Notice of Availability of Recommendations From the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Regarding Agricultural Burning and Voluntary Measures; Solicitation of Comments

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The purpose of this notice is to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) recommendations regarding an air quality policy on agricultural burning and on a voluntary (incentive based) control measures policy to address RACM/BACM requirements for particulate matter (PM) nonattainment areas. Section 391 of the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (FAIR) directs the Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a task force to address agricultural air quality issues. The AAQTF includes representation from agricultural producers, air quality researchers, agricultural industry representatives, medical researchers and State air quality and USDA staff. On November 10, 1999, the AAQTF forwarded a series of recommendations to the USDA in response to implementing provisions of the Clean Air Act and the concerns of agricultural producers to retain the valid use of fire as a management tool in support of agricultural production. In February 2000, Secretary Glickman forwarded these recommendations to EPA Administrator Browner as written for con