Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming SAB Meeting To Review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System Screening Tool (GISST), 55620-55621 [05-18954]

Download as PDF 55620 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 183 / Thursday, September 22, 2005 / Notices continuing basis to the Director, Office of Science of the Department of Energy, on the many complex scientific and technical issues that arise in the development and implementation of the Biological and Environmental Research Program. Tentative Agenda: • Discussion of BERAC subcommittee report on the review of the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. See complete BERAC Charge dated November 18, 2004. • Discussion of BERAC subcommittee report on the value of the Genomics: GTL Facility for the Production of Proteins and Molecular Tags. See complete BERAC Charge dated August 15, 2005. • Discussion of BERAC subcommittee report on the advantages and disadvantages of establishing more than one program in a particular technology at one of the Department’s light sources and in particular the potential rationale for supporting the further development of the X4A and X4C beam lines at the National Synchrotron Light Source. See complete BERAC Charge dated January 14, 2005. • New business • Public Comment Copies of the Charge letters may be found at https://www.sc.doe.gov/ober/ berac/charges.html. All BERAC reports, once approved, are posted on the BERAC Web site at https:// www.science.doe.gov/ober/berac/ Reports.html. Public Participation: The teleconference meeting is open to the public. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any of the items on the agenda, you should contact David Thomassen at the address or telephone number listed above. You must make your request for an oral statement at least five business days before the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda. The Chairperson of the Committee will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Public comment will follow the 10-minute rule. Minutes: The minutes of this meeting will be available for public review and copying within 30 days at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, IE–190, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:53 Sep 21, 2005 Jkt 205001 Issued in Washington, DC on September 16, 2005. Rachel M. Samuel, Deputy Advisory Committee, Management Officer. [FR Doc. 05–18942 Filed 9–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–7973–6] Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming SAB Meeting To Review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System Screening Tool (GISST) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a public meeting of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System Screening Tool (GISST). DATES: December 7–8, 2005. The SAB meeting will convene Wednesday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m., adjourning at approximately 4 p.m. (central time) Thursday, December 8. ADDRESSES: The public meeting of the Panel will be held at the U.S. EPA Region 6 Headquarters Office, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas TX 75202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing further information regarding the public meeting may contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/voice mail at (202) 343–9995; via e-mail at armitage.thomas@epa.gov; or at the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB can be found in the SAB Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/sab. For technical inquiries concerning the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System Screening Tool, please contact Dr. Sharon Osowski by telephone/voice mail at 214–665–7506; via e-mail at osowski.sharon@epa.gov; or by mail at U.S. EPA Region 6 (mail code 6EN–XP), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75272–2733. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background EPA Region 6 has requested that the SAB conduct a review of the Geographic Information System Screening Tool PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (GISST). The GISST is an environmental assessment tool developed to provide a systematic approach to considering single media and cumulative impacts in making decisions concerning complex projects, such as those subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The GISST uses geographic information system coverages and environmental and socioeconomic data to provide screening level assessments of the potential environmental vulnerabilities of project locations or the impacts of specified activities. Decision criteria are used in the GISST to score available data on a scale of one to five, where one equals lower potential environmental vulnerability or concern and five equals a higher level of vulnerability or concern. Scores are used by decision-makers to help prioritize potential project locations and alternatives and to help identify levels of environmental concern. EPA Region 6 is seeking comment from the SAB on the validity of the GISST methodology, the defensibility of the GISST results, and the usefulness of the GISST, particularly within the NEPA process. EPA Region 6 is also interested in making the GISST more user-friendly, and is seeking comments on further enhancements to the GISST. Panel Formation The Science Advisory Board is a chartered Federal advisory committee established under 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent scientific and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and regulations. The SAB Staff Office is augmenting the expertise on the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to conduct the review of the GISST. The panel being formed will provide advice to the EPA through the Chartered SAB. The Panel will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and all appropriate SAB procedural policies, including the SAB process for panel formation described in the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, which can be found on the SAB’s Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec0210.pdf. The SAB Staff Office has previously formed panels that provided advice on EPA’s Critical Ecosystem Assessment Model (CrEAM) and Regional Vulnerability Assessment (ReVA) methods for multi-scale decisionmaking. The expertise needed on the GISST Review Panel is similar to the expertise that was required for review of the CrEAM and the ReVA methods. E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 183 / Thursday, September 22, 2005 / Notices Therefore, the SAB Staff Office will select a set of nominees for consideration to serve on the GISST Review Panel (known as the ‘‘Short List’’) from the rosters of SAB panels that reviewed the CrEAM and ReVA methods, and from previously published Short Lists of candidates for those panels. The rosters of the SAB Critical Ecosystem Assessment Model Review Panel and the SAB Regional Vulnerability Assessment Advisory Panel, as well as the Short Lists of candidates for these panels, are available on the SAB Web site https:// www.epa.gov/sab. 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 for 14 calendar days. During this comment period, the public will be requested to provide information, analysis or other documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff should consider in evaluating candidates for the Panel. For the SAB, a balanced review 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 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 of 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 subcommittee 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 panelists will also be required to fill-out 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:53 Sep 21, 2005 Jkt 205001 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. Availability of Meeting Materials Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, notice is hereby given that the Panel will hold a public meeting to conduct this review. The dates and times for the meeting are provided above. A roster of panel members, their biosketches, the meeting agenda, and the charge to the SAB panel will be posted on the SAB Web site prior to the meeting. Meeting materials also include the EPA Region 6 GIS Screening Tool (GISST) User’s Manual available at the following URL address: https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/ 6en/xp/enxp2a3.htm. Procedures for Providing Public Comments The SAB Staff Office accepts written public comments, and will accommodate oral public comments when possible. Written Comments: Written comments are preferred and should be submitted by e-mail to Dr. Thomas Armitage at armitage.thomas@epa.gov in Adobe Acrobat, WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files in IBM–PC/Windows 98/ 2000/XP format) by November 30, 2005. Those without access to e-mail may submit one signed hard copy of the comments to Dr. Armitage by mail or courier. Commenters planning to attend the meeting in person are asked to bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution. Oral Comments: Requests to provide oral comments must be in writing (e-mail or fax) and received by Dr. Armitage no later than November 30, 2005 to reserve time on the meeting agenda. Presentation time for oral comment will typically be about five minutes per speaker, but may be reduced depending on time availability and the number of requests. Meeting Accommodations Individuals requiring special accommodation to access the public meetings listed above should contact the DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55621 Dated: September 16, 2005. Anthony F. Maciorowski, Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office. [FR Doc. 05–18954 Filed 9–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK Sunshine Act Meeting Notice of an open meeting of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will held at Ex-Im Bank in Room 1143, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571. OPEN AGENDA ITEM: PEFCO Secured Note Issues (Resolution). PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The portion of the meeting, which relates to the above item, will be open to public participation. Attendees that are not employees of the Executive Branch will be required to sign in prior to the meeting. FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information, contact: Office of the Secretary, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571 (Telephone No. (202) 565–3957). TIME AND PLACE: Howard A. Schweitzer, General Counsel (Acting). [FR Doc. 05–19076 Filed 9–20–05; 2:53 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–M FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION Privacy Act of 1974; Altering a System of Records Farm Credit Administration. Notice of altering a system of records maintained on individuals; request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), notice is hereby given that the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) is publishing an amended system notice pertaining to personnel security files. The system notice provides information on the existence and character of the system of records. This amended system notice reflects minor changes in the Agency’s organization and filing, and clearly identifies the record sources for this system of records. DATES: Written comments should be received by October 24, 2005. This notice will become effective without further publication on November 7, E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55620-55621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18954]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7973-6]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming SAB 
Meeting To Review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System 
Screening Tool (GISST)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is 
announcing a public meeting of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects 
Committee to review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System 
Screening Tool (GISST).

