Notice of Public Meeting and Proposed List of Potential Peer Reviewers; Potential Approaches for Characterizing the Estimated Benefits of Reducing PM2.5, 46006-46008 [2019-18945]
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46006
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2019 / Notices
submission guidelines at: https://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance, contact
FERC Online Support by email at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)
502–8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving
automatic notification of activity in this
docket or in viewing/downloading
comments and issuances in this docket
may do so at https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone
at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC–539 (Gas Pipeline
Certificates: Import & Export Related
Applications).
OMB Control No.: 1902–0062.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–539 with no changes to the
current reporting requirements.
Abstract: Section 3 of the Natural Gas
Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717–717w)
provides, in part, that ‘‘ . . . no person
shall export any natural gas from the
United States to a foreign country or
import any natural gas from a foreign
country without first having secured
and order from the Commission
authorizing it to do so.’’ The 1992
amendments to Section 3 of the NGA
concern importation or exportation
from/to a nation which has a free trade
agreement with the United States, and
requires that such importation or
exportation: (1) Shall be deemed to be
a ‘‘first sale’’, i.e., not a sale for a resale,
and (2) Shall be deemed to be consistent
with the public interest, and
applications for such importation or
exportation shall be granted without
modification or delay.
With the ratification of the North
American Free Trade Agreement and
the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the
Federal regulatory focus on
construction, operation, and siting of
import and export facilities increased
significantly.
Estimate of Annual Burden.1 The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–539, GAS PIPELINE CERTIFICATES: IMPORT & EXPORT RELATED APPLICATIONS
Number of respondents
Number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average burden hours &
average cost 2 per response
($)
Total annual burden hours &
total annual cost ($)
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1) = (6)
6 ............................................
2
12
15 hours; $1,200 ...................
180 hours; $14,400 ..............
$2,400
2 The
Commission staff estimates that industry is similarly situated in terms of hourly cost (for wages plus benefits). Based on the Commission’s FY (Fiscal Year) 2019 average cost (for wages plus benefits), $80.00/hour is used.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collections of
information are necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s
estimates of the burden and cost of the
collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information collections; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collections
of information on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Dated: August 27, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–18922 Filed 8–30–19; 8:45 am]
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1 Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2019–0316; FRL–9997–91–
OAR]
Notice of Public Meeting and Proposed
List of Potential Peer Reviewers;
Potential Approaches for
Characterizing the Estimated Benefits
of Reducing PM2.5 at Low
Concentrations
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is requesting comment on
the proposed list of candidate peer
reviewers for the independent,
contractor-managed, external peer
review of the draft document titled
‘‘Potential Approaches for
Characterizing the Estimated Benefits of
Reducing PM2.5 at Low Concentrations.’’
This notice provides the names and
professional affiliations of the proposed
peer reviewers. The public is requested
to provide relevant information or
documentation on the candidates who
are being evaluated by the external peer
review contractor, ICF. ICF will
consider the public comments on the
SUMMARY:
generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide
information to or for a federal agency. See 5 CFR
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proposed list of peer reviewers and will
select the final peer reviewers who,
collectively, best provide expertise
spanning the multiple subject matter
areas covered by the draft document
and, to the extent feasible, best provide
a balance of perspectives according to
EPA peer review guidance. This notice
also provides the public peer review
meeting date as well as EPA’s website
that will provide details about the
meeting location and how to register to
attend the meeting either in person or
remotely.
Comments: The comment period
on the proposed peer reviewers begins
on September 3, 2019 and ends on
September 24, 2019.
Meeting: A one-day panel meeting
will be held on October 21, 2019, from
approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Time at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander
Drive, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina. Please refer to the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
additional information on the panel
meeting.
DATES:
Submit your comments,
identified by docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OAR–2019–0316, by any of the
following methods:
ADDRESSES:
1320 for additional information on the definition of
information collection burden.
E:\FR\FM\03SEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2019 / Notices
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method). Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
Include the Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2019–0316 in the subject line of
the message.
• Fax: (202) 566–9744. Include the
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2019–
0316 in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center,
Office of Air and Radiation Docket, Mail
Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: EPA Docket
Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20004. The Docket
Center’s hours of operations are 8:30
a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except
Federal Holidays).
Instructions: All comments received
must include the Docket ID No. for this
notice. Comments received may be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. For
detailed instructions on sending
comments, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
A one-day panel meeting will be held
on October 21, 2019, at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 109
T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
Specific details regarding the meeting
and registration for in-person or remote
attendance will be posted on EPA’s
website (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
Because the panel meeting is being
held at a U.S. government facility,
individuals planning to attend the
meeting should be prepared to show
valid picture identification to the
security staff in order to gain access to
the meeting room. Please note that the
REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in
2005, established new requirements for
entering federal facilities. For purposes
of the REAL ID Act, EPA will accept
government-issued IDs, including
drivers’ licenses, from the District of
Columbia and all states and territories
except from American Samoa. If your
identification is issued by American
Samoa, you must present an additional
form of identification to enter the
federal building where the meeting will
be held. Acceptable alternative forms of
identification include: federal employee
badges, passports, enhanced driver’s
licenses, and military identification
cards. For additional information for the
status of your state regarding REAL ID,
go to: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-
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Jkt 247001
enforcement-brieffrequently-askedquestions. Any objects brought into the
building need to fit through the security
screening system, such as a purse,
laptop bag, or small backpack.
Demonstrations will not be allowed on
federal property for security reasons.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal
Fann, Health and Environmental
Impacts, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (C–439–02), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 109
T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711. Phone: (919)
541–0209, Fax: (919) 541–5315, Email:
Fann.Neal@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
Submit your comments, identified by
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2019–
0316, at https://www.regulations.gov
(our preferred method), or the other
methods identified in the ADDRESSES
section. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or removed from the
docket. The EPA may publish any
submission received to its public
docket. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written submission.
The written submission is considered
the official submission and should
include discussion of all points you
wish to make. The EPA will generally
not consider submissions or submission
content located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
II. Background
The EPA uses evidence from longterm exposure cohort studies to estimate
the number of PM2.5-related premature
deaths and morbidity effects in its air
pollution benefits analyses. Generally,
EPA quantifies effects for the full
distribution of ambient PM2.5
concentrations, including at
concentrations below the lowest
measured levels (LML) of these studies;
this reflects the current scientific
evidence, which does not find a
threshold in the concentration-response
relationship. However, because of the
absence of data at such low
concentrations, there is greater
PO 00000
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46007
uncertainty about the likelihood of
health effects, including premature
death. The degree of uncertainty
associated with premature deaths
estimated at these lower levels has over
time taken on greater prominence, due
in part to decreasing ambient PM2.5
concentrations, the public health
importance of PM2.5-associated
mortality, and the magnitude of the
economic value of the effect. As a means
of improving its methods for quantifying
and characterizing effects estimated at
these lower PM2.5 levels, the Agency is
developing and evaluating potential
alternative approaches for estimating
these effects. Potential approaches are
described in the EPA draft report that
will be made available at https://
www.epa.gov/economic-and-costanalysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_
Uncertainty. This report details new
techniques for deriving information
regarding uncertainty at low PM2.5
concentrations using data available from
the peer-reviewed published
epidemiology literature; demonstrates
the application of these techniques in an
example PM2.5 air pollution benefits
assessment; discusses the strengths and
weaknesses of each technique; and
compares these techniques against
alternatives including the use of lowest
measured level cut-points or the use of
meta-analytic approaches designed to
characterize the magnitude of the PM
mortality effect across a broader array of
concentrations.
