The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force has been created in accordance with Section 391 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996, which directs the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, to establish a task force to address agricultural air quality issues.
The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) was established to comply with Congress and consists of leaders in farming, industry, health, and science. In 1996, Congress found that various studies have alleged that agriculture is a source of PM10 emissions and that many of these studies have often been based on erroneous data. Congress also cited ongoing research by the Department of Agriculture and that federal policy, in regard to air pollution, be based on sound scientific findings that are subject to adequate peer review and take into account economic feasibility. The Secretary of Agriculture was charged to ensure that Departmental federal air quality research not report erroneous data.
For more information visit the AAQTF web site at the link: http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov
Source: USDA NRCS. "Task Force Mission". Agricultural Air Quality Task Force. 2013. Accessed on 9 September 2011. Available at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov