[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51364-51365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21100]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9452-7]
Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Science Advisory
Board Panel for the Review of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Action Plan
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of
the SAB Panel to discuss its draft advisory report on the interagency
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan FY 2010-2014.
DATES: The teleconference will be held on September 16, 2011 from 1
p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).
ADDRESSES: The public teleconference will be conducted by telephone
only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding this teleconference meeting may contact
Mr. Thomas Carpenter, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff
Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4885; by fax at (202) 565-
2098 or via e-mail [email protected]. General information
concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found at the EPA SAB
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SAB was established pursuant to the
Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization
Act (ERDAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent
scientific and technical advice to the Administrator on the technical
basis for Agency positions and regulations. The SAB is a Federal
Advisory Committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, notice is
hereby given that an ad hoc SAB Panel will hold a public teleconference
to discuss its draft advisory report on the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative Action Plan. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
Background: EPA is leading an interagency Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative (GLRI) to protect and restore the chemical, biological, and
physical integrity of the Great Lakes. The GLRI Action Plan is designed
to target the most significant environmental problems in the region, as
documented in extensive scientific studies, conferences and workshops.
To guide the efforts of the GLRI, EPA and its Federal partners, through
the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, developed a comprehensive
multi-year Action Plan. The GLRI Action Plan identifies outcome-
oriented performance goals, objectives, measurable ecological targets,
and specific actions for five major focus areas: toxic substances and
areas of concern; invasive species; near-shore health and nonpoint
source pollution; habitat and wildlife protection and restoration; and
accountability, education, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and
partnerships. EPA is seeking SAB review and comment regarding the Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative's Action Plan. Additional information
describing the scientific background and basis for the Action Plan can
be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Review%20of%20GLRI%20Action%20Plan?OpenDocument.
The panel held a public meeting on July 12 and 13, 2011 (76 FR 115,
34977-34978 and 76 FR 131 40355) to discuss their comments on the
Action Plan. The purpose of the September 16, 2011 teleconference is
for the Panel to discuss their draft advisory report.
Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and the draft
Advisory Report on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan
will be available on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab in
advance of the meeting.
Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for
consideration by EPA's federal advisory committees and
[[Page 51365]]
panels has a different purpose from public comment provided to EPA
program offices. Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a
federal advisory committee is different from the process used to submit
comments to an EPA program office. Federal advisory committees and
panels, including scientific advisory committees, provide independent
advice to EPA. Members of the public can submit comments for a Federal
advisory committee to consider as it develops advice for EPA. Input
from the public to the SAB will have the most impact if it consists of
comments that provide specific scientific or technical information or
analysis for SAB panels to consider or if it relates to the clarity or
accuracy of the technical information included. Members of the public
wishing to provide comment should contact the Designated Federal
Officer for the relevant advisory committee directly.
Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an
oral presentation at this public teleconference will be limited to
three minutes per speaker. Interested parties should contact Mr. Thomas
Carpenter, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-mail), at the contact
information noted above, by September 12, 2011 to be placed on the list
of public speakers for the meeting.
Written Statements: Written statements should be received in the
SAB Staff Office by September 12, 2011 so that the information may be
made available to the SAB Oil Spill Research Review Panel for their
consideration. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO in the
following formats: one hard copy with original signature and one
electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF,
WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/
Windows 98/2000/XP format). Submitters are requested to provide two
versions of each document submitted: One each with and without
signatures, because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents
with signatures on its Web sites. It is the SAB Staff Office general
policy to post written comments on the Web page for the advisory
meeting or teleconference. Members of the public should be aware that
their contact information, if included in any written comments, will
appear on the web. Furthermore, special care should be taken not to
include copy-righted material.
Accessibility: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter at
the phone number or e-mail address noted above, preferably at least ten
days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
Dated: August 10, 2011.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-21100 Filed 8-17-11; 8:45 am]
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