[Federal Register: September 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 52736]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05se03-20]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 52736]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-075-1]
Public Meeting; Plant Protection and Quarantine Stakeholders
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Advance notice of public meeting and request for suggested
agenda topics.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service will hold a public meeting for the purpose of
exchanging information on our Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
program. We are planning the meeting agenda and are requesting
suggestions for topics of general interest to PPQ stakeholders.
DATES: The meeting will be held December 9 and 10, 2003. Suggestion for
agenda topics should be submitted by October 6, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Melrose Hotel, 2430
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paula Henstridge, Special
Assistant to the Deputy Administrator, Plant Protection and Quarantine,
Room 302-E Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-1737; e-mail
paula.henstridge@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service's Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program protects and
safeguards the Nation's plant resources through programs and activities
to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and noxious
weeds. PPQ is planning a public meeting to present information about
topics of interest to persons who are affected by PPQ programs, as well
as to receive feedback on the PPQ mission, the way the mission is
carried out, and the issues PPQ must be prepared to address in the
future to continue to be a relevant and credible plant health
organization. We believe that such an information exchange is
particularly timely as PPQ moves forward from the operation of certain
agricultural quarantine and inspection activities to the transfer of
these activities to the newly established Customs and Border Protection
function of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The agenda for the meeting is not yet complete. Topics will
include, but are not limited to: Future priorities, budget update and
outlook, update on the DHS transition, pest detection and emergency
programs, and issues related to trade and risk assessments. Five
interactive panel discussions and workshops are planned on the
following topics: Pest risk assessments; permit systems; the
stakeholder role in DHS; developing strategic approaches to export
enhancement; and Federal, State, and industry roles in implementing
incident command in response to pest threats. We are inviting key
personnel from DHS, congressional committees, States, and certain
stakeholder groups to serve on the panels. Before finalizing the
agenda, we are seeking suggestions for additional meeting topics from
the public.
Please submit suggested meeting topics to the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by October 6, 2003. After the agenda is
finalized, APHIS will announce the agenda topics in the Federal
Register.
We request that all persons wishing to attend the meeting
preregister on the PPQ Web site, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/stakeholders/meeting/index.html.
There is no registration fee.
Attendance will be guaranteed to the first 100 persons who preregister
by November 30, 2003. Persons who preregister should indicate which one
of the five concurrent workshops they would like to attend. If you do
not have access to the Internet, you may preregister by contacting Ms.
Linda Toran at (301) 734-5307.
The Melrose Hotel is setting aside a number of rooms at the
conference rate. When reserving a room, please specify that you would
like the USDA/APHIS rate. The telephone number for the hotel is (202)
955-6400 or toll free (800) 635-7673. The hotel's Web site is http://www.melrosehotelwashingtondc.com
.
Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of September 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22652 Filed 9-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P