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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78026-78027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30302]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-ST-14-0066]

Plant Variety Protection Board; Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) is seeking 
candidates for the Plant Variety Protection Board (PVP Board). The PVP 
Board consists of 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a 2-year 
period, with no member appointed for more than three 2-year periods. 
The term of the present Board will expire in May 2015. In order to 
provide the Secretary of Agriculture with a broad choice from a diverse 
group of applicants, the PVPO is asking for nominated members to serve 
on the Board for 2 years from the date of appointment. PVP Board 
members will serve without compensation, except for standard government 
reimbursable expenses.

DATES: Nomination packages (an Application for Committee Membership 
(AD-755) and resume) must be received on or before February 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Paul Zankowski, Plant Variety 
Protection Office (PVPO), Science and Technology, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 4512, Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: 
(202) 720-1128; Fax: (202) 260-8976; Email: 
Paul.Zankowski@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) (7 
U.S.C. 2321 et seq.) provides legal protection in the form of 
intellectual property rights to developers of new varieties of plants, 
which are reproduced sexually by seed or are tuber-propagated. A 
Certificate of Plant Variety Protection is awarded to an owner of a 
crop variety after an examination shows that it is new, distinct from 
other varieties, and genetically uniform and stable through successive 
generations. The term of protection is 20 years for most crops and 25 
years for trees, shrubs, and vines.
    The PVPA also provides for a statutory Board to be appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture (7 U.S. C. 2327). The duties of the Board are 
to: (1) Advise the Secretary of Agriculture concerning the adoption of 
rules and regulations to facilitate the proper administration of the 
PVPA; (2) provide advisory counsel to the Secretary of Agriculture on 
all appeals from the Examiner; and (3) advise the Secretary of 
Agriculture on any other matters under the Regulations and Rules of 
Practice and on all questions under section 44 of the PVPA, ``Public 
Interest in Wide Usage'' (7 U.S.C. 2404). Reestablishing the PVP Board 
is necessary and in the public interest.
    The PVPA provides that ``The Board shall consist of individuals who 
are experts in various areas of varietal development covered by this 
Act.'' (7 U.S.C. 2327(a)). The Board membership ``shall include farmer 
representation and shall be drawn approximately equally from the 
private or seed industry sector and from the sector of government or 
the public.'' (7 U.S.C. 2327(a)).
    The PVP Board consists of 14 members, each of whom is appointed for 
a 2-year period, with no member appointed for more than three 2-year 
periods. The term of the present Board will expire in May 2015. The 
first meeting of the new Board will most likely be held in the summer 
of 2015. In order to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with a broad 
choice from a diverse group of applicants, the PVPO is asking for 
nominated members to serve on the Board for 2 years from the date of 
appointment. PVP Board members will serve without compensation, except 
for standard government reimbursable expenses.
    To ensure that the recommendations of the PVP Board take into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) (from research and production to trade, use, and 
consumption), the USDA will vet every candidate who applies for 
membership to the Federal Advisory Committee. Each applicant must clear 
all stages of the vetting process. Vetting is a comprehensive personal 
and professional background investigation that specifically includes, 
but is not limited to, an analysis of each candidate's criminal 
history, bankruptcy filings, liens and judgments, affiliations and 
associations, lobbyist status, and prior involvement with USDA. This 
process is used to ensure that the finest candidates are selected to 
represent the interests of the USDA.
    Nomination packages with completed AD 755 background information 
forms and resumes should be submitted no later than February 6, 2015. 
Final selection of members will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. All nomination materials should be mailed in a single, 
complete package to: Paul Zankowski, Commissioner; Plant Variety 
Protection Office; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 4512; Washington 
DC 20250.
    USDA has special interest in assuring that women, minority groups, 
and the physically disabled are adequately represented on these 
advisory committees. Nominations for female, minority, or disabled 
candidates are welcomed and encouraged.
    Please see http://www.ams.usda.gov/PVPO and click on PVPO Board 
(under Resources on the right side) for information on the Charter, and 
AD 755 form. The AD-755 form can also be found on the USDA Advisory 
Committee Web site (www.usda.gov/advisory_committees.xml). The Charter 
for the PVP Board is available on the Web site at: http://www.facadatabase.gov/download.aspx?fn=Charters/1309_2013.09.11_PVPBCharter2.7.13_(2013-09-11-05-03-31).pdf or may be 
requested by contacting the individual identified in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.
    USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, 
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or 
family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 
for communication of program information

[[Page 78027]]

(Braille, large print, or audiotape.) should contact USDA's Target 
Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Dated: December 22, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-30302 Filed 12-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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