EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Invitation to a Session on Public Involvement in EPA Advisory Activities Supported by the SAB Staff Office, 27315-27316 [2011-11560]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 11, 2011 / Notices Dated: May 4, 2011. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–11496 Filed 5–10–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9304–5] EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Invitation to a Session on Public Involvement in EPA Advisory Activities Supported by the SAB Staff Office Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public session on public involvement in activities related to the Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis (the Council), Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), and the SAB. DATES: The public session will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). ADDRESSES: The session will be held at Potomac Yard Conference Center, One Potomac Yard, 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, Fourth Floor Conference Center South (S–4370–80). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to attend must register by contacting Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564– 2218, fax (202) 565–2098; or e-mail at nugent.angela@epa.gov, by May 27, 2011. Persons unable to attend the public session may send written comments to Dr. Angela Nugent by May 27, 2011. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The SAB Staff Office provides management and technical support to the Council, CASAC, and the SAB and their committees and panels. The SAB Staff also provides information to the public about committee activities and how the public can provide input into the science advice process. As part of its effort to continuously strengthen policies and procedures for informing the public and involving them in advisory processes, the SAB Staff Office is holding a public session to receive public input and feedback on current processes. The SAB Staff Office will mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 May 10, 2011 Jkt 223001 consider this feedback as it develops additional policies and procedures to support Council, CASAC, and SAB advisory activities. Established by statute, the Council (42 U.S.C 7612), the CASAC (42 U.S.C. 7409), and the SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) are EPA’s chartered Federal Advisory Committees that provide independent scientific and technical peer review, consultation, advice and recommendations directly to the EPA Administrator on the scientific bases for EPA’s actions and programs. Members of the SAB, CASAC, and the Council are appointed by the EPA Administrator. As Federal Advisory Committees, the Council, CASAC, and SAB conduct business in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related regulations. Generally, Council, CASAC and SAB meetings are announced in the Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide opportunities for public input during deliberations. Additional information about these Federal Advisory Committees may be found at https://www.epa.gov/advisorycouncilcaa, https://www.epa.gov/casac and https:// www.epa.gov/sab, respectively. The SAB Staff Office is holding a public session to receive public input and feedback in four areas: (1) The public access Web sites supporting the Council, CASAC and SAB; (2) public involvement in nomination of experts for committees and panels; (3) public involvement in meeting and report development; and (4) other topics of interest to the public. Public Access Web Sites Supporting the Council, CASAC and SAB Three inter-related public access Web sites (https://www.epa.gov/ advisorycouncilcaa, https:// www.epa.gov/casac and https:// www.epa.gov/sab) have been developed to communicate current information about the membership, activities, and reports of the Council, CASAC and SAB and to facilitate public involvement in advisory activities. The Web sites were designed with the following features: (1) Integration of all information relevant to a specific advisory activity on a single page (e.g. key information related to Agency requests for advice, advisory committee or panel membership, Federal Register Notices, related meetings, draft and final reports, Agency responses to advice); (2) integration of all information relevant for a specific meeting on a single page (e.g. Federal Register Notices, meeting agendas, materials, and minutes); (3) a calendar of meetings that can be organized by day, week, month, or year; PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27315 (4) ‘‘Recent Happenings’’ and ‘‘Recent Additions’’ sections and related ‘‘really simple syndication’’ (RSS) feeds that highlight opportunities for public input, most recent draft and final reports, and recent Agency responses; (5) a search function that identifies Council, CASAC, and SAB final reports, draft reports, advisory activities, Federal Register notices, meetings, committees and panels, and special-purpose Web pages; and (6) electronic nomination of experts for committees and panels. The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on strengthening the clarity, navigability, and usefulness of the Web sites. Public Involvement in Nomination of Experts for Committees and Panels The EPA Administrator appoints members to the Council, CASAC, the chartered SAB and SAB Standing Committees. Members of advisory committees and panels are non-EPA scientists, engineers, and economists and other social scientists who are recognized experts in their respective fields. They may come from academia, industry, state, and tribal governments, research institutes and nongovernmental organizations throughout the United States. EPA chooses them for their demonstrated ability to examine and analyze environmental issues with objectivity and integrity and for their interpersonal, oral and written communication, and consensusbuilding skills. The SAB Staff annually requests nominations from the public for membership on the chartered SAB and SAB Standing Committees. The latest request was published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2011 (76 FR 21349–21350). Members of the public may nominate experts as part of this annual process through the ‘‘Nomination of experts’’ link on the blue navigation bar at https://www.epa.gov/sab. The SAB Staff Office also forms ad hoc subcommittees and panels under the auspices of the Council, CASAC, and SAB on environmental science topics. As additional expertise is needed, the SAB Staff Office requests for nominations are published in the Federal Register and posted on the public access Web sites. Members of the public may nominate experts for ad hoc sub