Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 51 / Friday, March 16, 2007 / Notices 12591 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

William Hohenstein, Global Change 

Program Office, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Room 112-A Whitten 

Federal Building, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–

3810; telephone: 202–720–6698. 

Authority: CERSAP is established in 

accordance with the provisions of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. 

App. 2 section 9 (c). CERSAP supports the 

USDA in its participation in the interagency 

U.S. Climate Change Science Program, 

specifically in implementation of Synthesis 

and Assessment Product 4.3 (SAP 4.3), The 

Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, 

Land Resources, Water Resources, and 

Biodiversity. The Secretary of Agriculture has 

determined that CERSAP is in the public 

interest and will support USDA in 

performing its duties and responsibilities. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CERSAP 

will provide advice to the Secretary of 

Agriculture on the conduct of a study 

titled, The Effects of Climate Change on 

Agriculture, Land Resources, Water 

Resources, and Biodiversity, to be 

conducted as part of the U.S. Climate 

Change Science Program. The draft 

report will be published at http:// 

www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/ 

sap4–3/default.htm. CERSAP will 

provide advice on the specific issues to 

be addressed, appropriate technical 

approaches, the nature of information 

relevant to decision makers, the content 

of the final report, compliance with the 

Information Quality Act, and other 

matters important to the successful 

achievement of the study objectives. 

CERSAP will respond specifically to the 

following seven inquiries related to the 

report: 

1. Are the goals, objectives, and 

intended audience of the product 

clearly described in the document? Does 

the product address all the questions as 

outlined in the prospectus? 

2. Are the findings and 

recommendations adequately supported 

by evidence and analysis? If any 

recommendations are based on value 

judgments or the collective opinions of 

the authors, is this acknowledged and 

are adequate reasons given for reaching 

those judgments? 

3. Are the data and analyses handled 

competently? Are statistical methods 

applied appropriately? Are uncertainties 

and confidence levels evaluated and 

communicated appropriately? 

4. Are the document’s presentation 

and organization effective? Are the 

questions outlined in the prospectus 

addressed and communicated in a 

manner that is appropriate for the 

intended audience? 

5. Is the document scientifically 

objective and policy-neutral? Is it 

consistent with the scientific literature, 

including recent National Research 

Council reports and other scientific 

assessments on the same topic? 

6. Does the summary concisely and 

accurately describe the content, key 

findings, and recommendations? Is it 

consistent with other sections of the 

document? 

7. What significant improvements, if 

any, might be made in the document? 

Duties: CERSAP will provide expert 

peer-review to SAP 4.3, according to the 

criteria listed above. CERSAP will 

generate a list of comments and 

suggestions to increase the merit of SAP 

4.3. After SAP 4.3’s authors have 

responded to those comments, CERSAP 

will review those responses to ensure 

that their review comments have been 

adequately considered and addressed. 

The duties of the CERSAP are solely 

advisory in nature. 

Official(s) To Whom CERSAP Reports: 

CERSAP will submit advice and report 

to the Secretary of Agriculture through 

the Director of USDA’s Global Change 

Program Office (GCPO) within the 

Office of the Chief Economist (OCE). 

Estimated Number and Frequency of 

Meetings: CERSAP expects to meet 

approximately two (2) times. Meetings 

are expected to occur when the draft 

report, The Effects of Climate Change on 

Agriculture, Land Resources, Water 

Resources, and Biodiversity, is initially 

available, and again to finalize the 

review document, or as needed and 

approved by the Designated Federal 

Officer (DFO). USDA may pay travel 

and per diem expenses when 

determined necessary and appropriate. 

A full-time or permanent part-time 

employee of USDA 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 by 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 by FACA, CERSAP will 

hold open meetings unless the Secretary 

of Agriculture determines that a meeting 

or a portion of a meeting may be closed 

to the public in accordance with 

subsection c of Section 522(b) of Title 5, 

United States Code. Interested persons 

may attend meetings, appear before 

CERSAP as time permits, and file 

comments with the CERSAP. 

Duration and Termination: This 

charter will be in effect until 

publication of SAP 4.3. The charter will 

expire upon publication of SAP 4.3, and 

will not be renewed. 

Member Composition: CERSAP will 

be composed of approximately twelve 

(12) members. Members will be 

appointed by the Secretary of 

Agriculture through the Office of the 

Chief Economist. No member shall have 

served as an author of the draft SAP 4.3. 

Most members shall be designated 

Special Government Employees, 

reflecting their selection based upon 

their scientific expertise in the fields of 

climate change effects on the 

ecosystems and ecosystem services 

investigated by SAP 4.3. Other members 

may be Regular Government Employees, 

and will have comparable expertise. 

Equal opportunity practices, in line 

with USDA policies, will be followed in 

all membership appointments to 

CERSAP. To ensure that the 

recommendations of CERSAP have 

taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by the 

Department, membership shall include, 

to the extent practicable, individuals 

with demonstrated ability to represent 

minorities, women, and persons with 

disabilities. 

Subgroups: USDA, or CERSAP with 

USDA’s approval, may form CERSAP 

subcommittees or workgroups for any 

purpose consistent with this charter. 

Such subcommittees or workgroups may 

not work independently of CERSAP and 

must report their recommendations and 

advice to the full CERSAP committee for 

deliberation and discussion. 

Subcommittees or workgroups have no 

authority to make decisions on behalf of 

the full CERSAP committee, nor can 

they report directly to the Secretary of 

Agriculture or other USDA officials. 

Keith Collins, 

Chief Economist, 

[FR Doc. E7–4873 Filed 3–15–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Federal Advisory Committee for the 

Expert Review of Synthesis and 

Assessment Product 4.3 (CERSAP); 

Nomination Request 

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Economist, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

ACTION: Request for nominations to the 

Committee for the Expert Review of 

Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 

(CERSAP). 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) is inviting 

nominations for membership on the 

Committee for the Expert Review of 

Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 

(CERSAP). The purpose of the 

Committee is to provide advice on the 

conduct of a study titled The Effects of 

Climate Change on Agriculture, Land 

Resources, Water Resources, and 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
12592 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 51 / Friday, March 16, 2007 / Notices 

Biodiversity, to be conducted as part of 

the U.S. Climate Change Science 

Program (CCSP). The prospectus for the 

study titled The Effects of Climate 

Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, 

Water Resources, and Biodiversity is on 

the CCSP Web site at http:// 

www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/ 

sap4–3/default.htm. 

Committee membership will total 

approximately twelve persons and may 

include individuals from the Federal 

Government, State and/or local 

governments, the scientific community, 

non-governmental organizations and the 

private sector, with expertise, 

experience, and knowledge essential to 

the successful completion of the study. 

Nominations for employees of the 

Department of Agriculture will not be 

considered. 

Nominations must be received within 

twenty-one days of the date of this 

Federal Register notice. Any interested 

person or organization may submit a 

nomination. Nominations must include 

a complete resume of the nominee’s 

background, experience and expertise, 

Form AD755, and any other information 

considered relevant. Form AD755 is 

available online through the following 

Web sites: http://www.usda.gov/oce/ 

global_change/index.htm, http:// 

www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/ 

sap4–3/default.php, and http:// 

www.sap43.ucar.edu/. Additional 

avenues and resources will be utilized 

by USDA in the solicitation of 

nominees. 

ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to: Dr. 

Margaret Walsh, Global Change Program 

Office, Office of the Chief Economist, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 

112–A Whitten Federal Building, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–3810; e-mail 

address: mwalsh@usda.gov, fax: (202) 

401–1176. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Margaret Walsh, Global Change Program 

Office, Office of the Chief Economist, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 

112–A Whitten Federal Building, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–3810; telephone: 

(202) 720–9978; e-mail address: 

mwalsh@oce.usda.gov, fax: (202) 401–

1176. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of 

the Committee Charter is available at 

http://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/. The 

purpose of the Committee is to provide 

advice on the conduct of a study titled 

The Effects of Climate Change on 

Agriculture, Land Resources, Water 

Resources, and Biodiversity to be 

conducted as part of the U.S. Climate 

Change Science Program (CCSP). 

CERSAP will advise on the specific 

issues to be addressed, appropriate 

technical approaches, the nature of 

information relevant to decision makers, 

the content of the final report, 

compliance with the Information 

Quality Act, and other matters 

important to the successful achievement 

of the objectives of the study. CERSAP 

will respond specifically to the 

following seven inquiries related to the 

report: 

1. Are the goals, objectives, and 

intended audience of the product 

clearly described in the document? Does 

the product address all the questions as 

outlined in the prospectus? 

2. Are the findings and 

recommendations adequately supported 

by evidence and analysis? If any 

recommendations are based on value 

judgments or the collective opinions of 

the authors, is this acknowledged and 

are adequate reasons given for reaching 

those judgments? 

3. Are the data and analyses handled 

competently? Are statistical methods 

applied appropriately? Are uncertainties 

and confidence levels evaluated and 

communicated appropriately? 

4. Are the document’s presentation 

and organization effective? Are the 

questions outlined in the prospectus 

addressed and communicated in a 

manner that is appropriate for the 

intended audiences? 

5. Is the document scientifically 

objective and policy-neutral? Is it 

consistent with the scientific literature, 

including recent NRC reports and other 

scientific assessments on the same 

topic? 

6. Does the summary concisely and 

accurately describe the content, key 

findings, and recommendations? Is it 

consistent with other sections of the 

document? 

7. What significant improvements, if 

any, might be made in the document? 

Individuals and organizations 

interested in submitting nominations for 

membership should familiarize 

themselves with the draft prospectus for 

this study, which is available at http:// 

www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/ 

sap4–3/default.htm. 

CERSAP is expected to meet twice 

during 2007 in the Washington, DC area. 

Completed nominations should be 

sent preferably by e-mail. If sent by 

either fax or regular mail, the sender is 

encouraged to phone (202) 720–9978 in 

advance. 

Keith Collins, 

Chief Economist. 

[FR Doc. E7–4874 Filed 3–15–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2007–0034] 

Notice of Request for Extension of 

Approval of an Information Collection; 

Interstate Movement of Certain Land 

Tortoises 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Extension of approval of an 

information collection; comment 

request. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service’s intention to 

request an extension of approval of an 

information collection associated with 

regulations for the interstate movement 

of certain land tortoises. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before May 15, 

2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov, select 

‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service’’ from the agency drop-down 

menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the 

Docket ID column, select APHIS–2007–

0034 to submit or view public 

comments and to view supporting and 

related materials available 

electronically. Information on using 

Regulations.gov, including instructions 

for accessing documents, submitting 

comments, and viewing the docket after 

the close of the comment period, is 

available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’

link. 

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Please send four copies of your 

comment (an original and three copies) 

to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0034, 

Regulatory Analysis and Development, 

PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 

River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 

20737–1238. Please state that your 

comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–

2007–0034. 

Reading Room: You may read any 

comments that we receive on this 

docket in our reading room. The reading 

room is located in room 1141 of the 

USDA South Building, 14th Street and 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC. Normal reading room 

hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except holidays. To be 

sure someone is there to help you, 

please call (202) 690–2817 before 

coming. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES