EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office; Request for Nominations of Experts for the SAB Advisory Panel for Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Risks Associated With Establishing an Artificial Reef, 30946-30947 [05-10677]

Download as PDF 30946 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 31, 2005 / Notices ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [R08–OAR–2005–UT–0004; FRL 7918–9] Adequacy Determination for the Salt Lake City Area Carbon Monoxide Maintenance State Implementation Plan for Transportation Conformity Purposes; State of Utah Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of adequacy. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this document, EPA is notifying the public that we have found that the motor vehicle emissions budget for 2019 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan, that was submitted by Utah Governor Olene S. Walker on October 19, 2004, is adequate for transportation conformity purposes. 40 CFR 93.118(e)(2) requires that EPA declare an implenatation plan submission’s motor vehicle emissions budget adequate for conformity purposes prior to the budget being used to satisfy the conformity requirements of 40 CFR 93. As a result of our finding, the Wasatch Front Regional Council of Government, the Utah Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation are required to use the motor vehicle emissions budget from this submitted maintenance plan for future transportation conformity determinations. DATES: This finding is effective June 15, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Kimes, Air & Radiation Program (8P–AR), United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202–2466, (303) 312–6445, kimes.jeffrey@epa.gov. The letter documenting our finding is available at EPA’s conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/transp/conform/ adequacy.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, or ‘‘our’’ are used to mean EPA. This action is simply an announcement of a finding that we have already made. We sent a letter to the Utah Division of Air Quality on May 2, 2005, stating that the motor vehicle emissions budgets in the submitted Salt Lake City, Utah Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan are adequate. This finding has also been announced on our conformity Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/otaq/transp/conform/ adequacy.htm. Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act. Out conformity rule requires that VerDate jul<14>2003 16:14 May 27, 2005 Jkt 205001 transportation plans, programs, and projects conform to SIPs and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they demonstrate conformity. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP’s motor vehicle emission budgets are adequate for conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Please note that an adequacy review is separate from our completeness review, and it also should not be used to prejudge our ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if we find a budget adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved, and vice versa. The process for determining the adequacy of a transportation conformity budget is described at 40 CFR 93.118(f). For the reader’s ease, we have excerpted the motor vehicle emission budget from the Salt Lake City, Utah Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan it is as follows: Motor vehicle emissions budget for the year 2019 is 278.62 tons per day of CO. 40 CFR 93.118(e)(1) requires that previously approved budget for years other than 2019 must still be used in any conformity determination until the maintenance plan is fully approved by EPA. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: May 10, 2005. Robert E. Roberts, Regional Administrator, Region 8. [FR Doc. 05–10770 Filed 5–27–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–M ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–7918–7] EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office; Request for Nominations of Experts for the SAB Advisory Panel for Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Risks Associated With Establishing an Artificial Reef Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is requesting the nomination of experts for a SAB Advisory Panel for PCB risks associated with an artificial reef established from a former United States Navy ship. PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Nominations should be submitted by June 21, 2005, per instructions below. DATES: Any member of the public wishing further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations may contact Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343–9977; by fax at (202) 233–0643; or via e-mail at: shallal.suhair@epa.gov. General information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on the EPA SAB Web site at: https:// www.epa.gov/sab. Technical contact: The U.S. Navy’s draft assessment that is the subject of this advisory activity will be available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 4. For questions and information concerning these materials, please contact Craig Brown at (404) 562–8990 or brown.craig@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The U.S. Navy and the State of Florida are planning to deploy the ex-Oriskany, a World War II era aircraft carrier, as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. In accordance with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and its implementing Federal PCB regulations (40 CFR Part 761), the U.S. Navy has applied for and must obtain a risk-based PCB disposal approval prior to sinking the vessel with non-liquid PCBs onboard. The EPA may approve such an application if it finds the disposal action will not pose an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment. To evaluate the potential transfer of non-liquid PCBs to the marine environment and the subsequent risk that they might pose to human and ecological receptors using the artificial reef, the Navy performed leaching studies of different on-board PCB containing materials followed by fate and transport modeling of the leaching results to evaluate how released chemicals might behave in the near-reef marine environment. The U.S. Navy has also developed a fate and transport model known as the Prospective Risk Assessment Model (PRAM). EPA Region 4 has requested that the SAB conduct a consultation followed by an advisory on the U.S. Navy’s assessment of potential human health and environmental risks from PCBs released from the ex-Oriskany