan/
grant and to monitor the prudent use of
Federal funds.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65836-65838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17938]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-LP-24-0012]
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party
Verifier Program Advisory Council: Notice of Intent To Establish
Charter and Solicitation for Nominations
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to establish charter and call for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Secretary's intent to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical
Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council
(Council) under the Growing Climate Solutions Act and in accordance
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), solicits nominations
for membership on the Council, and solicits nominations for a pool of
candidates to fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the position
categories should that occur.
DATES: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites interested
persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments will be accepted
until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 15, 2024, via https://www.regulations.gov: Document # AMS-LP-24-0012. Nomination packages
including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee's typed resume
or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership
Background Information Form AD-755 must be postmarked on or before
October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Nomination packages can be submitted electronically by email
to [email protected], or mailed to: Sasha Strohm, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0249, Washington, DC
20250, Attn: GCSA Advisory Council. Electronic submittals are
preferred.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sasha Strohm by telephone at 202-720-
5705 or email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Authority
The Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA) directs the Secretary of
USDA to establish a non-discretionary advisory
[[Page 65837]]
committee to be known as the ``Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance
Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council'' (Council).
The GCSA was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) and is codified in relevant part at 7
U.S.C. 6712. The GCSA specifies that the Council shall be subject to
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 10, 1001-1014), except
that section 14(a)(2) of that Act (5 U.S.C. 1013(a)(2)), concerning the
automatic termination of advisory committees, shall not apply. The
purpose of the Council is to support the newly established Greenhouse
Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program
(Program) in facilitating the participation in voluntary environmental
credit markets of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners,
including beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and
veteran farmers.
Key activities of the Council include periodically reviewing and
recommending any appropriate changes to the protocols recognized by the
Program for generating environmental credits; the required
qualifications for entities that provide technical assistance to
farmers, ranchers, and landowners; and the activities available to
farmers, ranchers, and landowners under the Program to prevent, reduce,
or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
The Council responsibilities include advising the Secretary
regarding: (1) current methods used in voluntary environmental credit
markets to quantify and verify the prevention, reduction, or mitigation
of greenhouse gas emissions; and (2) ways to reduce the barriers to
entry and transaction costs associated with such markets. Finally, the
Council will submit an initial assessment to Congress about the
Program, and it will consult with the Secretary regarding subsequent
periodic assessments. For more information about the Council's duties
and functions, interested persons are encouraged to review the GCSA, as
set forth in 7 U.S.C. 6712, particularly subsections (f) and (g) of the
law.
II. Structure
The Secretary will appoint the Council members. The GCSA requires
that the Council be broadly representative of the agriculture and
private forest sectors; include beginning, socially disadvantaged,
limited resource, and veteran farmers, ranchers, and private forest
landowners; and be composed of not less than 51 percent farmers,
ranchers, or private forest landowners.
In accordance with the GCSA, members appointed shall include:
Up to four representatives from USDA, Environmental
Protection Agency, and National Institute of Standards and Technology,
including:
[cir] Not more than two from USDA, as determined by the Secretary;
[cir] Not more than one from the Environmental Protection Agency,
as determined by the Administrator; and
[cir] Not more than one from the National Institute of Standards
and Technology.
The selection process for the Federal employee seats referenced
above consists of the submission of a memorandum/letter from USDA to
the Agency Head/Department Secretary requesting the agency/department
identify a representative to serve on the Council by a certain date.
The corresponding agency would respond with a letter of recommendation
to USDA.
Not fewer than twelve representatives of the agriculture
industry (of which not fewer than six must be active farmers and
ranchers).
Not fewer than four representatives of private forest
landowners or the forestry and forest products industry.
Up to four representatives of the relevant scientific
research community, including:
[cir] Not fewer than two representatives from land-grant colleges
and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3103)
[ssquf] Of which one shall be a representative of a college or
university eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890
(commonly known as the ``Second Morrill Act'') (26 Stat. 417, chapter
841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University.
Up to two experts or professionals, serving as Special
Government Employees (SGE), familiar with voluntary environmental
credit markets and the verification requirements in those markets.
Up to three public representatives (i.e., members of
nongovernmental or civil society organizations with relevant
expertise):
[cir] Of which not fewer than one shall represent the interests of
socially disadvantaged groups.
Up to three representatives from private sector businesses
or organizations that participate in voluntary environmental credit
markets.
The Council will be balanced in its membership in terms of the
points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Fresh
points of view are encouraged through staggered membership terms and
limiting the number of years a member may serve on the Council. In
accordance with the GCSA, a member term shall be 2 years, except that
of the members first appointed:
not fewer than 8 members shall serve for a term of 1 year;
not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 2
years; and
not fewer than 12 members shall serve for a term of 3
years.
After a member's initial term on the Council, the member may serve not
more than 4 additional 2-year terms.
The Council shall meet not less frequently than annually. During
the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the members are
appointed, the Council shall hold an initial meeting. All meetings are
open to the public in accordance with the FACA and its implementing
regulations and guidelines. Pursuant to the GCSA, the Agriculture
Secretary shall designate a member of the Council to serve as the
Chair.
A permanent Federal employee is to be appointed in accordance with
agency procedures and will serve as the Designated Federal Official
(DFO). The DFO will approve the Council's and subcommittees' meetings,
prepare and approve all meeting agendas, attend all council and
subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines
adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when
directed to do so by the official to whom the Council reports.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has the authority to
create subcommittees. Subcommittees must report back to the parent
Council and must not provide advice or work products directly to the
agency.
III. Compensation
In accordance with the GCSA, members of the Council shall serve
without compensation. However, members may be reimbursed for travel
expenses, including per diem instead of subsistence, while engaged in
the performance of duties away from their homes or regular places of
business. All travel for Council business must be approved in advance
by the DFO.
IV. Nominations
AMS will consider nominations of all qualified individuals to
ensure the Council includes the areas of subject matter expertise noted
above (see ``Structure''). Individuals may nominate themselves or other
individuals, and professional associations and organizations may
nominate one or
[[Page 65838]]
more qualified persons for membership on the Council. Nominations must
state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council.
A nomination package should include the following information for
each nominee:
(1) A completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background
Information Form AD-755, (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf).
(2) A curriculum vitae and/or resume, and
(3) A biographical sketch of the nominee (cover letter) explaining
which group the nominee would represent (see ``Structure''), how they
are qualified to represent that group, and why they want to serve on
the Council.
The following is optional:
A letter of nomination stating the nominee's name,
affiliation, and contact information, the basis for the nomination
(i.e., what specific attributes recommend him/her for service in this
capacity), and the nominee's field(s) of expertise.
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will
be followed in all member appointments to the Council. To ensure that
the recommendations of the Council consider the needs of the diverse
groups served by USDA, membership shall include, to the extent
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the
many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds,
abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including
underserved communities.
USDA prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender
identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability,
age, marital status, family/parental status, political beliefs, income
derived from a public assistance program, or reprisal or retaliation
for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
The Charter and additional information on the Council will be
available on the website at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/GCSA or
may be requested by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Dated: August 7, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-17938 Filed 8-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
