The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday announced that it intends to establish an Advisory Council (the Council) for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program (the Program). The Council is authorized by the Growing Climate Solutions Act which directs the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to establish the Council to facilitate participation in voluntary environmental credit markets. The USDA is now seeking nominations for Council membership. This bulletin briefly summarizes key information related to the Council and sets out important dates. Purpose. The Council will support the USDA and the Program to facilitate the participation of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, including beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and veteran farmers, in voluntary environmental credit markets. The Council will also support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Principles for Responsible Participation in Voluntary Carbon Markets (the Principles) (see our earlier bulletin here). Council activities: The Council will submit an initial assessment to Congress about the Program and will consult with the Secretary regarding subsequent periodic assessments. Key activities of the Council include: Periodically reviewing and recommending changes to: the list of protocols recognized for generating environmental credits; required qualifications for entities providing technical assistance; and activities for which technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers may register to provide services under the Program that prevent, reduce, or mitigate GHGs. Advising the Secretary on: current methods for quantifying and verifying greenhouse gas emissions prevention, reduction, or mitigation in voluntary environmental credit markets; ways to reduce barriers to entry and transaction costs in these markets; and strengthening markets to align with the Principles. Council membership details. Members will serve two-year terms, with the initial slate serving staggered terms of one to three years, and may serve up to four additional two-year terms. The Secretary will appoint members to the Council as follows:…