5306 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 23 / Thursday, February 3, 2000 / Notices

chapter I, subchapter E (Viruses,

Serums, Toxins, and Analogous

Products; Organisms and Vectors).

Because we anticipate that applicable

provisions of the final version of

‘‘Stability Testing of Biotechnological/

Biological Veterinary Medicinal

Products’’ may be introduced into

APHIS’ veterinary biologics regulatory

program in the future, we encourage

your comments on the draft version.

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.

Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of

January 2000.

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–2379 Filed 2–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–U

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

National Drought Policy Commission

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Commission public

hearing.

SUMMARY: The National Drought Policy

Commission (Commission) shall

conduct a thorough study and submit a

report to the President and Congress on

national drought policy. This notice

announces a public hearing to be held

on February 17–18, 2000, in Billings,

Montana, and seeks comments on issues

that the Commission should address

and recommendations that the

Commission should consider as part of

its report. The hearing is open to the

public.

DATES: The Commission will conduct a

public hearing on February 17, 2000,

from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and

February 18, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. to

12:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Center,

Auditorium, 415 N 30th Street, Billings,

Montana. All times are Mountain

Standard Time.

Anyone wishing to make an oral

presentation to the Commission at the

public hearing, must contact the

Executive Director, Leona Dittus, in

writing (by letter, fax or internet) no

later than COB, February 11, 2000, in

order to be included on the agenda.

Presenters will be approved on a firstcome, first-served basis. The request

should identify the name and affiliation

of the individual who will make the

presentation and an outline of the issues

to be addressed. Thirty-five copies of

any written presentation material shall

be given to the Executive Director by all

presenters no later than the time of the

presentation for distribution to the

Commission and the interested public.

Those wishing to testify, but who are

unable to notify the Commission office

by February 11, 2000, will be able to

sign up as a presenter the day of the

hearing, February 17, 2000, between

12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. and February

18, 2000, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00

a.m. All times are Mountain Standard

Time. These presenters will testify on a

first-come, first-served basis and

comments will be limited based on the

time available and the number of

presenters. Written statements will be

accepted at the public hearing, or may

be mailed or faxed to the Commission

office.

Persons with disabilities who require

accommodations to attend or participate

in this public hearing should contact

Leona Dittus, on 202–720–3168, Federal

Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339, or

Internet: leona.dittus@usda.gov, by COB

February 11, 2000.

COMMENTS: The public is invited to

respond and/or to submit additional

comments, concerns, and issues for

consideration by the Commission by

March 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments and statements

should be sent to Leona Dittus,

Executive Director, National Drought

Policy Commission, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Room 6701–S, STOP 0501,

Washington, D.C. 20250–0501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leona Dittus (202) 720–3168; FAX (202)

720–9688; Internet:

leona.dittus@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of the Commission is to provide

advice and recommendations to the

President and Congress on the creation

of an integrated, coordinated Federal

policy, designed to prepare for and

respond to serious drought emergencies.

Tasks for the Commission include

developing recommendations that will

(a) better integrate Federal laws and

programs with ongoing State, local, and

tribal programs, (b) improve public

awareness of the need for drought

mitigation, prevention, and response

and (c) determine whether all Federal

drought preparation and response

programs should be consolidated under

one existing Federal agency, and, if so,

identify the agency.

Below is a draft vision statement and

set of principles to guide the

Commission. Draft Vision Statement:

Our vision is of a well-informed,

involved U. S. citizenry and its

governments prepared for and capable

of lessening the impacts of drought—

consistently and timely—in the new

millennium.

This vision is based on the following

principles:

Consideration of all affected entities

and related issues, including legal,

economic, geographic, climate,

religious, and cultural differences;

fairness and equity; and environmental

concerns;

Comprehensive, long-term strategies

that emphasize drought planning and

measures to reduce the impacts of

drought;

Federal role focused on appropriate

coordination, technical assistance,

education, and incentives while at all

times respecting the rights and

responsibilities of

Federal, State, and local governments,

and tribal sovereignty;

Self-reliance and self-determination;

Lessons learned from past drought

experiences;

Shared drought-related expertise and

knowledge across international borders.

In addition to your own views and

thoughts regarding a national drought

policy, as you review the draft vision

and guiding principles, the Commission

would be interested in your thoughts

regarding the following questions:

1. What is the best means for

informing the public of Federal

assistance for drought planning and

mitigation?

2. What type of information do you

need for responding to the drought?

3. What needs do you or your

organization presently have with respect

to addressing drought conditions?

4. What do you see as the Federal role

with respect to drought preparedness?

Drought response? Should Federal

emergency assistance be contingent on

advance preparedness?

5. Are there any ways you feel that the

Federal Government could better

coordinate with State, regional, tribal,

and local governments in mitigating or

responding to droughts?

6. What lessons have you or your

organization learned from past drought

experiences that would be beneficial in

the creation of a national drought

policy?

Signed at Washington, D.C., on January 31,

2000.

George Arredondo,

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.

[FR Doc. 00–2445 Filed 1–1–00; 5:03 pm]

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