Status: Call for Nominations is CLOSED
Submission Deadline: October 15, 2024. Terms will begin in 2025.
USDA is seeking applications of qualified individuals for 32 seats on the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council.
Current Openings:
- A maximum of two individuals who represent the USDA.
- A maximum of one individual who represents the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- A maximum of one individual who represents the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
- At least 12 individuals who represent the agriculture industry (at least six of these individuals will be active farmers and ranchers).
- At least four individuals who are private forest landowners or represent the forestry and forest products industry.
- A maximum of four individuals from the relevant scientific research community (at least two of these individuals will represent land-grant colleges and universities, one of whom will represent a college or university eligible to receive funds under the Second Morrill Act, including Tuskegee University).
- A maximum of two individuals with expertise in voluntary environmental credit markets, and the verification requirements in those markets, to serve as Special Government Employees .
- A maximum of three individuals from nongovernmental or civil society organizations, with relevant expertise (at least one of these individuals will represent the interests of the underserved).
- A maximum of three individuals from private sector businesses or organizations that participate in voluntary environmental credit markets.
- Any other individual whom the Secretary of Agriculture determines necessary to ensure that the Council diversly represents industry, academia, independent researchers, and public and private entities.
Member Duties and Time Commitments:
- Serve a two-year term representing a specific membership seat on the Council. (To create a staggered membership, of the members first appointed, eight will serve a one-year term, 12 will serve a two-year term, and 12 will serve a three-year term. Members may not serve more than four additional two-year terms after their initial term.)
- Attend a new member training in Washington, DC at the beginning of the term (one to three days, including travel time).
- Attend an annual virtual ethics training (one hour).
- Review and analyze public comments in advance of the annual Council meeting to prepare for presentations, discussion, and voting (8 to 24 hours per meeting).
- Attend one in-person public Council meeting per year (five to seven days, including one five-hour virtual oral comment webinar, one two-hour administrative meeting, a three-day in-person meeting, and two travel days).
- Travel expenses to attend in-person meetings are covered by USDA. The government pays for lodging, flights, and a daily per diem.
How to Apply
USDA seeks to establish a broadly diverse Council. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals to ensure the Council includes the areas of the subject matter expertise noted above. Individuals may nominate themselves or other individuals, and professional associations and organizations may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership on the Council. Nominations must state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council.
To ensure that the Council’s recommendations consider the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities.
Applications of qualified candidates will also be accepted to fill future unexpected vacancies for any of the Council seats, should that be necessary.
Written applications must include:
- AD–755 application form,
- Resume or curriculum vitae, and
- A cover letter or biographical sketch explaining which group the nominee would represent, how they are qualified to represent that group, and why they want to serve on the Council.
Applications may also include:
- A letter of nomination stating the nominee’s name, affiliation, and contact information, the basis for the nomination (i.e., what specific attributes recommend him/her for service in this capacity), and the nominee’s field(s) of expertise.
Electronic applications are preferred and should be emailed to GCSA@usda.gov. You may also mail your application to: Sasha Strohm, USDA-AMS-Livestock and Poultry Program, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW STOP 0249, Washington, DC 20250-0249, Attn: Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council.
For the Federal seats on the Council, the Secretary of Agriculture will submit a memo to EPA or NIST requesting the agency/department identify a representative to serve on the Council. The corresponding agency should respond with a letter of recommendation.
Additional information