DATES: December 7-8, 2005. The SAB meeting will convene Wednesday, 
December 7 at 8:30 a.m., adjourning at approximately 4 p.m. (central 
time) Thursday, December 8.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting of the Panel will be held at the U.S. EPA 
Region 6 Headquarters Office, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas TX 75202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding the public meeting may contact Dr. Thomas 
Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/voice mail at 
(202) 343-9995; via e-mail at armitage.thomas@epa.gov; or at the U.S. 
EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB can be found in 
the SAB Web site at https://www.epa.gov/sab.
    For technical inquiries concerning the EPA Region 6 Geographic 
Information System Screening Tool, please contact Dr. Sharon Osowski by 
telephone/voice mail at 214-665-7506; via e-mail at 
osowski.sharon@epa.gov; or by mail at U.S. EPA Region 6 (mail code 6EN-
XP), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75272-2733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    EPA Region 6 has requested that the SAB conduct a review of the 
Geographic Information System Screening Tool (GISST). The GISST is an 
environmental assessment tool developed to provide a systematic 
approach to considering single media and cumulative impacts in making 
decisions concerning complex projects, such as those subject to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The GISST uses geographic 
information system coverages and environmental and socioeconomic data 
to provide screening level assessments of the potential environmental 
vulnerabilities of project locations or the impacts of specified 
activities. Decision criteria are used in the GISST to score available 
data on a scale of one to five, where one equals lower potential 
environmental vulnerability or concern and five equals a higher level 
of vulnerability or concern. Scores are used by decision-makers to help 
prioritize potential project locations and alternatives and to help 
identify levels of environmental concern. EPA Region 6 is seeking 
comment from the SAB on the validity of the GISST methodology, the 
defensibility of the GISST results, and the usefulness of the GISST, 
particularly within the NEPA process. EPA Region 6 is also interested 
in making the GISST more user-friendly, and is seeking comments on 
further enhancements to the GISST.