The EPA identified the ‘‘Potential
Approaches for Characterizing the
Estimated Benefits of Reducing PM2.5 at
Low Concentrations’’ as a Highly
Influential Scientific Assessment, and
according to the Agency’s Science and
Technology Policy Council, Peer Review
Handbook (Fourth Edition, EPA/100/B–
15/001, 2015) (Agency’s Peer Review
Handbook), is required to conduct an
external peer review of that report and
supplemental files. The reviewers are
asked to assess the accuracy, content,
and interpretation of findings ensuring
that they are factual and scientifically
sound. The review shall generate
comments from the individual expert
reviewers.
The draft report will be made
available on the project website
approximately 30 days prior to the
meeting (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
The Agency will periodically update
this website to include details on the
public meeting and peer reviewer
comments on the technical report.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2019 / Notices
III. Process of Obtaining Candidate
Reviewers
Consistent with guidelines for the
peer review of Highly Influential
Scientific Assessments, EPA tasked ICF
to assemble approximately nine
scientific experts to evaluate the draft
report cited in this notice. As part of the
peer-review process, a public
nomination period was held from June
13, 2019, to July 5, 2019, during which
members of the public were able to
nominate scientific experts with
knowledge and expertise in one or more
of the following areas:
A. Epidemiology
B. Biostatistics
C. Risk Assessment
D. Decision and Uncertainty
E. Economics
ICF also conducted an independent
search for scientific experts to augment
the list of publically nominated
candidates. In total, ICF evaluated the
58 candidates nominated during the
public nomination period and ICF
identified 12 additional candidates.
• Selection process. ICF considered
and screened all candidates against the
selection criteria described in the
Federal Register notice of June 13, 2019
(84 FR 27632) (FRL–9995–4–OAR)
(https://www.regulations.gov/
document?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-03160001), which included having
demonstrated expertise in the areas
described, being free of any conflict of
interest, being free of appearance of
bias, and being available to participate
in-person in a one-day peer review
meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC,
on October 21, 2019. Following the
screening process, ICF narrowed the list
of potential reviewers to 16 proposed
candidates. This notice solicits
comments on the proposed list of 16
candidates. The public is requested to
provide relevant information or
documentation on the candidates who
are being evaluated by ICF. ICF will
consider the public comments on the
proposed list of peer reviewers and will
post the final list of peer reviewers on
EPA’s website (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
• Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers.
Peer reviewers will be charged with
evaluating and preparing written
comments on the draft report.
Specifically, reviewers will provide
general comments, their overall
impressions of the draft report, and
respond to the peer review charge
questions.
Following the peer review meeting,
ICF will provide a peer review summary
report to EPA containing the comments
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and recommendations from the peer
reviewers. The final peer review report
will also be made available to the public
on EPA’s website (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
In preparing the final analytical support
document, EPA will consider ICF’s peer
review report, which will include
comments and recommendations from
the external peer review meeting.
IV. Registration for Public Panel
Meeting
Registration can be made via EPA’s
website (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty)
for the one-day panel meeting to be held
on October 21, 2019, at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 109
T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711. Specific
details regarding the meeting location
and registration for in-person or remote
attendance will be posted on EPA’s
website (https://www.epa.gov/
economic-and-cost-analysis-airpollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
Special Accommodations: For
information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, and to
request accommodation of a disability,
please contact the Designated Federal
Official (DFO) listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT at least 10 days
prior to the meeting to give EPA as
much time as possible to process your
request.
V. Proposed List of Peer Reviewers
The EPA asks that no individual or
organization contact in any way its
contractor (ICF) or the subcontractor
panel members regarding the subject of
the peer review meeting, send
contractor written materials regarding
the subject of the meeting, or make any
offers or requests to any of them that
appear to be linked to their participation
in the peer review. The contractor will
direct the panel members to report any
such contacts, who will take appropriate
action in consultation with EPA to
ensure the independence and
impartiality of the peer review.
Following are the names and
professional affiliations of the current
candidates being considered for the
external peer review of the draft report.
A biosketch or current curriculum vitae
for the proposed peer reviewers will be
posted in the docket (docket ID number
EPA–HQ–OAR–2019–0316). ICF will
select peer reviewers who, collectively,
best provide expertise spanning the
multiple required areas of expertise
listed in Section III and, to the extent
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feasible, best provide a balance of
perspectives.
