[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32607-32608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16131]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8928-2]
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office Request for Nominations
of Experts To Augment the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The SAB Staff Office is requesting the nomination of experts
to augment the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) to
review an EPA white paper on deriving estimates for the value of
mortality risk reduction for use in cost-benefit analysis of EPA rules
and regulations.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by July 29, 2009, per
instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact
Dr. Holly Stallworth, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff
Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9867; by fax at (202) 233-
0643; or via e-mail at [email protected]. General information
concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on the EPA SAB
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
historically has used a value of statistical life (VSL) to express the
benefits of mortality risk reductions in monetary terms for use in
benefit cost analyses of its rules and regulations. EPA has used a
central default value (adjusted for inflation) in its primary analyses
since 1999. Since then, EPA's National Center for Environmental
Economics (NCEE) has sought advice from the SAB Environmental Economics
Advisory Committee (SAB-EEAC) on various approaches to deriving VSL,
including the use of meta analysis and appropriate methodologies for
valuing life extensions of different lengths. EPA is now preparing a
white paper which proposes a revision of the VSL based on recent
literature as well as historical advice from the EEAC. NCEE has
requested an SAB peer review of the white paper, which will include a
description of the approach used for deriving estimates for mortality
risk valuation, a list of selection criteria detailing how the Agency
selected studies for inclusion in the analysis, and the VSL that
results from the revised approach. Background information on the use of
VSL in EPA analyses may be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/webpages/Mortality%20Risk%20Valuation.html.
The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent
scientific and technical advice, consultation and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and
regulations. In response to NCEE's request, the SAB Staff Office will
augment the SAB Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) with
additional experts to review EPA's draft paper on VSL. The current
membership of the EEAC may be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/WebCommitteesSubcommittees/Environmental%20Economics%20Advisory%20Committee. The augmented EEAC
will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) and all appropriate EPA and SAB procedural policies. Upon
completion, the panel's report will be submitted to the chartered SAB
for final approval for transmittal to the EPA Administrator.
Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting
nominations of nationally recognized experts with expertise in the
valuation of mortality risk reduction, including the use of stated
preference and revealed preference (i.e., hedonic wage) methods for
estimating the value of mortality risk reductions. In addition, we also
seek nominations of nationally recognized individuals with expertise in
meta-analytic techniques.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible
service on the augmented EEAC in the areas of expertise described
above. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format (which is
preferred over hard copy) following the instructions for ``Nominating
Experts to Advisory Panels and Ad Hoc Committees Being Formed''
provided on the SAB Web site. The form can be accessed through the
``Nomination of Experts'' link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB
Web
[[Page 32608]]
site at http://www.epa.gov/sab. To receive full consideration,
nominations should include all of the information requested.
EPA's SAB Staff Office requests contact information about the
person making the nomination; contact information about the nominee;
the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the
nominee's curriculum vitae; sources of recent grant and/or contract
support; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current
position, educational background, research activities, and recent
service on other national advisory committees or national professional
organizations.
Persons having questions about the nomination procedures, or who
are unable to submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should
contact Dr. Holly Stallworth, DFO, as indicated above in this notice.
Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than July
29, 2009.
The EPA SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.
The names and biosketches of qualified nominees identified by
respondents to the Federal Register notice and additional experts
identified by the SAB Staff will be posted on the EPA SAB Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/sab. Public comments on this ``Short List'' of
candidates will be accepted for 21 calendar days. The public will be
requested to provide relevant information or other documentation on
nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating
candidates.
For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced subcommittee or review
panel includes candidates who possess the necessary domains of
knowledge, the relevant scientific perspectives (which, among other
factors, can be influenced by work history and affiliation), and the
collective breadth of experience to adequately address the charge. In
establishing the augmented EEAC, the SAB Staff Office will consider
public comments on the ``Short List'' of candidates, information
provided by the candidates themselves, and background information
independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. Selection criteria to
be used for Panel membership include: (a) Scientific and/or technical
expertise, knowledge, and experience (primary factors); (b)
availability and willingness to serve; (c) absence of financial
conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an appearance of a lack of
impartiality; and (e) skills working in committees, subcommittees and
advisory panels; and, for the Panel as a whole, (f) diversity of, and
balance among, scientific expertise, viewpoints, etc.
The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial
conflicts of interest will include a review of the ``Confidential
Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on
Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential form allows Government
officials to determine whether there is a statutory conflict between
that person's public responsibilities (which includes membership on an
EPA Federal advisory committee) and private interests and activities,
or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, as defined by Federal
regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded from the following
URL address: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-48.pdf.
The approved policy under which the EPA SAB Office selects
subcommittees and review panels is described in the following document:
Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection
Agency Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), which is posted on
the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf.
Dated: July 1, 2009.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E9-16131 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
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