[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 11111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4325]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9637-5]
Assessment of Potential Large-Scale Mining on the Bristol Bay
Watershed of Alaska: Nomination of Peer Reviewers
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Call for nominations.
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SUMMARY: EPA anticipates releasing a draft report for public comment
and external peer review describing impacts associated with potential
large-scale mining development in the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds
of Bristol Bay, Alaska. An external, independent panel of experts will
be formed to review and provide comments on EPA's draft report. EPA
invites the public to nominate qualified experts to be considered for
this external peer review panel.
DATES: Nominations will be accepted starting February 24, 2012 and the
nomination period will close on March 9, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Nominations of potential members of the Bristol Bay
Assessment peer review panel are being accepted and evaluated by an
independent EPA contractor. Nominations are being accepted online
through an Internet Web site only. Those interested in submitting
nominations should complete the online form found at http://www.versar.com/epa/bristolbaynominationform.html. Questions concerning
the online form should be directed to the EPA contractor, Versar, Inc.,
at 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151; by email
bcolon@versar.com (subject line: Bristol Bay Assessment Nomination
Form); or by phone: (703) 642-6727 (ask for Betzy Colon, the Peer
Review Coordinator).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning
the Bristol Bay Assessment peer review panel nominations, contact Dr.
Kate Schofield, Office of Research and Development, The National Center
for Environmental Assessment. Telephone: 703-347-8533; or email:
schofield.kate@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed provides
habitat for one of the largest wild salmon populations in the world. In
February 2011, EPA began a scientific assessment of the Bristol Bay
watershed to understand how large-scale mining activities might affect
water quality and habitat. EPA will focus primarily on the Kvichak and
Nushagak River drainages, the primary areas in the watershed open to
large-scale development.
This assessment was launched in response to concerns from federally
recognized tribes and others, who petitioned the agency to evaluate
potential impacts of large-scale mining on aquatic resources. The
assessment will evaluate the potential for large-scale mining
development to have adverse effects on salmon and resident fish
populations of the Kvichak and Nushagak River drainages, and if these
effects are likely to affect wildlife and human populations in the
region. Additional information describing the assessment, progress to
date, and status can be found at: www.epa.gov/region10/bristolbay.
Expertise Sought: EPA is seeking nominations of experts to serve on
the external peer review panel for the Bristol Bay Assessment. Nominees
should possess, and demonstrate, background knowledge and experience in
one or more of the following areas: (1) Metals (particularly porphyry
copper) mining, (2) salmon fisheries biology, (3) surface, subsurface,
or watershed hydrology, (4) aquatic ecology, (5) biogeochemistry, (6)
seismology, (7) ecotoxicology, (8) wildlife ecology, and/or (9)
indigenous Alaskan cultures.
Selection Criteria: Selection criteria for members of the external
review panel include the following: (1) Demonstrated expertise through
relevant peer reviewed publications; (2) professional accomplishments,
and recognition by professional societies; (3) demonstrated ability to
work constructively and effectively in a committee setting; (4) absence
of financial conflicts of interest; (5) no actual conflicts of interest
or the appearance of impartiality; (6) willingness to commit adequate
time for the thorough review of the assessment report commencing in
late April 2012; and (7) availability to participate in-person in a
peer review panel meeting in Anchorage, Alaska during August 2012.
Nominee Information: Any interested person or organization may
nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to the peer
review panel. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Nominations
should be submitted online using the following URL: http://www.versar.com/epa/bristolbaynominationform.html. The following
information should be provided on the nomination form: contact
information for the person making the nomination; contact information
for the nominee; the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of
the nominee; the nominee's curriculum vita; and a biographical sketch
of the nominee indicating current position, educational background,
past and current research activities, and recent service on other
advisory committees or professional organizations. Persons having
questions about the nomination procedures should contact the designated
contact above.
Notification of nominees: EPA's contractor, Versar, Inc., will
notify candidates of selection or non-selection. The Contractor may add
additional experts to the list of nominees to develop a balanced panel
representing the expertise needed to fully evaluate EPA's draft
assessment report. After the peer review panel has been finalized, a
list of panel members will be posted on the project Web site at
www.epa.gov/region10/bristolbay. Compensation of non-federal peer
review panel members will be provided by EPA's contractor.
Authority: Clean Water Act Section 404.
Dated: February 17, 2012.
Darrell A. Winner,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2012-4325 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]
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