[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 43 (Monday, March 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11175-11176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3097]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


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, USDA.

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: March 27-29, 2006, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 27, 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m. on March 28, and 8 a.m. to noon on March 29. 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: Waugh Auditorium, USDA Economic Research Service, Third 
Floor, South Tower, 1800 M St., NW., Washington, DC 20036. 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 Jefferson Drive, 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 [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The twelfth meeting of the AC21 has been 
scheduled for March 27-29, 2006. The AC21 consists of 20 members 
representing the biotechnology 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, the Committee aims to: introduce new AC21

[[Page 11176]]

members; complete work on a paper examining the impacts of agricultural 
biotechnology on American agriculture and USDA over the next 5 to 10 
years, through review and revision of the current draft Chair's text 
for the paper; and consider preliminary presentations and introductory 
discussions related to two upcoming committee projects. The projects 
are the following: (1) What are the effects (in terms of planting 
decisions, markets, and rural communities) of coexistence issues on the 
development and use of new crops derived through modern biotechnology? 
and (2) What avenues of technology transfer or actions by USDA are most 
likely to result in the production of biotechnology-derived crops-- 
other than large-scale, commingled, major commodity uses-- that would 
have the greatest positive impacts on domestic markets, rural 
communities in the United States, and developing nations?
    Background information regarding the work of the AC21 will be 
available on the USDA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=AC21Main.xml.
    On March 27, 2006, 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 [email protected] 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: February 28, 2006.
Bernice Slutsky,
Special Assistant for Biotechnology.
[FR Doc. E6-3097 Filed 3-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P