Panel Formation

    The Science Advisory Board is a chartered Federal advisory 
committee established under 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent 
scientific and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to 
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and 
regulations. The SAB Staff Office is augmenting the expertise on the 
SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to conduct the review of 
the GISST. The panel being formed will provide advice to the EPA 
through the Chartered SAB. The Panel will comply with the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act and all appropriate SAB procedural 
policies, including the SAB process for panel formation described in 
the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental 
Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, which can be found on the 
SAB's Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec0210.pdf. The SAB Staff 
Office has previously formed panels that provided advice on EPA's 
Critical Ecosystem Assessment Model (CrEAM) and Regional Vulnerability 
Assessment (ReVA) methods for multi-scale decision-making. The 
expertise needed on the GISST Review Panel is similar to the expertise 
that was required for review of the CrEAM and the ReVA methods.

[[Page 55621]]

Therefore, the SAB Staff Office will select a set of nominees for 
consideration to serve on the GISST Review Panel (known as the ``Short 
List'') from the rosters of SAB panels that reviewed the CrEAM and ReVA 
methods, and from previously published Short Lists of candidates for 
those panels. The rosters of the SAB Critical Ecosystem Assessment 
Model Review Panel and the SAB Regional Vulnerability Assessment 
Advisory Panel, as well as the Short Lists of candidates for these 
panels, are available on the SAB Web site https://www.epa.gov/sab. 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 for 14 
calendar days. During this comment period, the public will be requested 
to provide information, analysis or other documentation on nominees 
that the SAB Staff should consider in evaluating candidates for the 
Panel.
    For the SAB, a balanced review 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 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 of 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 subcommittee 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 panelists will also be required to fill-out 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.

Availability of Meeting Materials

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given that the Panel will hold a public meeting to 
conduct this review. The dates and times for the meeting are provided 
above. A roster of panel members, their biosketches, the meeting 
agenda, and the charge to the SAB panel will be posted on the SAB Web 
site prior to the meeting. Meeting materials also include the EPA 
Region 6 GIS Screening Tool (GISST) User's Manual available at the 
following URL address: https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6en/xp/enxp2a3.htm.

Procedures for Providing Public Comments

    The SAB Staff Office accepts written public comments, and will 
accommodate oral public comments when possible. Written Comments: 
Written comments are preferred and should be submitted by e-mail to Dr. 
Thomas Armitage at armitage.thomas@epa.gov in Adobe Acrobat, 
WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP 
format) by November 30, 2005. Those without access to e-mail may submit 
one signed hard copy of the comments to Dr. Armitage by mail or 
courier. Commenters planning to attend the meeting in person are asked 
to bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution. Oral 
Comments: Requests to provide oral comments must be in writing (e-mail 
or fax) and received by Dr. Armitage no later than November 30, 2005 to 
reserve time on the meeting agenda. Presentation time for oral comment 
will typically be about five minutes per speaker, but may be reduced 
depending on time availability and the number of requests.

Meeting Accommodations

    Individuals requiring special accommodation to access the public 
meetings listed above should contact the DFO at least five business 
days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: September 16, 2005.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff 
Office.
[FR Doc. 05-18954 Filed 9-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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