[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 48576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23184]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
National Drought Policy Commission
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Commission meeting and public hearing and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Drought Policy Act of 1998 established the
National Drought Policy Commission (Commission). The Farm Service
Agency (FSA) was identified to provide support to the Commission. The
Commission shall conduct a thorough study and submit a report to the
President and Congress on national drought policy. The first meeting of
the Commission was held on July 22, 1999, and the first public hearing
on July 23, 1999. Minutes of the first meeting and a list of Commission
members can be found on the Commission's web site at www.fsa.usda.gov/
drought. This notice announces the second meeting and public hearing
and seeks comments on issues that the Commission should address and
recommendations that the Commission should consider as part of its
report. The second public hearing and meeting of the Commission will be
held September 22. All meetings are open to the public; however,
seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.
DATES: The Commission will conduct a public hearing on September 22,
1999, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Williamsburg Room, Jamie L.
Whitten Building, 12th and Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC.
The Commission will meet on September 22, 1999, from 1:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m. in the same location. All times noted are Eastern Daylight
Time. The Commission will discuss the current drought in the Northeast
as it applies to national policy. They will also discuss the status of
Commission activities, the operational definition of drought for the
Commission, and other committee business.
Anyone wishing to make an oral presentation to the Commission at
the public hearing, must contact the Executive Director, Leona Dittus,
in writing (by letter, fax or internet) no later than 12 noon,
September 21, 1999, in order to be included on the agenda. Presenters
will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. The request
should identify the name and affiliation of the individual who will
make the presentation and an outline of the issues to be addressed.
Thirty-five copies of any written presentation material shall be given
to the Executive Director by all presenters no later than the time of
the presentation for distribution to the Commission and the interested
public. Those wishing to testify, but who are unable to notify the
Commission office by September 21, 1999, will be able to sign up as a
presenter the day of the hearing (September 22) between 8:00 a.m. and
10:00 p.m. These presenters will testify on a first-come, first-served
basis and comments will be limited based on the time available and the
number of presenters. Written statements will be accepted at the
meeting, or may be mailed or faxed to the Commission office.
ADDRESSES: Comments and statements should be sent to Leona Dittus,
Executive Director, National Drought Policy Commission, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6701-S, STOP 0501,
Washington, DC 20250-0501.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leona Dittus (202) 720-3168; FAX (202)
720-4293; internet [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to provide
advice and recommendations to the President and Congress on the
creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy, designed to
prepare for and respond to serious drought emergencies. Tasks for the
Commission include developing recommendations that will (a) better
integrate Federal laws and programs with ongoing State, local, and
tribal programs (b) improve public awareness of the need for drought
mitigation, prevention, and response and (c) determine whether all
Federal drought preparation and response programs should be
consolidated under one existing Federal agency, and, if so, identify
the agency. The Commission will be chaired by the Secretary of
Agriculture or his designee, and a Vice Chair shall be selected from
among the members who are not Federal officers or employees. In the
absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair will act in his stead.
Administrative staff support essential to the execution of the
Commission's responsibilities shall be provided by USDA, FSA.
Commission members specifically cited in Public Law 105-199,
include the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Army, and Commerce,
the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration; two persons
nominated by the National Governors' Association, a person nominated by
the National Association of Counties, and a person nominated by the
Conference of Mayors. Those four members are to be appointed by the
President. Six additional Commission members have been appointed by the
Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of the Army. The six at-large members
represent groups acutely affected by drought emergencies, such as the
agricultural production community, the credit community, rural and
urban water associations, Native Americans, and fishing and
environmental interests.
If special accommodations are required, please contact Leona
Dittus, at the address specified above, by COB September 15, 1999.
Signed at Washington, DC, on September 1, 1999.
Parks Shackelford,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 99-23184 Filed 9-1-99; 2:01 pm]
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