Notification of Two Public Teleconferences of the Science Advisory Board Ecological Processes and Effects Committee, 4319-4320 [2012-1823]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 18 / Friday, January 27, 2012 / Notices Coronado National Forest, Pima County, AZ, Comment Period Ends: 01/31/2012, Contact: Bev Everson (520) 388–8300. This document is available on the Internet at: https:// www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/ RosemontDEISmain.htm. Revision to FR Publication 10/21/2011; Extending Comment Period from 1/18/2012 to 1/ 31/2012. EIS No. 20110420, Draft Supplement, USACE, TX, Clear Creek Reevaluation Study Project, Flood Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris Counties, TX, Comment Period Ends: 01/30/2012, Contact: Andrea Catanzaro (409) 766– 6346. Revision to FR Notice Published 12/16/2012; Extending Comment Period from 01/30/2012 to 02/14/ 2012. Dated: January 24, 2012. Cliff Rader, Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. 2012–1814 Filed 1–26–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9623–6] Notification of Two Public Teleconferences of the Science Advisory Board Ecological Processes and Effects Committee Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two public teleconferences of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC). The SAB EPEC will provide advice on the EPA Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) document, ‘‘Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).’’ DATES: The SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee will conduct public teleconferences on February 22, 2012 and February 23, 2012. The teleconferences will begin at 12:00 noon and end at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day. ADDRESSES: The public teleconferences will be conducted by telephone only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing further information regarding the public teleconferences may contact Dr. Thomas tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:14 Jan 26, 2012 Jkt 226001 Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by telephone/ voice mail at (202) 564–2155 or via email at armitage.thomas@epa.gov. General information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found at the EPA SAB Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/sab. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: 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 peer review, advice, consultation and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for EPA actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related regulations. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, notice is hereby given that the SAB EPEC, augmented with other experts, will hold two public teleconferences to provide advice through the chartered SAB on the EPA Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) document, ‘‘Integrating Ecological Assessment and DecisionMaking at EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).’’ The SAB Committee will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. In response to recommendations in a 2007 SAB Report, ‘‘Advice to EPA on Advancing the Science and Application of Ecological Risk Assessment in Environmental Decision-Making’’ (EPA– SAB–08–002), the EPA Risk Assessment Forum in the Office of the Science Advisor held an EPA ecological assessment colloquium and developed an action plan titled, ‘‘Integrating Ecological Assessment and DecisionMaking at EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).’’ The action plan proposes initiatives to improve the quality, scope, and application of the EPA’s ecological assessments. Initiatives outlined in the action plan address high priority recommendations in the EPA colloquium report, ‘‘Integrating Ecological Assessment and DecisionMaking at EPA: A Path Forward’’ (EPA/ 100/R–10/004). EPA’s Office of the Science Advisor has requested that the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee review the Agency’s ecological assessment action plan and related background documents, and provide advice on the technical merit and implementation of proposed initiatives. The SAB EPEC will be PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4319 augmented with experts who participated in the SAB 2007 review. Availability of the review materials: The agenda and material in support of this meeting will be available on the SAB Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ sab. For technical questions and information concerning EPA’s review document, ‘‘Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011),’’ please contact Mr. Lawrence Martin of EPA’s Risk Assessment Forum by phone (202) 564–6497 or via email at martin.lawrence@epa.gov. 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 EPA’s charge, meeting materials and/or the group conducting the activity. 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 Committee to consider or if it relates to the clarity or accuracy of the technical information. Members of the public wishing to provide comment on the February 22, 2012 public teleconference should contact the Designated Federal Officer for the relevant advisory committee directly. Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation will be limited to five minutes per speaker. Interested parties should contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, in writing (preferably via email), at the contact information noted above, by February 15, 2012 to be placed on the list of public speakers for February 22, 2012. Written Statements: Written statements should be received in the SAB Staff Office by February 15, 2012 so that the information may be made available to the SAB Committee for their consideration. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO in electronic format via email (acceptable file formats: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM–PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to post written comments on the Web page for the advisory meeting or teleconference. E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1 4320 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 18 / Friday, January 27, 2012 / Notices Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version of each document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with signatures on its Web sites. Members of the public should be aware that their personal contact information, if included in any written comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site. Copyrighted material will not be posted without explicit permission of the copyright holder. Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Thomas Armitage at the phone number or email address noted above, preferably at least ten days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: January 20, 2012. Vanessa T. Vu, Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office. [FR Doc. 2012–1823 Filed 1–26–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9623–4] Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Proposed Consent Decree; Request for Public Comment. AGENCY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (‘‘CAA’’ or the ‘‘Act’’), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree to address a lawsuit filed by Sierra Club and Medical Advocates for Healthy Air (collectively ‘‘Plaintiffs’’) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California: Sierra Club, et al. v. Jackson, No. C11–cv–03106–JSW (N.D. CA). On June 23, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a complaint alleging that EPA failed to perform a mandatory duty under section 110(k)(2) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(2) to take timely final action on the RACT demonstration that was submitted to EPA on June 18, 2009 (‘‘2009 RACT SIP’’) by the California Air Resources Board and the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (the ‘‘District’’), and that EPA found complete on December 11, 2009. The proposed consent decree establishes deadlines for EPA to take action. DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by February 27, 2012. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:14 Jan 26, 2012 Jkt 226001 ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number EPA– HQ–OGC–2012–0037, online at www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred method); by email to oei.docket@epa.gov; by mail to EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; or by hand delivery or courier to EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Comments on a disk or CD– ROM should be formatted in Word or ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption, and may be mailed to the mailing address above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jan Tierney, Air and Radiation Law Office (2344A), Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 564–5598; fax number (202) 564–5603; email address: tierney.jan@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: full, promulgating a FIP rule, or approving a SIP rule in part and promulgating a FIP as necessary to fully satisfy the RACT requirement in CAA section 182(b)(2) and (f). Following signature on each notice described above, EPA shall deliver such notices to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. After EPA fulfills its obligations under the decree, the parties shall file a joint request to the Court to dismiss this matter with prejudice. For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will accept written comments relating to the proposed consent decree from persons who were not named as parties or intervenors to the litigation in question. EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed consent decree if the comments disclose facts or considerations that indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the requirements of the Act. Unless EPA or the Department of Justice determines that consent to this consent decree should be withdrawn, the terms of the decree will be affirmed. I. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree The proposed consent decree would resolve a lawsuit seeking to compel the Administrator to take timely final action under section 110(k) of the CAA on the Valley’s 2009 RACT SIP on a specific timetable, and to promulgate a substitute FIP providing for the implementation of RACT on existing sources of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen in the Valley on a specific timetable where EPA has not approved a SIP for a specific source category. On December 15, 2011, EPA signed a final rule approving in part and disapproving in part the 2009 RACT SIP. See 77 FR 1417 (January 10, 2012). The proposed consent decree requires that for each source category for which EPA’s final action on the 2009 RACT SIP identifies a RACT deficiency, EPA shall sign no later than September 15, 2012, a notice or notices approving a SIP rule in full, promulgating a FIP rule, or approving a SIP rule in part and promulgating a FIP as necessary to fully satisfy the RACT requirement in CAA section 182(b)(2) and (f). In addition, the proposed consent decree requires that for each source category described above for which EPA has not approved a SIP rule but has signed for publication in the Federal Register a proposed FIP rule by September 15, 2012, EPA shall sign no later than April 15, 2013, a notice or notices approving a SIP rule in II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree A. How can I get a copy of the consent decree? The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2012–0037) contains a copy of the proposed consent decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566–1752. An electronic version of the public docket is available through www.regulations.gov. You may use www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then select ‘‘search’’. It is important to note that EPA’s policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1