committees and panels, again through the ‘‘Nomination of experts’’ link on the blue navigation bar at https://www.epa.gov/sab and may comment on candidates being considered for ad hoc committees and panels. To describe these processes, the SAB Staff has developed: (1) A general E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1 27316 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 11, 2011 / Notices mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES overview of the panel formation process [Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, September 2002 (EPA–SAB–EC–02– 010), on the Web at https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ WebFiles/OverviewPanelForm/$File/ ec02010.pdf)]; and (2) ‘‘Frequently Asked Questions about SAB, CASAC, and Council Membership and Establishment of Ad Hoc Panels and Committees’’ (on the Web at https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/ WebSABSO/QsandAsRefMembership? OpenDocument). The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on the current process regarding public nomination of experts. Public Involvement in Meeting and Report Development FACA and General Services Administration regulations mandate public involvement in committee activities primarily by open access to meetings and records and by providing the public opportunity to submit comments to the advisory committee or panel. 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. Members of the public can submit comments for a Federal advisory committee to consider as it develops advice for EPA. Public comments are sent to the Designated Federal Officer. The contact information for the Designated Federal Officer is identified in the Federal Register notice for committee meetings and is made publicly available on the public access Web site. To participate in advisory activities of the SAB, CASAC, and Council, members of the public can: (1) Contact the appropriate Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or the SAB Staff Office to obtain information on or provide comments about committee activities; (2) attend and observe public meetings and teleconferences; (3) review materials used by committee members in their deliberations; (4) provide written comments for consideration by committee member; (5) present oral statements for consideration by committee members at public meetings during time periods set aside for that purpose; and (6) review minutes of committee meeting and deliberations. The SAB Staff has developed a description of how SAB, CASAC, and VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 May 10, 2011 Jkt 223001 Council committees work and how the public can participate through the steps outlined above (A Report of the Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Advisory Committee Meetings and Report Development: Process for Public Involvement, EPA–SABSO–04–001, available on the Web at https:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/ SABPRODUCT.NSF/WEBSABSO/ participatemeetingsreports? OpenDocument). The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on ways to strengthen public access to information about and public involvement in advisory meetings and report development. Availability of Meeting Materials: A meeting agenda and other materials for the meeting will be placed on the SAB Web site at https://epa.gov/sab. Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent at the phone number or e-mail address noted above, preferably at least ten days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: May 4, 2011. Anthony F. Maciorowski, Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office. [FR Doc. 2011–11560 Filed 5–10–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9304–6] Science Advisory Board Staff Office Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis Augmented for Review of the Report to Congress on Black Carbon Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Black Carbon Review Panel. DATES: The meeting will be held on June 27, 2011, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: The public teleconference will be conducted by telephone only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to obtain further information regarding this meeting must contact Ms. Stephanie Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Ms. Sanzone may be contacted at SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; or by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564–2067; fax at (202) 565–2098; or e-mail at sanzone.stephanie@epa.gov. General information concerning the Council can be found at the EPA Council Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ advisorycouncilcaa. Any inquiry regarding EPA’s Draft Report to Congress on Black Carbon should be directed to Erika Sasser, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), at sasser.erika@epa.gov or (919) 541–3889. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis (Council) was established pursuant to Section 812 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990 (codified as 42 U.S.C. 7612) to provide independent advice to the Administrator on technical and economic aspects of analyses and reports EPA prepares on the impacts of the CAA on the public health, economy, and environment of the United States. The Council is a Federal Advisory Committee 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 Council augmented with additional experts (hereafter referred to as the Black Carbon Review Panel) will hold a public teleconference to discuss a draft advisory report, Review of EPA’s Draft Report to Congress on Black Carbon. The Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. The October 2009 Interior Appropriations bill (Pub. L. 111–88) requires the EPA, in consultation with other Federal agencies, to prepare a comprehensive report to Congress on the climate and public health effects of black carbon and the potential utility and cost-effectiveness of mitigation options. EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) requested that the Council review the draft Report to Congress on Black Carbon to evaluate the report’s scientific rigor, completeness, and technical accuracy. To conduct this review, the Council was augmented with additional experts in climate modeling and black carbon emissions, impacts, and control strategies. The Council’s Black Carbon Review Panel met on April 18–19, 2011 (76 FR 17123–17124, March 28, 2011), to review the draft Report to Congress. The purpose of the June 27, 2011, teleconference is to discuss the E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27315-27316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11560]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9304-5]


EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Invitation to a Session on 
Public Involvement in EPA Advisory Activities Supported by the SAB 
Staff Office

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a 
public session on public involvement in activities related to the 
Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis (the Council), Clean 
Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), and the SAB.

DATES: The public session will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).

ADDRESSES: The session will be held at Potomac Yard Conference Center, 
One Potomac Yard, 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, Fourth Floor 
Conference Center South (S-4370-80).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to 
attend must register by contacting Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-2218, fax 
(202) 565-2098; or e-mail at nugent.angela@epa.gov, by May 27, 2011. 
Persons unable to attend the public session may send written comments 
to Dr. Angela Nugent by May 27, 2011.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The SAB Staff Office provides management and technical 
support to the Council, CASAC, and the SAB and their committees and 
panels. The SAB Staff also provides information to the public about 
committee activities and how the public can provide input into the 
science advice process. As part of its effort to continuously 
strengthen policies and procedures for informing the public and 
involving them in advisory processes, the SAB Staff Office is holding a 
public session to receive public input and feedback on current 
processes. The SAB Staff Office will consider this feedback as it 
develops additional policies and procedures to support Council, CASAC, 
and SAB advisory activities.
    Established by statute, the Council (42 U.S.C 7612), the CASAC (42 
U.S.C. 7409), and the SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) are EPA's chartered Federal 
Advisory Committees that provide independent scientific and technical 
peer review, consultation, advice and recommendations directly to the 
EPA Administrator on the scientific bases for EPA's actions and 
programs. Members of the SAB, CASAC, and the Council are appointed by 
the EPA Administrator. As Federal Advisory Committees, the Council, 
CASAC, and SAB conduct business in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related regulations. 
Generally, Council, CASAC and SAB meetings are announced in the Federal 
Register, conducted in public view, and provide opportunities for 
public input during deliberations. Additional information about these 
Federal Advisory Committees may be found at https://www.epa.gov/advisorycouncilcaa, https://www.epa.gov/casac and https://www.epa.gov/sab, respectively.
    The SAB Staff Office is holding a public session to receive public 
input and feedback in four areas: (1) The public access Web sites 
supporting the Council, CASAC and SAB; (2) public involvement in 
nomination of experts for committees and panels; (3) public involvement 
in meeting and report development; and (4) other topics of interest to 
the public.

Public Access Web Sites Supporting the Council, CASAC and SAB

    Three inter-related public access Web sites (https://www.epa.gov/advisorycouncilcaa, https://www.epa.gov/casac and  https://www.epa.gov/sab) have been developed to communicate current information about the 
membership, activities, and reports of the Council, CASAC and SAB and 
to facilitate public involvement in advisory activities.
    The Web sites were designed with the following features: (1) 
Integration of all information relevant to a specific advisory activity 
on a single page (e.g. key information related to Agency requests for 
advice, advisory committee or panel membership, Federal Register 
Notices, related meetings, draft and final reports, Agency responses to 
advice); (2) integration of all information relevant for a specific 
meeting on a single page (e.g. Federal Register Notices, meeting 
agendas, materials, and minutes); (3) a calendar of meetings that can 
be organized by day, week, month, or year; (4) ``Recent Happenings'' 
and ``Recent Additions'' sections and related ``really simple 
syndication'' (RSS) feeds that highlight opportunities for public 
input, most recent draft and final reports, and recent Agency 
responses; (5) a search function that identifies Council, CASAC, and 
SAB final reports, draft reports, advisory activities, Federal Register 
notices, meetings, committees and panels, and special-purpose Web 
pages; and (6) electronic nomination of experts for committees and 
panels. The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on strengthening 
the clarity, navigability, and usefulness of the Web sites.

