This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

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rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

43325 

Vol. 82, No. 178 

Friday, September 15, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture 

Stakeholder Listening Opportunity for 

Priorities in Research, Education and 

Extension 

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of listening sessions and 

stakeholder feedback opportunities. 

SUMMARY: USDA National Institute of 

Food and Agriculture announces its 

stakeholder listening initiative ‘‘NIFA 

Listens: Investing in Science to 

Transform Lives.’’ This stakeholder 

listening opportunity informs the 

research, extension and education 

priorities of NIFA, which has the 

mission of investing in and advancing 

agricultural research, education and 

extension to solve societal challenges. 

These investments in transformative 

science directly support the long-term 

prosperity and global pre-eminence of 

U.S. agriculture. This listening 

opportunity allows stakeholders to 

provide feedback on the following 

questions: ‘‘What is your top priority in 

food and agricultural research, 

extension or education that NIFA 

should address?’’ and ‘‘What are the 

most promising science opportunities 

for advancement of food and 

agricultural sciences?’’ 

This effort to obtain input on NIFA’s 

science priorities will be carried out 

through online and in-person 

submission mechanisms. Stakeholder 

input received from the two 

mechanisms is treated equally. The 

priorities and opportunities obtained 

from this effort will be evaluated in 

conjunction with input from NIFA staff. 

This information will be critical for 

NIFA’s evaluation of existing science 

emphasis areas to identify investment 

opportunities and gaps in the current 

portfolio of programs. The information 

obtained through this iterative analysis 

and synthesis will help to ensure the 

strategic positioning and relevancy of 

NIFA’s investments in advancing 

agricultural research, education and 

extension. 

DATES: 

(A) Online Input: Submission of 

online stakeholder input to the target 

questions will be open upon publishing 

of this Notice through 5 p.m. Eastern 

time December 1, 2017. 

(B) In-person Listening Sessions: Four 

listening sessions, each a full day, will 

be organized throughout the United 

States to obtain input from all 

stakeholders, including small 

institutions, local business and other 

stakeholder groups. The listening 

sessions will take place on October 19, 

2017, October 26, 2017, November 2, 

2017 and November 8, 2017. Each 

session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and is 

scheduled to end by 5:00 p.m. local 

time. Each session will include a 

presentation of the goals and 

background information on NIFA 

programs, followed by comments from 

stakeholders. Each registered speaker 

will receive 5 minutes to share their 

comments with the Agency. If time 

allows after all comments from 

registered speakers are made, 

unscheduled speakers will be allowed 5 

minutes to present their comments to 

the Agency. The length of the sessions 

will be adjusted according to numbers 

of participants seeking to provide input. 

All parties interested in attending an inperson listening session must RSVP no 

later than October 12, 2017. These 

sessions will be webcast and 

transcribed. Information about 

registering for the in-person session, 

providing written comments and 

viewing the webcast can be found at 

https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens. 

Registration: The Web site, https://

nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens, includes 

instructions on submitting written 

comments and registering to attend or 

speak at the in-person listening 

sessions. All parties interested in 

attending an in-person listening session 

must RSVP no later than October 12, 

2017. The number of attendees and oral 

commenters is limited due to time and 

space constraints (see below). Oral 

commenter slots will be allotted on a 

first-come, first-served basis. All 

interested stakeholders, regardless of 

attendance, are welcome to submit 

written comments. 

Comments: Written comments are due 

by December 1, 2017. Written comments 

must be submitted electronically 

through https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens 

or emailed to NIFAlistens@

nifa.usda.gov. 

ADDRESSES: The in-person listening 

sessions will take place at conference 

facilities in Kansas City, MO (October 

19, 2017), Atlanta, GA (October 26, 

2017), Sacramento, CA (November 2, 

2017), and Hyattsville, MD (November 

8, 2017). 

All parties interested in attending an 

in-person listening session must RSVP 

no later than October 12, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Megan Haidet, Program Specialist, 

NIFA, at 202–401–6617, email 

NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov, or visit 

https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens for 

detailed information about providing 

written comments, joining the in-person 

sessions remotely, or registering to 

speak at an in-person session. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

science priority-setting process at NIFA 

involves soliciting stakeholder input on 

agricultural research, education and 

extension needs, obtaining input from 

NIFA’s science staff who are informed 

through interactions with scientific 

communities, and evaluating existing 

programs to identify critical gaps in the 

current portfolio of programs in order to 

address challenges in U.S. agriculture. 

This listening effort will focus on 

answers to the following questions, 

‘‘What is your top priority in food and 

agricultural research, extension or 

education that NIFA should address?’’ 

and ‘‘What are the most promising 

science opportunities for advancement 

of food and agricultural sciences?’’ 

NIFA welcomes stakeholder input 

from any group or individual interested 

in agricultural research, extension or 

education priorities for NIFA. NIFA is 

eager to listen to stakeholder’s 

comments on the priorities, solutions 

and opportunities that will facilitate 

long-term sustainable agricultural 

production, research, education and 

extension. This listening effort will 

focus on the agricultural science that 

NIFA invests in, but not on NIFA 

processes or procedures. 

All parties interested in attending an 

in-person listening session must RSVP 

no later than October 12, 2017. 

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43326 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 178 / Friday, September 15, 2017 / Notices 

Abstracts from in-person speakers can 

be submitted upon registration via 

https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens. 

