[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52022-52023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21206]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9721-2]
Notification of a Joint Public Teleconference of the Chartered
Science Advisory Board and Board of Scientific Counselors
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a joint public teleconference of the
Chartered SAB and Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) to discuss a
draft report providing advice on implementation of Office of Research
and Development's (ORD's) strategic directions for research.
DATES: The public teleconference will be held on September 19, 2012
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 regarding the quality review teleconference
should contact Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA
Science Advisory Board (1400R), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-2218; fax
(202) 565-2098 or via email at nugent.angela@epa.gov. General
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on
the 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 BOSC was established by
the EPA to provide advice, information, and recommendations regarding
the ORD research program. The SAB and BOSC are Federal Advisory
Committees 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 and BOSC will hold a joint public teleconference to
discuss a draft report providing advice on implementation of ORD's new
strategic directions for research. The SAB and BOSC will comply with
the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural
policies.
Background: ORD has restructured its research programs to better
understand environmental problems and inform sustainable solutions to
meet EPA's strategic goals. The restructured research programs comprise
six program areas: Air, Climate, and Energy; Safe and Sustainable Water
Resources; Sustainable and Healthy Communities; Chemical Safety for
Sustainability; Human Health Risk Assessment; and Homeland Security.
ORD requested that the SAB work jointly with the BOSC to provide
advice on implementation of ORD's strategic research action plans;
efforts to strengthen program integration; and efforts to strengthen
and measure innovation. The SAB and BOSC held a joint public meeting on
July 10-11, 2012, to discuss implementation of ORD's six major research
programs (77 FR 36273-36274). The SAB and BOSC will hold a public
teleconference on September19, 2012, to discuss their draft joint
advisory report. Additional information about SAB and BOSC advice on
implementing ORD strategic research directions can be found on the SAB
Web site at http://
[[Page 52023]]
yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr--activites/
Impl%20ORD%20Strat%20Dir?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 relevant comments pertaining to the
group providing advice, EPA's charge questions and EPA review or
background documents. 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 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 DFO
for the relevant advisory committee directly.
Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting time
to make an oral presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be
limited to three minutes. Those interested in being placed on the
public speakers list for the September 19, 2012 teleconference should
contact Dr. Nugent at the contact information provided above by
September 14, 2012.
Written Statements: Written statements should be supplied to the
DFO via email to nugent.angela@epa.gov by September 14, 2012. Written
statements should be supplied in one of the following acceptable file
formats: Adobe 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 polity to post written comments on the Web page for the
advisory meeting or teleconference.
Accessibility: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent, as
appropriate at the contact information provided above. To request
accommodation of a disability, please contact Dr. Nugent preferably at
least 10 days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as
possible to process your request.
Dated: August 16, 2012.
Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-21206 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 am]
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