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Federal Register Summary for the Week of May 17-21 2004

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
ACTION: Notice of meeting.

DATES: June 3-4, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second day. 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: Vista C Room at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. 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 and Independence Avenues, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250; Telephone (202) 720-3817; Fax (202) 690-4265; E-mail .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fifth meeting of the AC21 has been scheduled for June 3-4, 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. The AC21 at this meeting will continue its work to develop a report examining the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on American agriculture and USDA over the next 5 to 10 years, specifically: to review two draft introductory chapters prepared by USDA staff with input from specific AC21 members; to review the progress of two work groups on developing report chapters on potential issues and concerns and on possible future scenarios and to provide guidance to them in their work; and to consider presentations on research related to trends in consumer acceptance of agricultural biotechnology products. The AC21 will also discuss the progress of a work group drafting a separate report for the committee's consideration on the issue of the proliferation of traceability and mandatory labeling regimes for biotechnology-derived products in other countries, the implications of those regimes, and what industry is doing to attempt to address those requirements for products shipped to those countries.

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 June 3, 2004, 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 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.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-11511.htm


INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions for Foreign Species; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review.

SUMMARY: In this document, we announce our annual petition findings for foreign species. When, in response to a petition, we find that listing a species is warranted but precluded, we must complete a new status review each year until we publish a proposed rule or make a determination that listing is not warranted. These subsequent status reviews and the accompanying 12-month findings are referred to as ``resubmitted'' petition findings.

Information contained in this document describes our review of the current status of 73 foreign taxa that were the subjects of warranted-but-precluded findings. Based on our review, we find that 51 species continue to warrant listing, but that their listing remains precluded by higher-priority listing actions. Seventeen species no longer warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act and, therefore, have been removed from the warranted-but-precluded list. We will promptly publish listing proposals for five of the species.

We request additional status information for these species as well as information on taxa that we should include in future updates of this list. We will consider this information in preparing listing documents and future resubmitted petition findings. This information will also help us in monitoring the status of the taxa and in conserving them.

DATES: We will accept comments on these resubmitted petition findings at any time.

ADDRESSES: Submit any comments, information, and questions by mail to the Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; or by fax to 703-358-2276; or by e-mail to . Comments and supporting information will be available for public inspection, by appointment, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert R. Gabel at the above address, or by telephone, 703-358-1708; fax, 703-358-2276; or e-mail, .

To view complete supplementary information, visit:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-11374.htm


NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION



NASA Advisory Council; Meeting

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a meeting of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC).

DATES: Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m; and Wednesday, June 9, 2004, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 300 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20546, MIC 6.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kathy Dakon, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546, 202/358-0732.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting will be open to the public up to the seating capacity of the room. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Vision for Space Exploration
NASA Office of Exploration Systems
Update on Return to Flight
Information Technology Working Group Activities

Attendees will be requested to sign a register and to comply with NASA security requirements, including the presentation of a valid picture ID, before receiving an access badge. Foreign nationals attending this meeting will be required to provide the following information: Full name; gender; date/place of birth; citizenship; visa/green card information (number, type, expiration date); employer/affiliation information (name of institution, address, county, phone); and title/position of attendee. To expedite admittance, attendees can provide identifying information in advance by contacting Ms. Marla K. King via e-mail at or by telephone at (202) 358-1148. Persons with disabilities who require assistance should indicate this. It is imperative that the meeting be held on this date to accommodate the scheduling priorities of the key participants.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-11577.htm


Presidential Documents


The President

Executive Order 13340 of May 18, 2004

Establishment of Great Lakes Interagency Task
Force and Promotion of a Regional Collaboration of
National Significance for the Great Lakes

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and to help establish a regional collaboration
of national significance for the Great Lakes, it is
hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The Great Lakes are a national
treasure constituting the largest freshwater system in
the world. The United States and Canada have made great
progress addressing past and current environmental
impacts to the Great Lakes ecology. The Federal
Government is committed to making progress on the many
significant challenges that remain. Along with numerous
State, tribal, and local programs, over 140 Federal
programs help fund and implement environmental
restoration and management activities throughout the
Great Lakes system. A number of intergovernmental
bodies are providing leadership in the region to
address environmental and resource management issues in
the Great Lakes system. These activities would benefit
substantially from more systematic collaboration and
better integration of effort. It is the policy of the
Federal Government to support local and regional
efforts to address environmental challenges and to
encourage local citizen and community stewardship. To
this end, the Federal Government will partner with the
Great Lakes States, tribal and local governments,
communities, and other interests to establish a
regional collaboration to address nationally
significant environmental and natural resource issues
involving the Great Lakes. It is the further policy of
the Federal Government that its executive departments
and agencies will ensure that their programs are
funding effective, coordinated, and environmentally
sound activities in the Great Lakes system.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) ``Great Lakes'' means Lake Ontario, Lake Erie,
Lake Huron (including Lake Saint Clair), Lake Michigan,
and Lake Superior, and the connecting channels (Saint
Marys River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara
River, and Saint Lawrence River to the Canadian
Border).
(b) ``Great Lakes system'' means all the streams,
rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water within the
drainage basin of the Great Lakes.