A. Mark Dickie, Ph.D., Professor,
Department of Economics, University
of Central Florida
B. James Hammitt, Ph.D., Professor,
Economics and Decision Sciences,
Harvard University; Director of
Harvard Center for Risk Analysis
C. Max Henrion, Ph.D., CEO and Cofounder, Lumina Decision Systems,
Inc.
D. Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou,
Sc.D., Assistant Professor, Department
of Environmental Health Sciences,
Columbia University School of Public
Health
E. Jenna R. Krall, Ph.D., Assistant
Professor, Department of Global and
Community Health, George Mason
University
F. Alan Krupnick, Ph.D., Senior Fellow,
Resources for the Future
G. Jonathan I. Levy, Sc.D., Professor,
School of Public Health, Boston
University
H. Maria C. Mirabelli, Ph.D., Adjunct
Associate Professor, Emory University
I. John Molitor, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, College of Public Health
and Human Sciences, Oregon State
University
J. Lorenz R. Rhomberg, Ph.D., A.T.S.,
Principal, Gradient
K. V. Kerry Smith, Ph.D., Emeritus
Regents Professor and Emeritus
University Professor of Economics,
Department of Economics, W. P.
Carey School of Business, Arizona
State University
L. George Thurston, Sc.D., Professsor,
Department of Environmental
Medicine, New York University
School of Medicine
M. Roel Vermeulen, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Environmental
Epidemiology, Institute for Risk
Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht
University, The Netherlands
N. Thomas Wallsten, Ph.D., Emeritus
Professor, Department of Psychology,
University of Maryland
O. J. Jason West, Ph.D., Professor,
Department of Environmental
Sciences and Engineering, UNC
Chapel Hill School of Global Public
Health
P. Corwin Zigler, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Department of Statistics
and Data Science, University of Texas
Dated: August 23, 2019.
Panagiotis Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards.
[FR Doc. 2019–18945 Filed 8–30–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46006-46008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18945]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0316; FRL-9997-91-OAR]
Notice of Public Meeting and Proposed List of Potential Peer
Reviewers; Potential Approaches for Characterizing the Estimated
Benefits of Reducing PM2.5 at Low Concentrations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting
comment on the proposed list of candidate peer reviewers for the
independent, contractor-managed, external peer review of the draft
document titled ``Potential Approaches for Characterizing the Estimated
Benefits of Reducing PM2.5 at Low Concentrations.'' This
notice provides the names and professional affiliations of the proposed
peer reviewers. The public is requested to provide relevant information
or documentation on the candidates who are being evaluated by the
external peer review contractor, ICF. ICF will consider the public
comments on the proposed list of peer reviewers and will select the
final peer reviewers who, collectively, best provide expertise spanning
the multiple subject matter areas covered by the draft document and, to
the extent feasible, best provide a balance of perspectives according
to EPA peer review guidance. This notice also provides the public peer
review meeting date as well as EPA's website that will provide details
about the meeting location and how to register to attend the meeting
either in person or remotely.
DATES: Comments: The comment period on the proposed peer reviewers
begins on September 3, 2019 and ends on September 24, 2019.
Meeting: A one-day panel meeting will be held on October 21, 2019,
from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for additional information on the panel meeting.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2019-0316, by any of the following methods:
[[Page 46007]]
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov
(our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Email: [email protected]. Include the Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0316 in the subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 566-9744. Include the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2019-0316 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket
Center, Office of Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery/Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
The Docket Center's hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,
Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays).
Instructions: All comments received must include the Docket ID No.
for this notice. Comments received may be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
A one-day panel meeting will be held on October 21, 2019, at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. Specific details
regarding the meeting and registration for in-person or remote
attendance will be posted on EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
Because the panel meeting is being held at a U.S. government
facility, individuals planning to attend the meeting should be prepared
to show valid picture identification to the security staff in order to
gain access to the meeting room. Please note that the REAL ID Act,
passed by Congress in 2005, established new requirements for entering
federal facilities. For purposes of the REAL ID Act, EPA will accept
government-issued IDs, including drivers' licenses, from the District
of Columbia and all states and territories except from American Samoa.
