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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

President's Commission on Improving Economic Opportunity in 

Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While Protecting Public 

Health

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

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SUMMARY: Executive Order No. 13168 published September 22, 2000, 

established the President's Commission on Improving Economic 

Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While 

Protecting Public Health (Commission). This notice announces that the 

Commission will conduct a public meeting on May 4, 2001. The purpose of 

the meeting will be to finalize recommendations from tobacco, economic 

development, and health working groups in preparation of the 

Commission's Final Report.

DATES: The Commission will meet on May 4, 2001, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 

p.m. at 2101 L Street, NW, Room 303A, Washington, DC. If special 

accommodations are required, please contact Doug Richardson, at the 

address specified below, by COB April 30, 2001. All times are Eastern 

Daylight Savings Time. All meetings are open to the public; however, 

seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Richardson, Executive Director, 

Tobacco Commission, United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA), 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0574, Washington, D.C., 20250-0574 

or telephone (202) 418-4266 or toll free (866) 804-6698; FAX (202) 418-

4270; Internet: tobcom@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to advise 

the President on changes occurring in the tobacco farming economy and 

recommend such measures as may be necessary to improve economic 

opportunity and development in communities that are dependent on 

tobacco production, while protecting consumers, particularly children, 

from hazards associated with smoking. The Commission collected and 

reviewed information about changes in the tobacco farming economy and 

Federal, State, and local initiatives intended to help tobacco growers, 

tobacco quota holders, and communities dependent on tobacco production 

pursue new economic opportunities. The Commission issued its 

Preliminary Report on January 26, 2001, with comments requested through 

March 8, 2001. Copies of the Preliminary Report are available on the 

Commission's website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom/ or by 

contacting the Commission's office at the contact information listed 

above. All comments received through March 8, 2001, and up to the 

meeting on March 20, 2001, with respect to the Preliminary Report were 

reviewed by the Commission in its public meetings conducted on February 

21, 2001, and March 20, 2001.

    The Commission, in its March 20, 2001, meeting, also reviewed 

revised recommendations from two working groups representing the farm 

and economic development areas of the Commission. The health working 

group indicated that they had no new issues ready for discussion in the 

March 20, 2001, meeting. After this review, the Commission directed 

that each working group further revise their recommendations based on 

input received from the meeting and other recommendations to the 

Commission and prepare their final working group recommendations.

    The purpose of the May 4, 2001, meeting is to review the final 

recommendations from the tobacco, economic development and health 

working groups in order to prepare the Final Report to the President.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on April 19, 2001.

James R. Little,

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.

[FR Doc. 01-10079 Filed 4-19-01; 1:14 p.m.]

BILLING CODE 3410-05-P