Sec. 3. Great Lakes Interagency Task Force.

(a) Task Force Purpose. To further the policy
described in section 1 of this order, there is
established, within the Environmental Protection Agency
for administrative purposes, the ``Great Lakes
Interagency Task Force'' (Task Force) to:

(i)

Help convene and establish a process for collaboration among the members
of the Task Force and the members of the Working Group that is established
in paragraph b(ii) of this section, with the Great Lakes States, local
communities, tribes, regional bodies, and other interests in the Great
Lakes region regarding policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects,
activities, and priorities for the Great Lakes system.

(ii)

Collaborate with Canada and its provinces and with bi-national bodies
involved in the Great Lakes region regarding policies, strategies,
projects, and priorities for the Great Lakes system.

(iii)

Coordinate the development of consistent Federal policies, strategies,
projects, and priorities for addressing the restoration and protection of
the Great Lakes system and assisting in the appropriate management of the
Great Lakes system.

(iv)

Develop outcome-based goals for the Great Lakes system relying upon, among
other things, existing data and science-based indicators of water quality
and related environmental factors. These goals shall focus on outcomes such
as cleaner water, sustainable fisheries, and biodiversity of the Great
Lakes system and ensure that Federal policies, strategies, projects, and
priorities support measurable results.

(v)

Exchange information regarding policies, strategies, projects, and
activities of the agencies represented on the Task Force related to the
Great Lakes system.

(vi)

Work to coordinate government action associated with the Great Lakes
system.

(vii)

Ensure coordinated Federal scientific and other research associated with
the Great Lakes system.

(viii)

Ensure coordinated government development and implementation of the Great
Lakes portion of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.

(ix)

Provide assistance and support to agencies represented on the Task Force
in their activities related to the Great Lakes system.

(x)

Submit a report to the President by May 31, 2005, and thereafter as
appropriate, that summarizes the activities of the Task Force and provides
any recommendations that would, in the judgment of the Task Force, advance
the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.

(b) Membership and Operation.

(i)

The Task Force shall consist exclusively of the following officers of the
United States: the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
(who shall chair the Task Force), the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of
Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the
Army, and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. A member of
the Task Force may designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the
member, any person who is part of the member's department, agency, or
office and who is either an officer of the United States appointed by the
President or a full-time employee serving in a position with pay equal to
or greater than the minimum rate payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule.
The Task Force shall report to the President through the Chairman of the
Council on Environmental Quality.

(ii)

The Task Force shall establish a ``Great Lakes Regional Working Group''
(Working Group) composed of the appropriate regional administrator or
director with programmatic responsibility for the Great Lakes system for
each agency represented on the Task Force including: the Great Lakes
National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency; the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and United States
Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior; the Natural
Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service of the Department of
Agriculture; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the
Department of Commerce; the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
the Department of Transportation; the Coast Guard within the Department of
Homeland Security; and the Army Corps of Engineers within the Department of
the Army. The Working Group will coordinate and make recommendations on how
to implement the policies, strategies, projects, and priorities of the Task
Force.

(c) Management Principles for Regional
Collaboration of National Significance. To further the
policy described in section 1, the Task Force shall
recognize and apply key principles and foster
conditions to ensure successful collaboration. To that
end, the Environmental Protection Agency will
coordinate the development of a set of principles of
successful collaboration.

Sec. 4. Great Lakes National Program Office. The Great
Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall assist the Task Force and the
Working Group in the performance of their functions.
The Great Lakes National Program Manager shall serve as
chair of the Working Group.

Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this
order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect
the functions of the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to budget,
administrative, regulatory, and legislative proposals.
Nothing in this order shall be construed to affect the
statutory authority or obligations of any Federal
agency or any bi-national agreement with Canada.

Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to
improve the internal management of the Federal
Government and is not intended to, and does not, create
any right, benefit, or trust responsibility,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by a party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities,
its officers or employees, or any other person.

(Presidential Sig.)B

THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 18, 2004.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-11592.htm

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