Written comments by all interested 

stakeholders are welcomed through 5 

p.m. Eastern time, December 1, 2017. 

All input will become a part of the 

official record and available on the 

NIFA Web site, https://nifa.usda.gov/ 

nifalistens. 

Done at Washington, DC, on September 8, 

2017. 

Sonny Ramaswamy, 

Director, National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture. 

[FR Doc. 2017–19714 Filed 9–14–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the 

Kentucky Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 

and regulations of the U.S. Commission 

on Civil Rights (Commission) and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act that 

the Kentucky Advisory Committee will 

hold a meeting on Thursday, October 

12, 2017, for continuing committee 

discussion of potential project topics. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Thursday October 12, 2017 at 12:00 

EST. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be by 

teleconference. Toll-free call-in number: 

1–877–719–9795, conference ID: 

9658974. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Hinton, DFO, at jhinton@usccr.gov or 

404–563–7006. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members 

of the public can listen to the 

discussion. This meeting is available to 

the public through the following tollfree call-in number: 1–877–719–9795, 

conference ID: 9658974. Any interested 

member of the public may call this 

number and listen to the meeting. 

Callers can expect to incur charges for 

calls they initiate over wireless lines, 

and the Commission will not refund any 

incurred charges. Callers will incur no 

charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free 

telephone number. Persons with hearing 

impairments may also follow the 

proceedings by first calling the Federal 

Relay Service at 1–800–977–8339 and 

providing the Service with the 

conference call number and conference 

ID number. 

Members of the public are also 

entitled to submit written comments; 

the comments must be received in the 

regional office by October 6, 2017. 

Written comments may be mailed to the 

Southern Regional Office, U.S. 

Commission on Civil Rights, 61 Forsyth 

Street, Suite 16T126, Atlanta, GA 30303. 

They may also be faxed to the 

Commission at (404) 562–7005, or 

emailed to Regional Director, Jeffrey 

Hinton at jhinton@usccr.gov. Persons 

who desire additional information may 

contact the Southern Regional Office at 

(404) 562–7000. 

Records generated from this meeting 

may be inspected and reproduced at the 

Southern Regional Office, as they 

become available, both before and after 

the meeting. Records of the meeting will 

be available via www.facadatabase.gov 

under the Commission on Civil Rights, 

South Carolina Advisory Committee 

link. Persons interested in the work of 

this Committee are directed to the 

Commission’s Web site, http://

www.usccr.gov, or may contact the 

Southern Regional Office at the above 

email or street address. 

Agenda 

Welcome and Roll Call of advisory 

committee members 

Dr. Betty Griffin, Chairman/Jeff 

Hinton, Regional Director, SRO, 

USCCR 

Kentucky Advisory Committee update/ 

discussion of potential project topics 

Dr. Betty Griffin, Chairman 

Open Comment 

Advisory Committee 

Public Participation 

Adjournment 

Dated: September 11, 2017. 

David Mussatt, 

Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. 

[FR Doc. 2017–19550 Filed 9–14–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the 

Alabama Advisory Committee for 

Orientation and To Discuss Civil 

Rights Topics in the State 

AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights. 

ACTION: Announcement of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 

and regulations of the U.S. Commission 

on Civil Rights (Commission) and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act that 

the Alabama Advisory Committee 

(Committee) will hold a meeting on 

Thursday, September 28, 2017, at 11:00 

a.m. (Central) for the purpose of 

orientation and a discussion on civil 

rights topics affecting the state. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Thursday, September 28, 2017, at 11:00 

a.m. (Central). 

Public Call Information: Dial: 888– 

287–5563, Conference ID: 4247572. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David Barreras, DFO, at dbarreras@

usccr.gov or 312–353–8311. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members 

of the public can listen to the 

discussion. This meeting is available to 

the public through the following tollfree call-in number: 888–287–5563, 

conference ID: 4247572. Any interested 

member of the public may call this 

number and listen to the meeting. An 

open comment period will be provided 

to allow members of the public to make 

a statement as time allows. The 

conference call operator will ask callers 

to identify themselves, the organization 

they are affiliated with (if any), and an 

email address prior to placing callers 

into the conference room. Callers can 

expect to incur regular charges for calls 

they initiate over wireless lines, 

according to their wireless plan. The 

Commission will not refund any 

incurred charges. Callers will incur no 

charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free 

telephone number. Persons with hearing 

impairments may also follow the 

proceedings by first calling the Federal 

Relay Service at 1–800–977–8339 and 

providing the Service with the 

conference call number and conference 

ID number. 

Members of the public are also 

entitled to submit written comments; 

the comments must be received in the 

regional office within 30 days following 

the meeting. Written comments may be 

mailed to the Midwestern Regional 

Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 

55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago, 

IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the 

Commission at (312) 353–8324, or 

emailed to Carolyn Allen at callen@

usccr.gov. Persons who desire 

additional information may contact the 

Midwestern Regional Office at (312) 

353–8311. 

Records generated from this meeting 

may be inspected and reproduced at the 

Midwestern Regional Office, as they 

become available, both before and after 

the meeting. Records of the meeting will 

be available via www.facadatabase.gov 

under the Commission on Civil Rights, 

Alabama Advisory Committee link 

(http://www.facadatabase.gov/ 

committee/committee.aspx?cid=233&

aid=17). Persons interested in the work 

of this Committee are directed to the 

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