[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70445-70446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29299]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9491-5]
Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Chartered Science
Advisory Board
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a
public teleconference of the Chartered SAB on December 6, 2011 to
receive an update on EPA strategic research directions and to conduct
quality reviews of two draft SAB reports, a draft Review of Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative Action Plan and draft SAB Recommendations for
EPA's FY2011 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA).
DATES: The public teleconference will be held on December 6, 2011 from
12 p.m. to 3 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 to
obtain general information concerning the public teleconference may
contact Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Dr. Nugent
may be contacted at the EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; or by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-2218; fax
at (202) 565-2098; or email at nugent.angela@epa.gov. General
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on
the EPA 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 EPA 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 the SAB will hold a public
teleconference to receive an update on EPA strategic research
directions and to conduct quality reviews of two draft SAB reports, a
draft SAB Recommendations for EPA's FY2011 Scientific and Technological
Achievement Awards (STAA) and a draft Review of Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative Action Plan. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
Background
(1) Update on Office of Research and Development (ORD) Strategic
Research Directions
At ORD's request, the SAB provided joint advice with ORD's Board of
Scientific Counselors on strategic research directions through an
October 2011 report, Office of Research and Development (ORD) New
Strategic Research Directions: A Joint Report of the Science Advisory
Board (SAB) and ORD Board of Scientific Councilors (BOSC) (EPA-SAB-12-
001). The ORD Deputy Associate Administrator for Science will provide
an update on ORD activities in this area and discuss ORD's request for
additional SAB advice.
(2) EPA's Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA)
At ORD's request, the Science Advisory Board makes recommendations
to the Administrator concerning nominations for the Agency's FY 2011
Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards. These awards are
established to honor and recognize EPA employees who have made
outstanding contributions in the advancement of science and technology
through their research and development activities, as exhibited in
publication of their results in peer-reviewed journals.
An SAB committee reviewed the nominations and prepared a draft
report making recommendations for the Administrator's consideration for
FY 2011 recognition and awards. Background information about this
advisory activity can be found on the SAB Web site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/2011%20STAA?OpenDocument.
(3) Review of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan
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 is designed to target the most
significant environmental problems in the region. 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 EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager requested the SAB to
review the GLRI Action Plan to assess the appropriateness of its
measures and actions to achieve its stated priorities and goals.
An SAB panel reviewed the EPA's action plan and prepared a draft
report that will undergo quality review by the chartered SAB.
Background information about this advisory activity can be found on the
SAB Web site at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Review%20of%20GLRI%20Action%20Plan?OpenDocument.
Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and other materials
in support of the teleconference will be placed on the SAB Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the teleconference.
Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for
consideration by EPA's federal advisory committees and 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 provides specific scientific or technical
information or analysis for the SAB to consider or if it relates to the
clarity or accuracy of the technical information. Members of the public
wishing to provide comment should contact the Designated Federal
Officer directly. Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups
requesting an oral presentation at a teleconference will be limited to
three minutes. Those interested in being placed on the public speakers
list for the December 6, 2011 teleconference should contact Dr. Nugent
at the contact information provided above no later than December 1,
2011. Written Statements: Written statements should be supplied to the
DFO via email at the contact information noted above by December 1,
2011 for the teleconference so that the information may be made
available to the Panel members for their consideration. Written
statements should be supplied in one of the following electronic
formats: Adobe
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Acrobat PDF, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/
Windows 98/2000/XP format. It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to
post written comments on the Web page for the advisory meeting or
teleconference. Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version
of each document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish
documents with signatures on its Web sites. Members of the public
should be aware that their personal contact information, if included in
any written comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site.
Copyrighted material will not be posted without explicit permission
of the copyright holder.
Accessibility: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent (202) 564-2218
or nugent.angela@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability,
please contact Dr. Nugent preferably at least ten days prior to the
teleconference to give EPA as much time as possible to process your
request.
Dated: November 3, 2011.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-29299 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
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