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Federal Register: June 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 118)
Notices
Page 32928-32929
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and the
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; 2-week extension of
nomination deadline
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture and the
United States Trade Representative are extending the nomination deadline by 2
weeks for the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and the
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs). The extension is
to ensure that every effort has been made to solicit the broadest possible
representation on the APAC and the 5 ATAC Committees.
DATES: Written nominations must be received by the Foreign Agricultural
Service before close of business June 29, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Send all nominating materials to Ms. Sharon McClure, Foreign
Agricultural Service, USDA, Room 5065-S, STOP 1001, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1001. The information may also be submitted by fax to
(202) 720-8097.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in serving on the
APAC or an ATAC, must submit: (1) Completed Form AD-755, (2) completed Form
AD-1086, (3) resume, and (4) specify the committee. The information should be
submitted by mail (Ms. Sharon McClure, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5065-S, Stop 1001, Washington, DC 20250-1001, or
fax (202-710-8097). These forms are also available on the Internet at the FAS
homepage. For Form AD-755, go to http://www.fas.usda.gov/ad
755.pdf. For Form AD-1086, go to http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/ad
1086. For questions or further information, contact Sharon McClure at
202-720-6829 or electronically (mcclure@fas.usda.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for
Trade (APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs)
are authorized by sections 135(c)(1) and (2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (Pub. L. No. 93-618, 19 U.S.C. 2155). The purpose of the committees is
to provide advice to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative concerning
agricultural trade policy and are intended to ensure that representative
elements of the private sector have an opportunity to make known their views to
the U.S. Government.
In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory
committee system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. The private sector
advisory system now consists of almost 40 committees, arranged in three tiers:
The renewal of such committees is in the public interest in
connection with the duties of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) imposed
by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
General Committee Information: All APAC and ATAC committee
members are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR), and serve at the discretion of the Secretary and the USTR.
To serve and attend committee meetings, members must be U.S. citizens, and have
successfully completed a confidential security clearance. Committee members
serve without compensation; they are not reimbursed for their travel expense.
Committee meetings will be open to the public, unless the
U.S. Trade Representative determines that the committees will be discussing
issues the disclosure of which justify closing a meeting or portions of the
meeting, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
All committee appointments expire on May 1, 2003; but the
Secretary and USTR may renew an appointment for one or more additional terms.
Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the
membership of that committee. In addition to their individual responsibilities,
all committees are required to meet at the conclusion of negotiations for each
trade agreement, and to provide a report on each agreement to the President,
Congress, and to the U.S. Trade Representative. [All meetings will be held in
Washington, D.C.]
Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC): The
APAC has approximately 50 members, and is composed of a broad spectrum of
agricultural interests. It provides advice concerning:
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs):
The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues which affect
both domestic and foreign production in their commodities, drawing upon the
technical competence and experience of its members.
There are five ATACs, one for each of the following sectors:
Each ATAC has approximately 25 members, for a total of
approximately 125 members.
Nominations and Selection of Members: Nominations are open to
all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, mental or physical handicap, marital status or sexual orientation. To
ensure that the recommendations of the committees take into account the needs of
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the
extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Members are selected primarily for their expertise and
knowledge of agriculture trade as it relates to policy and commodity specific
products. No person, company, producer, farm organization, trade association, or
other entity has a right to representation on a committee. All members serve at
the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade
Representative. In making selections, every effort will be made to maintain
balanced representation on the committees: representation from producers, farm
and commodity organizations, processors, traders, consumers, as well as
geographical balance.
Issued at Washington, D.C. this 15th day of June, 2001.
John Surina,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-15558 Filed 6-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
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