Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC)

The next FRRCC public meeting will be held on January 17 and 18, 2023. 

EPA established the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC) in 2007 to provide independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. Committee members include representatives from academia, industry (e.g., agriculture and allied industries), non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments.

Overview of the FRRCC

Mission

The FRRCC is a policy-oriented committee that provides policy advice, information, and recommendations to the Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. The FRRCC addresses specific topics of relevance to agriculture as identified by the Agriculture Advisor to the Administrator, and reports its policy advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator through the Agriculture Advisor.

Meetings

The FRRCC generally meets twice a year. Meetings may occur approximately once every six months or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Meetings are generally held in Washington, DC.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the FRRCC holds open meetings unless the Administrator determines that a meeting or a portion of a meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with subsection c of section 552b of title 5, United States Code. Interested persons may attend meetings, appear before the committee as time permits, and file comments with the FRRCC.

Structure

The FRRCC is comprised of a Chair and Vice Chair, the FRRCC Designated Federal Officer (DFO), and committee members as identified by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator. Committee members currently serve two or three year terms. 

Value

EPA recognizes that a vast array of environmental and agricultural policy perspectives exist outside the Agency in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.  EPA has a strong commitment to an open and constructive working relationship with the agriculture community, and the FRRCC provides a great opportunity for EPA to create a better understanding of the intersection of the environment, agriculture, and rural communities.

Key FFRRC Charter Documents

• Committee Charter Documents 
• Committee By-Laws

FRRCC Charges

The FRRCC's charge topics are issued by the EPA Administrator.  

• Current FRRCC charges were issued in March 2022.
• In 2021, the committee completed recommendations on charge topics from 2020.

FRRCC Contact