If your identification is issued by American Samoa, you must present an
additional form of identification to enter the federal building where
the meeting will be held. Acceptable alternative forms of
identification include: federal employee badges, passports, enhanced
driver's licenses, and military identification cards. For additional
information for the status of your state regarding REAL ID, go to:
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brieffrequently-asked-questions. Any objects brought into the building need to fit through
the security screening system, such as a purse, laptop bag, or small
backpack. Demonstrations will not be allowed on federal property for
security reasons.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal Fann, Health and Environmental
Impacts, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C-439-02), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711. Phone: (919) 541-0209, Fax: (919) 541-5315,
Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-
0316, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the
other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may
publish any submission received to its public docket. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written submission. The written submission is
considered the official submission and should include discussion of all
points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider
submissions or submission content located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance
on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
II. Background
The EPA uses evidence from long-term exposure cohort studies to
estimate the number of PM2.5-related premature deaths and
morbidity effects in its air pollution benefits analyses. Generally,
EPA quantifies effects for the full distribution of ambient
PM2.5 concentrations, including at concentrations below the
lowest measured levels (LML) of these studies; this reflects the
current scientific evidence, which does not find a threshold in the
concentration-response relationship. However, because of the absence of
data at such low concentrations, there is greater uncertainty about the
likelihood of health effects, including premature death. The degree of
uncertainty associated with premature deaths estimated at these lower
levels has over time taken on greater prominence, due in part to
decreasing ambient PM2.5 concentrations, the public health
importance of PM2.5-associated mortality, and the magnitude
of the economic value of the effect. As a means of improving its
methods for quantifying and characterizing effects estimated at these
lower PM2.5 levels, the Agency is developing and evaluating
potential alternative approaches for estimating these effects.
Potential approaches are described in the EPA draft report that will be
made available at https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty. This report details new
techniques for deriving information regarding uncertainty at low
PM2.5 concentrations using data available from the peer-
reviewed published epidemiology literature; demonstrates the
application of these techniques in an example PM2.5 air
pollution benefits assessment; discusses the strengths and weaknesses
of each technique; and compares these techniques against alternatives
including the use of lowest measured level cut-points or the use of
meta-analytic approaches designed to characterize the magnitude of the
PM mortality effect across a broader array of concentrations.
The EPA identified the ``Potential Approaches for Characterizing
the Estimated Benefits of Reducing PM2.5 at Low
Concentrations'' as a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment, and
according to the Agency's Science and Technology Policy Council, Peer
Review Handbook (Fourth Edition, EPA/100/B-15/001, 2015) (Agency's Peer
Review Handbook), is required to conduct an external peer review of
that report and supplemental files. The reviewers are asked to assess
the accuracy, content, and interpretation of findings ensuring that
they are factual and scientifically sound. The review shall generate
comments from the individual expert reviewers.
The draft report will be made available on the project website
approximately 30 days prior to the meeting (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
The Agency will periodically update this website to include details on
the public meeting and peer reviewer comments on the technical report.
[[Page 46008]]
III. Process of Obtaining Candidate Reviewers
Consistent with guidelines for the peer review of Highly
Influential Scientific Assessments, EPA tasked ICF to assemble
approximately nine scientific experts to evaluate the draft report
cited in this notice. As part of the peer-review process, a public
nomination period was held from June 13, 2019, to July 5, 2019, during
which members of the public were able to nominate scientific experts
with knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following areas:
A. Epidemiology
B. Biostatistics
C. Risk Assessment
D. Decision and Uncertainty
E. Economics
ICF also conducted an independent search for scientific experts to
augment the list of publically nominated candidates. In total, ICF
evaluated the 58 candidates nominated during the public nomination
period and ICF identified 12 additional candidates.
