[Federal Register: August 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 164)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52222]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au04-22]                         

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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 
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delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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[[Page 52222]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

[Doc.  CN-04-002]

 
Proposal To Reestablish the Advisory Committee on Universal 
Cotton Standards

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to reestablish the Advisory Committee on 
Universal Cotton Standards.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to 
reestablish the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards 
(Committee). The committee reviews official Universal Standards for 
American Upland cotton prepared by USDA and would make recommendations 
regarding the establishment or revision of the standards.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 24, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this action to Norma McDill, Deputy Administrator, Cotton 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Services, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 0224, Room 2641-South, Washington, DC 20250-0224. 
Comments should be submitted in duplicate. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to: http://www.cottoncomments@usda.gov">www.cottoncomments@usda.gov. All comments 

should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours at the Cotton 
Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2641-South, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. A copy of this action may be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm
.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norma McDill, Deputy Administrator, 
Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone 202-720-2145, facsimile 202-690-
1718, or e-mail at norma.mcdill@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture is considering the reestablishment of the Advisory 
Committee, which would be composed of foreign and domestic 
representatives of the cotton industry. The purpose of the committee 
would be to review official Universal Standards for U.S. Upland cotton 
prepared by USDA and make recommendations regarding the establishment 
or revision of the standards established under the United States Cotton 
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51 et seq.). The last Advisory Committee on 
Universal Standards was established June 19, 2000. The Advisory 
Committee's term ended in 2002.
    Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, would be 
followed in all appointments to the committee. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the committee have taken into account the needs of 
diverse groups served by the Department, membership would include, to 
the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Balanced committee membership would be attained domestically and 
internationally through the following Committee composition.

Representation by Domestic Industry

    The U.S. cotton industry's committee membership would be comprised 
of 12 producers and ginners, 6 representative of merchandising firms, 
and 6 representatives of textile manufacturers. These representatives 
would be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
    Each member would have one vote. Accordingly, voting privileges 
will be divided as follows: (1) U.S. cotton producers and ginners--12 
votes; (2) U.S. merchandising firms--6 votes; (3) U.S. textile 
manufacturers--6 votes.

Representation by Foreign Signatory Associations

    There would be 2 committee members designated from each of the 
foreign signatory associations. These committee members would be 
designated by the respective associations. Voting privileges would be 
divided as follows: (1) Foreign signatory merchant associations--6 
votes; (2) Foreign signatory spinner associations--6 votes.
    Domestic members selected for the committee shall serve without 
pay, but with reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem for 
attendance at the committee meeting.
    A thirty-day comment period is provided for interested persons to 
comment on this action.

    Dated: August 18, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-19400 Filed 8-24-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-U