Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan, 75752 [E6-21543]

Download as PDF 75752 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 242 / Monday, December 18, 2006 / Notices (1) NH DES failed to provide adequate notice of the proposed permit modification to the public; (2) NH DES failed to perform adequate air quality modeling analyses in its assessment of the proposed permit modification; (3) The modified permit does not contain requirements applicable to ‘‘incinerators’’ under the CAA and federal and state regulations; (4) The modified permit does not contain state hazardous waste management requirements. On October 27, 2006, the Administrator issued an order partially granting and partially denying the petition. EPA grants the Petitioners’ request that EPA object to the issuance of the modified permit for failure to provide adequate public notice of the proposed modification, and directs New Hampshire DES to reissue the draft modified permit for public comment. EPA denies the petition with respect to all other allegations. The order explains EPA’s rationale for concluding that NH DES must reopen the draft modified permit for public comment. The order also explains EPA’s rationale for denying the Petitioners’ remaining claims. Dated: December 8, 2006. Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator, EPA New England. [FR Doc. E6–21528 Filed 12–15–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8252–7] Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a document titled, ‘‘Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan’’ (EPA–240–R–06–001), which was prepared by several Offices within the Agency. The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan identifies and communicates key research and institutional actions that will improve EPA’s ability to perform assessments of the ecological benefits of its environmental policies and decisions. DATES: This document will be available on or about December 18, 2006. ADDRESSES: The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan is available for downloading via the Internet on VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:16 Dec 15, 2006 Jkt 211001 EPA’s National Center for Environmental Economics home page at https://www.epa.gov/economics. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Dr. Wayne R. Munns, Jr., U.S. EPA/ORD National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, telephone: 401–782–3017; facsimile: 401–782– 9683; or e-mail: munns.wayne@epa.gov or Dr. Sabrina Lovell, U.S. EPA/OPEI National Center for Environmental Economics, telephone: 202–566–2272; facsimile: 202–566–2339; or e-mail: iselovell.sabrina@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan was developed to guide future research and institutional actions for improving ecological benefits assessments conducted by the Agency. The goal of an ecological benefits assessment is to estimate the benefits of an environmental policy, and when appropriate, estimate the value to society in monetary terms. This facilitates comparisons among policy alternatives to support decision-making. In practice however, ecological benefits are difficult to evaluate. Several factors contribute to this challenge, including limited understanding of: (1) The linkages among policies, stressors, and ecosystem services; (2) the linkages within and between ecosystems; and (3) the linkages between ecological and economic systems. EPA developed the Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan to improve our understanding of these linkages. The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan was authored by a crossAgency workgroup under the general direction of a steering committee representing offices involved with ecological benefits assessment. The plan describes the challenges currently faced by EPA in conducting comprehensive and rigorous ecological benefits assessments. It encourages a model of interdisciplinary participation in benefits assessments and research, and it promotes collaboration among economists, ecologists, and other natural and social scientists to facilitate identification and characterization of the important ecological benefits of Agency actions. The Plan also identifies strategic actions focusing on: institutional arrangements that foster interdisciplinary analyses and provide analysts with appropriate guidance and tools; interdisciplinary research that directly supports ecological benefits assessments, including broad methodological development and specific studies about resources, stressors, localities, and policies; and PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 coordination of efforts with external partners. The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan also describes mechanisms to facilitate adaptive implementation of the strategic actions, including periodic adjustments to reflect advances in knowledge. A primary audience for the Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan is the managers and analysts in EPA Program Offices, and natural and social scientists across the Agency. The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan was subjected to broad Agency review and external peer review by the Committee on Valuing the Protection of Ecological Systems and Services of EPA’s Science Advisory Board. The final plan reflects the comments of both internal and external review. Dated: December 12, 2006. Nathalie B. Simon, Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Economics. [FR Doc. E6–21543 Filed 12–15–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD Watch List Redress Request for Public Comment Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, The White House. ACTION: Request for public comment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108–458, December 17, 2004), advises the President and other senior executive branch officials to ensure that concerns about privacy and civil liberties are appropriately considered in the implementation of laws, regulations, and executive branch policies related to efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism. This includes advising on whether adequate guidelines, supervision, and oversight exist to protect the important legal rights of all Americans. Processes currently exist to redress errors and ameliorate false positives associated with the use of watch list data for aviation and other security screening purposes. Efforts to address, enhance, conform, and potentially streamline these procedures are ongoing throughout the Federal Government, and the Board is assisting relevant executive branch departments and agencies in those efforts. The Board seeks any comments, suggestions or other information from members of the E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 242 (Monday, December 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 75752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21543]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8252-7]


Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a document titled, 
``Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan'' (EPA-240-R-06-001), 
which was prepared by several Offices within the Agency. The Ecological 
Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan identifies and communicates key 
research and institutional actions that will improve EPA's ability to 
perform assessments of the ecological benefits of its environmental 
policies and decisions.

DATES: This document will be available on or about December 18, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan is 
available for downloading via the Internet on EPA's National Center for 
Environmental Economics home page at https://www.epa.gov/economics.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Dr. 
Wayne R. Munns, Jr., U.S. EPA/ORD National Health and Environmental 
Effects Research Laboratory, telephone: 401-782-3017; facsimile: 401-
782-9683; or e-mail: munns.wayne@epa.gov or Dr. Sabrina Lovell, U.S. 
EPA/OPEI National Center for Environmental Economics, telephone: 202-
566-2272; facsimile: 202-566-2339; or e-mail: ise-
lovell.sabrina@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic 
Plan was developed to guide future research and institutional actions 
for improving ecological benefits assessments conducted by the Agency. 
The goal of an ecological benefits assessment is to estimate the 
benefits of an environmental policy, and when appropriate, estimate the 
value to society in monetary terms. This facilitates comparisons among 
policy alternatives to support decision-making. In practice however, 
ecological benefits are difficult to evaluate. Several factors 
contribute to this challenge, including limited understanding of: (1) 
The linkages among policies, stressors, and ecosystem services; (2) the 
linkages within and between ecosystems; and (3) the linkages between 
ecological and economic systems. EPA developed the Ecological Benefits 
Assessment Strategic Plan to improve our understanding of these 
linkages.
    The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan was authored by a 
cross-Agency workgroup under the general direction of a steering 
committee representing offices involved with ecological benefits 
assessment. The plan describes the challenges currently faced by EPA in 
conducting comprehensive and rigorous ecological benefits assessments. 
It encourages a model of interdisciplinary participation in benefits 
assessments and research, and it promotes collaboration among 
economists, ecologists, and other natural and social scientists to 
facilitate identification and characterization of the important 
ecological benefits of Agency actions. The Plan also identifies 
strategic actions focusing on: institutional arrangements that foster 
interdisciplinary analyses and provide analysts with appropriate 
guidance and tools; interdisciplinary research that directly supports 
ecological benefits assessments, including broad methodological 
development and specific studies about resources, stressors, 
localities, and policies; and coordination of efforts with external 
partners. The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan also 
describes mechanisms to facilitate adaptive implementation of the 
strategic actions, including periodic adjustments to reflect advances 
in knowledge. A primary audience for the Ecological Benefits Assessment 
Strategic Plan is the managers and analysts in EPA Program Offices, and 
natural and social scientists across the Agency.
    The Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan was subjected to 
broad Agency review and external peer review by the Committee on 
Valuing the Protection of Ecological Systems and Services of EPA's 
Science Advisory Board. The final plan reflects the comments of both 
internal and external review.

    Dated: December 12, 2006.
Nathalie B. Simon,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Economics.
[FR Doc. E6-21543 Filed 12-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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