Selection process. ICF considered and screened all
candidates against the selection criteria described in the Federal
Register notice of June 13, 2019 (84 FR 27632) (FRL-9995-4-OAR)
(https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0316-0001),
which included having demonstrated expertise in the areas described,
being free of any conflict of interest, being free of appearance of
bias, and being available to participate in-person in a one-day peer
review meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC, on October 21, 2019.
Following the screening process, ICF narrowed the list of potential
reviewers to 16 proposed candidates. This notice solicits comments on
the proposed list of 16 candidates. The public is requested to provide
relevant information or documentation on the candidates who are being
evaluated by ICF. ICF will consider the public comments on the proposed
list of peer reviewers and will post the final list of peer reviewers
on EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers. Peer reviewers will be
charged with evaluating and preparing written comments on the draft
report. Specifically, reviewers will provide general comments, their
overall impressions of the draft report, and respond to the peer review
charge questions.
Following the peer review meeting, ICF will provide a peer review
summary report to EPA containing the comments and recommendations from
the peer reviewers. The final peer review report will also be made
available to the public on EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty). In
preparing the final analytical support document, EPA will consider
ICF's peer review report, which will include comments and
recommendations from the external peer review meeting.
IV. Registration for Public Panel Meeting
Registration can be made via EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty)
for the one-day panel meeting to be held on October 21, 2019, at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Specific details regarding the
meeting location and registration for in-person or remote attendance
will be posted on EPA's website (https://www.epa.gov/economic-and-cost-analysis-air-pollution-regulations/PM_Uncertainty).
Special Accommodations: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, and to request accommodation of a
disability, please contact the Designated Federal Official (DFO) listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 10 days prior to the
meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.
V. Proposed List of Peer Reviewers
The EPA asks that no individual or organization contact in any way
its contractor (ICF) or the subcontractor panel members regarding the
subject of the peer review meeting, send contractor written materials
regarding the subject of the meeting, or make any offers or requests to
any of them that appear to be linked to their participation in the peer
review. The contractor will direct the panel members to report any such
contacts, who will take appropriate action in consultation with EPA to
ensure the independence and impartiality of the peer review.
Following are the names and professional affiliations of the
current candidates being considered for the external peer review of the
draft report. A biosketch or current curriculum vitae for the proposed
peer reviewers will be posted in the docket (docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2019-0316). ICF will select peer reviewers who, collectively, best
provide expertise spanning the multiple required areas of expertise
listed in Section III and, to the extent feasible, best provide a
balance of perspectives.
A. Mark Dickie, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Economics, University
of Central Florida
B. James Hammitt, Ph.D., Professor, Economics and Decision Sciences,
Harvard University; Director of Harvard Center for Risk Analysis
C. Max Henrion, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder, Lumina Decision Systems,
Inc.
D. Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Sc.D., Assistant Professor,
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University School
of Public Health
E. Jenna R. Krall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Global and
Community Health, George Mason University
F. Alan Krupnick, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
G. Jonathan I. Levy, Sc.D., Professor, School of Public Health, Boston
University
H. Maria C. Mirabelli, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, Emory
University
I. John Molitor, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Public Health
and Human Sciences, Oregon State University
J. Lorenz R. Rhomberg, Ph.D., A.T.S., Principal, Gradient
K. V. Kerry Smith, Ph.D., Emeritus Regents Professor and Emeritus
University Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, W. P. Carey
School of Business, Arizona State University
L. George Thurston, Sc.D., Professsor, Department of Environmental
Medicine, New York University School of Medicine
M. Roel Vermeulen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Environmental
Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht
University, The Netherlands
N. Thomas Wallsten, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, Department of
Psychology, University of Maryland
O. J. Jason West, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Environmental
Sciences and Engineering, UNC Chapel Hill School of Global Public
Health
P. Corwin Zigler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Statistics
and Data Science, University of Texas
Dated: August 23, 2019.
Panagiotis Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2019-18945 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
