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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rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

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section.

Notices Federal Register

68124

Vol. 69, No. 225

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Research Service 

Advisory Committee on Biotechnology 

and 21st Century Agriculture; 

Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, 

Research, Education, and Economics, 

USDA.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Research 

Service is requesting nominations for 

qualified persons to serve as members of 

the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on 

Biotechnology and 21st Century 

Agriculture (AC21). The charge for the 

AC21 is two-fold: To examine the longterm impacts of biotechnology on the 

U.S. food and agriculture system and 

USDA; and to provide guidance to 

USDA on pressing individual issues, 

identified by the Office of the Secretary, 

related to the application of 

biotechnology in agriculture.

DATES: Written nominations must be 

received by fax or postmarked on or 

before December 23, 2004.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials 

should be sent to Michael Schechtman, 

Designated Federal Official, Office of 

the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B 

Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 14th 

and Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250. Forms may also 

be submitted by fax to (202) 690–4265.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions should be addressed to 

Michael Schechtman, Designated 

Federal Official, telephone (202) 720–

3817; fax (202) 690–4265; e-mail 

mschechtman@ars.usda.gov. To obtain 

form AD–755 ONLY please contact 

Dianne Harmon, Office of Pest 

Management Policy, telephone (202) 

720–4074, fax (202) 720–3191; e-mail 

dharmon@ars.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AC21 

members serve staggered 2-year terms, 

with terms for half of the Committee 

members expiring in any given year. 

Nominations are being sought for open 

Committee seats. The terms of 9 

members of the AC21 will expire in 

early 2005. The AC21 Charter allows for 

flexibility to appoint up to a total of 11 

members. Members can be reappointed 

to serve up to 6 consecutive years. Equal 

opportunity practices, in line with 

USDA policies, will be followed in all 

membership appointments to the 

Committee. To ensure that the 

recommendations of the Committee 

have taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by USDA, 

membership shall include, to the extent 

practicable, individuals with 

demonstrated ability to represent 

minorities, women, and persons with 

disabilities. 

Nominees of the AC21 should have 

recognized expertise in one or more of 

the following areas: Recombinant-DNA 

(rDNA) research and applications using 

plants; rDNA research and applications 

using animals; rDNA research and 

applications using microbes; food 

science; silviculture and related forest 

science; fisheries science; ecology; 

veterinary medicine; the broad range of 

farming or agricultural practices; weed 

science; plant pathology; biodiversity; 

applicable laws and regulations relevant 

to agricultural biotechnology policy; 

risk assessment; consumer advocacy 

and public attitudes; public health/

epidemiology; ethics, including 

bioethics; human medicine; 

biotechnology industry activities and 

structure; intellectual property rights 

systems; and international trade. 

Members will be selected by the 

Secretary of Agriculture in order to 

achieve a balanced representation of 

viewpoints to address effectively USDA 

biotechnology policy issues under 

consideration. 

Nominations for AC21 membership 

must be in writing and provide the 

appropriate background documents 

required by USDA policy, including 

background disclosure form AD–755. 

The AC21 meets in Washington, DC, 

up to four (4) times per year. The 

function of the AC21 is solely advisory. 

Members of the AC21 and its 

subcommittees serve without pay, but 

with reimbursement of travel expenses 

and per diem for attendance at AC21 

and subcommittee functions for those 

AC21 members who require assistance 

in order to attend the meetings. While 

away from home or their regular place 

of business, those members will be 

eligible for travel expenses paid by REE, 

USDA, including per diem in lieu of 

subsistence, at the same rate as a person 

employed intermittently in the 

government service as allowed under 

Section 5703 of Title 5, United States 

Code. 

Submitting Nominations:

Nominations should be typed and 

include the following: 

1. A brief summary of no more than 

two (2) pages explaining the nominee’s 

suitability to serve on the AC21. 

2. A resume or curriculum vitae. 

3. A completed copy of form AD–755. 

Nominations should be sent to 

Michael Schechtman at the address 

listed above, and be post marked no 

later than December 23, 2004.

Dated: November 16, 2004. 

Joseph Jen, 

Under Secretary for Research, Education and 

Economics.

[FR Doc. 04–25981 Filed 11–22–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–03–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Under Secretary, 

Research, Education, and Economics 

Notice of the Advisory Committee on 

Biotechnology and 21st Century 

Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 

U.S.C. App. II, the United States 

Department of Agriculture announces a 

meeting of the Advisory Committee on 

Biotechnology and 21st Century 

Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: December 9–10, 2004, 8:30 a.m. 

to 5 p.m. on the first day and 8 a.m. to 

4 p.m. on the second day. Written 

requests to make oral presentations at 

the meeting must be received by the 

contact person identified herein at least 

three business days before the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Waugh Auditorium, USDA 

Economic Research Service, Third 

Floor, South Tower, 1800 M St., NW., 

Washington, DC 20036. Requests to 

make oral presentations at the meeting 

may be sent to the contact person at 

USDA, Office of the Deputy Secretary, 

202 B Jamie L. Whitten Federal