[Federal Register: July 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 131)]
[Notices]               
[Page 39717-39718]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy05-28]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

 
Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics; Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st 
Century Agriculture Meeting

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. II, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century 
Agriculture (AC21).

DATES: August 9-10, 2005, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Written requests 
to make oral presentations at the meeting must be received by the 
contact person identified herein at least three business days before 
the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Ballroom D, Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, 
SW., Washington, DC 20024. Requests to make oral presentations at the 
meeting may be sent to the contact person at USDA, Office of the Deputy 
Secretary, 202 B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th Street and 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, Telephone (202) 720-
3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The eighth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for February 7-8, 2004. The AC21 consists of 18 members 
representing the biotechnology industry, the seed industry, 
international plant genetics research, farmers, food manufacturers, 
commodity processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, 
and academic researchers. In addition, representatives from the 
Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and State, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, 
and the Office of the United States Trade Representative serve as ``ex 
officio'' members.
    At this meeting, new members will be introduced and the Committee 
will be provided updates on reports already completed. The Committee 
will then consider how best to complete, in a timely fashion, ongoing 
examining the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on American 
agriculture and USDA over

[[Page 39718]]

the next 5 to 10 years. In particular, the AC21 will review the status 
of current sections of text and discuss how best to modify and finalize 
them to provide a coherent report to USDA. A work plan for completion 
of ongoing work will be developed. In addition, there will be 
preliminary discussions of potential future work topics of the 
Committee.
    Background information regarding the work of the AC21 will be 
available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/ac21.html.
 On August 9, 2005, if time permits, reasonable provision 

will be made for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each 
in duration.
    The meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If 
you would like to attend the meetings, you must register by contacting 
Ms. Dianne Harmon at (202) 720-4074, by fax at (202) 720-3191 or by e-
mail at dharmon@ars.usda.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting. 
Please provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, and 
telephone and fax numbers when you register. If you require a sign 
language interpreter or other special accommodation due to disability, 
please indicate those needs at the time of registration.

    Dated: June 30, 2005.
Bernice Slutsky,
Special Assistant for Biotechnology.
[FR Doc. 05-13515 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]

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