There are openings on three key USDA
advisory committees, for your information. Details below.
Please use contact information listed below for more information.
1) <> Biotech Advisory Committee Closing Date July
7, 1999 POSTMARKED
2) <> Small Farm Advisory Committee Closing Date
June 25, 1999 RECEIVED
3) <>REE Advisory Board Closing Date June 25, 1999
RECEIVED
<> Biotech Advisory Committee Closing Date July
7, 1999 POSTMARKED
USDA Secretary Dan Glickman announced the
formation of a new advisory committee to explore
policy issues that arise from the "creation,
application, trade, and use of agricultural
biotechnology." The committee will have 25
members, at least 20 of whom will come from
outside the federal government. From the Federal
Register notice (available under the Agriculture
Dept. listings at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a990607c.html
"Members of ACAB should have recognized expertise
in one or more of the following areas:
Recombinant-DNA (rDNA) research and applications
using plants; rDNA research and applications
using animals; rDNA research and applications
using microbes; food science; silviculture and
related forest science; fisheries science;
ecology; veterinary medicine; the broad range of
farming or agricultural practices; weed science;
plant pathology; small farm advocacy;
biodiversity issues; applicable laws and
regulations relevant to agricultural
biotechnology policy; risk assessment; consumer
advocacy and public attitudes; public
health/epidemiology; occupational health; ethics,
including bioethics; human medicine;
biotechnology industry activities and structure;
intellectual property rights systems; and
international trade. Members will be selected by
the Secretary of Agriculture in order to achieve
a balanced representation of viewpoints to
address effectively USDA biotechnology policy
issues under consideration."
Nominees will need to submit the following by
July 7, 1999: 1) a brief summary (2 page max.) of
qualifications; 2) a current resume; 3)a
completed form AD-755 (available online at
http://www.usda.gov/oce/osfsd/advisorynotice.htm as well
as from the SAC office and from Diane Harmon,
Office of Pest Management Policy, 202-720-3191,
e-mail dharmon@ars.usda.gov ). MSAWG members
should send copies of their nomination
information to Dave Butcher, MSAWG Grassroots
Coordinator, at davidb@uslink.net .
The designated USDA contact for information is
Michael Schechtman, Office of the Deputy
Secretary, 202-720-3817, fax 202-690-4265, e-mail
miachael.g.shechtman@usda.gov for more
information and receipt of nominations.
<> Small Farm Advisory Committee Closing Date
June 25, 1999 RECEIVED
USDA will form a 15 member Advisory Committee on
Small Farms in order to gather and analyze
information on small farms and ranches in the
U.S. and recommend actions to the Secretary to
enhance the viability of these operations. The
committee is explicitly intended to continue the
work of the National Commission on Small Farms,
and to "ensure" the implementation of the
Commissions recommendations in "A Time To Act."