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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11064-11065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4349]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: The meeting dates are March 5-6, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each 
day.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Access Board Conference Room, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 
800, Washington, DC 20004-1111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten 
Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone (202) 720-3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; Email 
AC21@ars.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The next meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for March 5-6, 2012. The AC21 consists of members 
representing the biotechnology industry, the organic food industry, 
farming communities, the seed industry, food manufacturers, state 
government, consumer and community development groups, as well as 
academic researchers and a medical doctor. In addition, representatives 
from the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of the United 
States Trade Representative have been invited to serve as ``ex 
officio'' members. The Committee meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 
5 p.m. on each day. The topics to be discussed will include:

[[Page 11065]]

progress of the four AC21 working groups on analyses relevant to the 
overall AC21 charge; how the commercial sector is addressing unintended 
presence now and managing risk; continuing overall discussions on the 
Committee charge and exploring current areas of agreement among 
members; and planning subsequent work.
    Background information regarding the work and membership of the 
AC21 is available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true. Members 
of the public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. 
Schechtman in writing or via Email at the indicated addresses at least 
three business days before the meeting. On March 5, 2012, if time 
permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no 
more than five minutes each in duration.
    The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If 
you would like to attend the meetings, you must register by contacting 
Ms. Dianne Fowler at (202) 720-4074 or by Email at 
Dianne.fowler@ars.usda.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Please 
provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, telephone, and 
fax number when you register. If you are a person with a disability and 
request reasonable accommodations to participate in this meeting, 
please note the request in your registration. All reasonable 
accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis.

Ann Bartuska,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2012-4349 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P
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