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EPA Seeks Nominations to New Agricultural Advisory Committee

Release Date: 11/15/2007
Contact Information: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(11/15/07) Continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community, EPA announced in today's Federal Register a request for member nominations to the first-ever Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee.

The committee is being formed under the guidelines of EPA's National Strategy for Agriculture, and it will advise the EPA Administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches and rural communities. It will operate under the rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The committee will meet approximately twice yearly and is intended to consist of approximately 25 members representing: (1) large and small farmers, ranchers and rural communities; (2) rural suppliers, marketers and processors; (3) academics and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture; (4) tribal agricultural groups; and (5) environmental and conservation groups. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and other federal agencies will also be invited to nominate members. EPA expects to make a decision on membership by early January.

Jon Scholl, counselor to the EPA Administrator for Agricultural Policy, announced the Federal Register notice today at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. For local reporters, Jon will be available today for news interviews on the announcement in booth 70 at the hotel. Any other reporters nationwide wanting interviews with Jon, call Dave Ryan at the above number or e-mail, or Kris Lancaster of EPA's Region 7 Office in Kansas City, Kansas, at (913) 551-7557, [email protected].

Federal Register notice on request for nominations: https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2007/November/Day-15/g22380.htm

EPA's Agriculture Strategy: epa.gov/agriculture/agstrategy.html

More information about the Federal Advisory Committee Act: epa.gov/ocem/faca