Public Involvement in Nomination of Experts for Committees and Panels

    The EPA Administrator appoints members to the Council, CASAC, the 
chartered SAB and SAB Standing Committees. Members of advisory 
committees and panels are non-EPA scientists, engineers, and economists 
and other social scientists who are recognized experts in their 
respective fields. They may come from academia, industry, state, and 
tribal governments, research institutes and non-governmental 
organizations throughout the United States. EPA chooses them for their 
demonstrated ability to examine and analyze environmental issues with 
objectivity and integrity and for their interpersonal, oral and written 
communication, and consensus-building skills.
    The SAB Staff annually requests nominations from the public for 
membership on the chartered SAB and SAB Standing Committees. The latest 
request was published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2011 (76 FR 
21349-21350). Members of the public may nominate experts as part of 
this annual process through the ``Nomination of experts'' link on the 
blue navigation bar at https://www.epa.gov/sab.
    The SAB Staff Office also forms ad hoc subcommittees and panels 
under the auspices of the Council, CASAC, and SAB on environmental 
science topics. As additional expertise is needed, the SAB Staff Office 
requests for nominations are published in the Federal Register and 
posted on the public access Web sites. Members of the public may 
nominate experts for ad hoc sub committees and panels, again through 
the ``Nomination of experts'' link on the blue navigation bar at https://www.epa.gov/sab and may comment on candidates being considered for ad 
hoc committees and panels.
    To describe these processes, the SAB Staff has developed: (1) A 
general

[[Page 27316]]

overview of the panel formation process [Overview of the Panel 
Formation Process at the Environmental Protection Agency Science 
Advisory Board, September 2002 (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), on the Web at 
https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/WebFiles/OverviewPanelForm/
$File/ec02010.pdf)]; and (2) ``Frequently Asked Questions about SAB, 
CASAC, and Council Membership and Establishment of Ad Hoc Panels and 
Committees'' (on the Web at https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/WebSABSO/QsandAsRefMembership?OpenDocument).
    The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on the current 
process regarding public nomination of experts.

Public Involvement in Meeting and Report Development

    FACA and General Services Administration regulations mandate public 
involvement in committee activities primarily by open access to 
meetings and records and by providing the public opportunity to submit 
comments to the advisory committee or panel. 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. Members of the public can submit comments for a 
Federal advisory committee to consider as it develops advice for EPA. 
Public comments are sent to the Designated Federal Officer. The contact 
information for the Designated Federal Officer is identified in the 
Federal Register notice for committee meetings and is made publicly 
available on the public access Web site.
    To participate in advisory activities of the SAB, CASAC, and 
Council, members of the public can: (1) Contact the appropriate 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or the SAB Staff Office to obtain 
information on or provide comments about committee activities; (2) 
attend and observe public meetings and teleconferences; (3) review 
materials used by committee members in their deliberations; (4) provide 
written comments for consideration by committee member; (5) present 
oral statements for consideration by committee members at public 
meetings during time periods set aside for that purpose; and (6) review 
minutes of committee meeting and deliberations. The SAB Staff has 
developed a description of how SAB, CASAC, and Council committees work 
and how the public can participate through the steps outlined above (A 
Report of the Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Advisory Committee 
Meetings and Report Development: Process for Public Involvement, EPA-
SABSO-04-001, available on the Web at https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/SABPRODUCT.NSF/WEBSABSO/participatemeetingsreports?OpenDocument).
    The SAB Staff Office is seeking public comment on ways to 
strengthen public access to information about and public involvement in 
advisory meetings and report development.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: A meeting agenda and other 
materials for the meeting will be placed on the SAB Web site at https://epa.gov/sab.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent at the phone 
number or e-mail address noted above, preferably at least ten days 
prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process 
your request.

    Dated: May 4, 2011.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-11560 Filed 5-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.