following deployment as an artificial reef. The focus of the SAB consultation and advisory includes the leaching studies, the PRAM, and characterization of potential risks. The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent scientific FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 31, 2005 / Notices and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and regulations. A SAB panel composed of current members will conduct a consultation. The purpose of a consultation is to provide non-consensus, oral advice on the preliminary assessment. Following the consultation, the SAB will conduct an advisory to provide consensus written advice on the U.S. Navy’s revised assessment. The advisory will be conducted by a panel consisting of current SAB members and additional outside experts. These panels will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all appropriate SAB procedural policies. As such, all public meetings will be announced in the Federal Register at least 15 days prior to their scheduled times. Upon completion, the advisory panel’s report will be submitted to the Chartered SAB for final approval prior to transmittal to the EPA Administrator. Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking public nominations of recognized experts to serve on the advisory panel. The nominees should have expertise in one or more of the following areas: PCB chemistry; fate and transport modeling; exposure assessment; and PCB toxicity to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested person or organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas of expertise described above to serve on the SAB Artificial Reef PCB Risk Advisory Panel. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format through the SAB Nomination Form which can be accessed through a link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab/ sab_panel_form.htm. To be considered, all nominations must include the information requested on that form. Anyone who is unable to submit nominations using this form and any questions concerning any aspects of the nomination process may contact the DFO, as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than June 21, 2005. Any questions concerning either this process or any other aspects of this notice should be directed to the DFO. The process for forming a SAB panel is described in the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection Agency, Science Advisory Board (EPA–SAB–EC–COM–02–010), on the SAB Web site at: https:// www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf. VerDate jul<14>2003 16:14 May 27, 2005 Jkt 205001 From the nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register notice (termed the ‘‘Widecast’’), the SAB Staff Office will develop a smaller subset (known as the ‘‘Short List’’) for more detailed consideration. The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web Site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab, and will include, for each candidate, the nominee’s name and biosketch. Public comments on the Short List will be accepted during the comment period, the public will be requested to provide information, analysis or other documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating candidates for the Panel. For the SAB, a balanced panel (i.e., committee, subcommittee, or panel) is characterized by inclusion of 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 expertise and experience to adequately address the charge. Public responses to the Short List candidates will be considered in the selection of the panel, along with information provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB Staff independently on the background of each candidate (e.g., financial disclosure information and computer searches to evaluate a nominee’s prior involvement with the topic under review). Specific criteria to be used in evaluation of an individual Panel member include: (a) Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience (primary factors); (b) absence of financial conflicts of interest; (c) scientific credibility and impartiality; (d) availability and willingness to serve; and (e) ability to work constructively and effectively in committees. Prospective candidates will be required to complete and submit 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: https:// www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform311048.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30947 Dated: May 23, 2005. Vanessa T. Vu, Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office. [FR Doc. 05–10677 Filed 5–27–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–7919–1] Meeting of the Local Government Advisory Committee Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Local Government Advisory Committee and its three subcommittees; the Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS), Water Subcommittee and Indicators Subcommittee will meet on June 8–10, 2005 in Arlington, VA. The Committee will be discussing environmental indicators, potential engagement in the Agency’s regulatory process, and providing assistance to small towns. The SCAS, Water and Indicators Subcommittees will meet in separate sessions on Wednesday, June 8, at EPA Headquarters located at 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Subcommittees sessions will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Ariel Rios North Building in conference rooms 3428, 3528 and 3530. The subcommittees will be discussing drinking water, affordability, small communities partnership program and the Great Lake Regional Collaborations. The Committee will hear comments from the public between 1 p.m.–1:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 9. Each individual or organization wishing to address the LGAC meeting will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule agenda time. Time will be allotted on a first come, first serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended, if the number of requests for appearances require it. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to attend. LGAC meeting minutes and Subcommittee summary notes will be available after the meeting and can be obtained by written request from the DFO. Members of the public are requested to call the DFO at the number listed below if planning to attend so that arrangements can be made to comfortably accommodate attendees as E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30946-30947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10677]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7918-7]


EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office; Request for 
Nominations of Experts for the SAB Advisory Panel for Polychlorinated 
Biphenyl (PCB) Risks Associated With Establishing an Artificial Reef

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is requesting 
the nomination of experts for a SAB Advisory Panel for PCB risks 
associated with an artificial reef established from a former United 
States Navy ship.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by June 21, 2005, per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations 
may contact Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB 
Staff Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9977; by fax at 
(202) 233-0643; or via e-mail at: shallal.suhair@epa.gov. General 
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on 
the EPA SAB Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab.
    Technical contact: The U.S. Navy's draft assessment that is the 
subject of this advisory activity will be available from the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 4. For questions and 
information concerning these materials, please contact Craig Brown at 
(404) 562-8990 or brown.craig@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The U.S. Navy and the State of Florida are planning to 
deploy the ex-Oriskany, a World War II era aircraft carrier, as an 
artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. In accordance with the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) and its implementing Federal PCB 
regulations (40 CFR Part 761), the U.S. Navy has applied for and must 
obtain a risk-based PCB disposal approval prior to sinking the vessel 
with non-liquid PCBs onboard. The EPA may approve such an application 
if it finds the disposal action will not pose an unreasonable risk of 
injury to human health or the environment. To evaluate the potential 
transfer of non-liquid PCBs to the marine environment and the 
subsequent risk that they might pose to human and ecological receptors 
using the artificial reef, the Navy performed leaching studies of 
different on-board PCB containing materials followed by fate and 
transport modeling of the leaching results to evaluate how released 
chemicals might behave in the near-reef marine environment. The U.S. 
Navy has also developed a fate and transport model known as the 
Prospective Risk Assessment Model (PRAM). EPA Region 4 has requested 
that the SAB conduct a consultation followed by an advisory on the U.S. 
Navy's assessment of potential human health and environmental risks 
from PCBs released from the ex-Oriskany following deployment as an 
artificial reef. The focus of the SAB consultation and advisory 
includes the leaching studies, the PRAM, and characterization of 
potential risks.
    The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent 
scientific

[[Page 30947]]

and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to the EPA 
Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and 
regulations. A SAB panel composed of current members will conduct a 
consultation. The purpose of a consultation is to provide non-
consensus, oral advice on the preliminary assessment. Following the 
consultation, the SAB will conduct an advisory to provide consensus 
written advice on the U.S. Navy's revised assessment. The advisory will 
be conducted by a panel consisting of current SAB members and 
additional outside experts. These panels will comply with the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all 
appropriate SAB procedural policies. As such, all public meetings will 
be announced in the Federal Register at least 15 days prior to their 
scheduled times. Upon completion, the advisory panel's report will be 
submitted to the Chartered SAB for final approval prior to transmittal 
to the EPA Administrator.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking public 
nominations of recognized experts to serve on the advisory panel. The 
nominees should have expertise in one or more of the following areas: 
PCB chemistry; fate and transport modeling; exposure assessment; and 
PCB toxicity to human health and aquatic ecosystems.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas 
of expertise described above to serve on the SAB Artificial Reef PCB 
Risk Advisory Panel. Nominations should be submitted in electronic 
format through the SAB Nomination Form which can be accessed through a 
link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site at: https://
www.epa.gov/sab/sab_panel_form.htm. To be considered, all nominations 
must include the information requested on that form.
    Anyone who is unable to submit nominations using this form and any 
questions concerning any aspects of the nomination process may contact 
the DFO, as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should be 
submitted in time to arrive no later than June 21, 2005. Any questions 
concerning either this process or any other aspects of this notice 
should be directed to the DFO. The process for forming a SAB panel is 
described in the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the 
Environmental Protection Agency, Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-
COM-02-010), on the SAB Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/
ec02010.pdf.
    From the nominees identified by respondents to this Federal 
Register notice (termed the ``Widecast''), the SAB Staff Office will 
develop a smaller subset (known as the ``Short List'') for more 
detailed consideration. The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web 
Site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab, and will include, for each candidate, 
the nominee's name and biosketch. Public comments on the Short List 
will be accepted during the comment period, the public will be 
requested to provide information, analysis or other documentation on 
nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating 
candidates for the Panel.
    For the SAB, a balanced panel (i.e., committee, subcommittee, or 
panel) is characterized by inclusion of 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 expertise and experience to 
adequately address the charge. Public responses to the Short List 
candidates will be considered in the selection of the panel, along with 
information provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB 
Staff independently on the background of each candidate (e.g., 
financial disclosure information and computer searches to evaluate a 
nominee's prior involvement with the topic under review). Specific 
criteria to be used in evaluation of an individual Panel member 
include: (a) Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and 
experience (primary factors); (b) absence of financial conflicts of 
interest; (c) scientific credibility and impartiality; (d) availability 
and willingness to serve; and (e) ability to work constructively and 
effectively in committees.
    Prospective candidates will be required to complete and submit 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: https://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-
48.pdf.

    Dated: May 23, 2005.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 05-10677 Filed 5-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.