Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Agriculture

###### Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

          - [Docket No. APHIS-2024-0007]

# AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

# ACTION:

Notice of solicitation for membership.

# SUMMARY:

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for the election of a member at-large and regional members and their alternates for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.

# DATES:

Consideration will be given to nominations received on or before July 15, 2024.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Please submit completed nomination forms to the person listed under                         **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**                        .                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Dr. Elena Behnke, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 301, Conyers, GA 30094; phone (770) 922-3496; email:                         *elena.behnke@usda.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The General Conference Committee (the Committee) of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is the Secretary's Advisory Committee on poultry health. The Committee serves as a forum for the study of problems relating to poultry health and, as necessary, makes specific recommendations to the Secretary concerning ways the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may assist the industry in addressing these problems. The Committee assists the Department in planning, organizing, and conducting the Biennial Conference of the NPIP. The Committee recommends whether new proposals should be considered by the delegates to the Biennial Conference and serves as a direct liaison between the NPIP and the United States Animal Health Association.

The Committee consists of an elected member-at-large who is an NPIP participant and an elected member (and alternate) from each of the six U.S. regions represented on the Committee. Terms will expire for three current regional members and the member-at-large of the Committee in August 2024. We are soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals to replace the member-at-large as well as the members and alternates from the North Atlantic (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin), and Western (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).

                    Member selection is determined by a majority vote of the NPIP delegates from the respective regions. There must be at least two nominees for each position. Persons interested in serving on the Committee or nominating another individual to serve must submit a nomination with information and a complete Form AD-755, which is available on the internet at                     *https://www.usda.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​ad-755.pdf*                     or may be obtained by contacting the person listed under                     **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**                    .                

To ensure the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership should include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent underrepresented groups (minorities, women, and persons with disabilities). At least one nominee from each of the three regions must have demonstrated the ability to represent an underrepresented group. The voting will be by secret ballot of official delegates from their respective region, and the results will be recorded.

USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

                    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (                    *e.g.,*                     Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.                

Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and person with disabilities.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Dated: February 27, 2024.

Egypt Simon,

Acting USDA Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 2024-04519 Filed 3-1-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P