**UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CHARTER**

**______________________________________________________________________________**

**Farm, Ranch ,**  **and Rural Communities Advisory Committee** 

**______________________________________________ _______________________________**  **_ 1.**  **Committee's Official Designation (Title) :**  Farm, Ranch , and Rural Communities Advisory Committee . **2. Authority**  **:** This charter establishes the Farm, Ranch , and Rural Communities Advisory Committee ( FRRCC ) in ac cordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2 § 9 (c). The FRRCC is in the public interest and supports EPA in performing its duties and responsibilities. **3. Objectives and Scope of Activities**  **:** The FRRCC wi ll provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator on environmental issues and programs that impact, or are of concern to, farms, ranches , and rural communities. Topics covered may include issues relating to water, air and radiation, solid waste and emergency

response, pesticides and toxics, enforcement and compliance assistance, and research and development. The major objectives will be to provide advice and recommendations on: a. Impacts of Agency

agriculture
- related programs, policies, and regulations regarding climate change and renewable energy . b. Id entification and development of a comprehensive environmental strategy for livestock operations. c. Development of a constructive approach or framework to address areas of common interest between sustainable agriculture and protection of the environment. **4. Description of Committee**  **’ s Duties**  **:** The duties of the FRRCC are solel y advisory in nature.**5. Official(s) to Whom the Committee Reports**  **:**

The FRRCC will report its advice and recomm endations to the EPA Administrator . **6. Agency Responsible for Providing the Necessary Support**  **:** EPA ’s Office of Cooperative Environmental Management, Office of the Administrator will be responsible for financial and administrative support. **7. Estimate**  **d Annual Operating Costs and Person -**  **Years :**  The estimated annual operating cost of the FRRCC is $ 37 5 ,00 0 which includes 2.0 person - ye ars of support. **8. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings**  **:** The Committee expects to meet approximately two (2) times a year, or as needed and approved b y the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Meetings will be held in Washington, DC and the EPA regions . EPA may pay travel and per diem expenses when determined necessary and appropriate. A full
- time or permanent part
- tim e employee of EPA will be appointed as the DFO. The DFO or a designee will be present at all meetings, and each meeting will be conducted in accordance with an agenda approved in advance b y the DFO. The DFO is authorized to adjourn any meeting when he or she determines it is in the public interest to do so. As required b y FACA, the FRRC C will hold open meetings unless the EPA Administrator determines that a meeting or a portion of a meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with 5 U.S.C. § 552b ( c). Interested persons may attend meetings, appear before the C ommittee as time permits, and file comments with the Committee . **9. Duration and Termination**  **:** The FRRCC will be examined annually and will exist until the EPA determines that the Committee is no longer needed. This charter will be in effect for two ye ars from the date it is filed with Congress. After the initial two
- ye ar period, the charter may be renewed as authorized in accordance with Section 14 of FACA (5 U.S.C. App. 2 § 14).**10. Member Composition**  **:**

The FRRCC will be composed of approximately thirty ( 30 ) members who will serve as Regular Government Employees (RGE s ) or as Representative members. The majority of members will be activel y engaged in farming or ranching. Inselecting members, EPA will consider candidates from farm groups, conservation and environmental groups, agricultural processors and retailers , academia, c itizen ’ s groups , and state, local, and tribal governments . Members may

represent farmers, ranchers, and rural communities

—large and small, crop and livestock, commodity

and specialty , regionall y balanced

—and the rural suppliers, marketers, and processors that serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities; as well as the academic/research community

who do research on environmental issues impacting agriculture, tribal agriculture groups, state and local government representatives, and environmental/conservation groups. The USDA and other Federal agency members will serve as RGEs **11. Subgroups**  **:** EPA, or the FRRCC wi th EPA’s approval, may form subcommittees or workgroups for any purpose co nsistent with this charter. Such subcommittees or workgroups may not work independentl y of the chartered C ommittee and must report their recommendations and advice to the chartered C ommittee for f ull deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered committee nor can they report directly to the EPA. January 22, 2008 Agency Approval Date January 23, 2008 GS A Consultation Date February 20, 2008 Date Filed with Congress