National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee; Notice of Solicitation for Membership

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of solicitation for membership.

SUMMARY:

The Secretary of Agriculture has renewed the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee for a 2-year period. Through this notice, the Secretary is soliciting nominations for membership on this Committee.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to nominations received on or before June 24, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be addressed to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Joanne Garrett, Director, Operational Support Staff, WS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7921.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (the Committee) advises the Secretary of Agriculture on policies, program issues, and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services program. The committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the Wildlife Services program to have a voice in the program's policies. The Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be elected by the Committee from among its members.

Terms will expire for the current members of the Committee in July 2005. We are soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals to replace members on the Committee. An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership. The Secretary will select members to obtain the broadest possible representation on the Committee, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regulation 1041-1. Equal opportunity practices, in line with the USDA policies, will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership should include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.