The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently soliciting nominations for its independent agricultural advisory group, the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC).

“The FRRCC provides an excellent forum for EPA to engage with a diverse range of agricultural stakeholders to deal with complex environmental issues that are important to agriculture,” said Lawrence Elworth, agricultural counselor to the EPA administrator. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the committee on agriculture and environmental issues.”

A Federal Register notice published on February 13, 2012, solicited nominations for new members on the committee. The committee’s charter was renewed and filed with Congress on February 17, 2012, and will be effective for two more years.

EPA established the FRRCC in 2008 to provide advice, information, and recommendations to the administrator on a broad range of environmental issues of importance to agriculture and rural communities.

The committee meets twice yearly, and consists of approximately 25 members representing academia, industry (e.g., farm groups and allied industries), non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments.

More information about the FRRCC: http://epa.gov/ofacmo/frrcc/index.html