Agencies

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4319-4320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1823]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9623-6]


Notification of Two Public Teleconferences of the Science 
Advisory Board Ecological Processes and Effects Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science 
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two public teleconferences 
of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC). The SAB 
EPEC will provide advice on the EPA Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) 
document, ``Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at 
EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).''

DATES: The SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee will conduct 
public teleconferences on February 22, 2012 and February 23, 2012. The 
teleconferences will begin at 12:00 noon and end at 4 p.m. (Eastern 
Time) on each day.

ADDRESSES: The public teleconferences will be conducted by telephone 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding the public teleconferences may contact 
Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff 
Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-2155 or via email at 
armitage.thomas@epa.gov. General information concerning the EPA Science 
Advisory Board can be found at the EPA SAB Web site at https://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: 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 peer review, advice, consultation 
and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for 
EPA actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business 
in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2) and related regulations. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, 
notice is hereby given that the SAB EPEC, augmented with other experts, 
will hold two public teleconferences to provide advice through the 
chartered SAB on the EPA Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) document, 
``Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at EPA, 2011 
RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).'' The SAB 
Committee will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate 
SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
    In response to recommendations in a 2007 SAB Report, ``Advice to 
EPA on Advancing the Science and Application of Ecological Risk 
Assessment in Environmental Decision-Making'' (EPA-SAB-08-002), the EPA 
Risk Assessment Forum in the Office of the Science Advisor held an EPA 
ecological assessment colloquium and developed an action plan titled, 
``Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-Making at EPA, 2011 
RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan (August, 11, 2011).'' The action 
plan proposes initiatives to improve the quality, scope, and 
application of the EPA's ecological assessments. Initiatives outlined 
in the action plan address high priority recommendations in the EPA 
colloquium report, ``Integrating Ecological Assessment and Decision-
Making at EPA: A Path Forward'' (EPA/100/R-10/004). EPA's Office of the 
Science Advisor has requested that the SAB Ecological Processes and 
Effects Committee review the Agency's ecological assessment action plan 
and related background documents, and provide advice on the technical 
merit and implementation of proposed initiatives. The SAB EPEC will be 
augmented with experts who participated in the SAB 2007 review.
    Availability of the review materials: The agenda and material in 
support of this meeting will be available on the SAB Web site at https://www.epa.gov/sab. For technical questions and information concerning 
EPA's review document, ``Integrating Ecological Assessment and 
Decision-Making at EPA, 2011 RAF Ecological Assessment Action Plan 
(August, 11, 2011),'' please contact Mr. Lawrence Martin of EPA's Risk 
Assessment Forum by phone (202) 564-6497 or via email at 
martin.lawrence@epa.gov.
    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 EPA's 
charge, meeting materials and/or the group conducting the activity. 
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 Committee to consider or if it 
relates to the clarity or accuracy of the technical information. 
Members of the public wishing to provide comment on the February 22, 
2012 public teleconference should contact the Designated Federal 
Officer for the relevant advisory committee directly. Oral Statements: 
In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation will 
be limited to five minutes per speaker. Interested parties should 
contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, in writing (preferably via email), at 
the contact information noted above, by February 15, 2012 to be placed 
on the list of public speakers for February 22, 2012. Written 
Statements: Written statements should be received in the SAB Staff 
Office by February 15, 2012 so that the information may be made 
available to the SAB Committee for their consideration. Written 
statements should be supplied to the DFO in electronic format via email 
(acceptable file formats: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS 
PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). It 
is the SAB Staff Office general policy to post written comments on the 
Web page for the advisory meeting or teleconference.

[[Page 4320]]

Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version of each 
document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with 
signatures on its Web sites. Members of the public should be aware that 
their personal contact information, if included in any written 
comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site. Copyrighted material will 
not be posted without explicit permission of the copyright holder.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Thomas Armitage at 
the phone number or email address noted above, preferably at least ten 
days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as possible 
to process your request.

    Dated: January 20, 2012.
 Vanessa T. Vu,
 Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-1823 Filed 1-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.