Revised Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis: Extension of Public Comment Period, 89687 [2023-28598]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2023 / Notices Participation’’ heading of the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION [EPA–HQ–OA–2013–0320; FRL–11531–02– OA] Revised Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis: Extension of Public Comment Period Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 15-day extension of the public comment period on the draft revision of the Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (EJ Technical Guidance). The original Federal Register document announcing the public comment period was published on November 15, 2023. The EPA is extending the deadline of the comment period from January 15, 2024 to January 30, 2024. DATES: The public comment period for the notice published on November 15, 2023 (88 FR 78358) is being extended by 15 days. The EPA must receive comments on or before January 30, 2024. To review the EJ Technical Guidance, please visit https:// www.epa.gov/environmentaleconomics/epa-draft-revision-technicalguidance-assessing-environmentaljustice. You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OA–2013–0320, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Office of Policy, Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery or 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 submissions received must include the Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–OA–2013–0320. 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 ‘‘Public khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:14 Dec 27, 2023 Jkt 262001 this document. Dr. Ann Wolverton, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of Policy (Mail Code 1809A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202–566– 2278; email address: Wolverton.ann@ epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: ADDRESSES: section of I. Public Participation A. Written Comments Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No EPA–HQ–OA–2013–0320, 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 comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA’s docket at https:// www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary Business Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective comments. II. General Information A. Where can I find the document? The draft revision of the Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis is available at https://www.epa.gov/ environmental-economics/epa-draftrevision-technical-guidance-assessingenvironmental-justice. B. What is the purpose of the document? The Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (Guidance) addresses the issue of how to analytically consider environmental justice in regulatory PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 89687 analyses. It directs EPA analysts to assess whether environmental justice concerns exist prior to the rulemaking and whether such concerns are likely to be exacerbated or mitigated for each regulatory option under consideration. The technical guidance makes recommendations designed to ensure greater consistency across EPA assessments of EJ concerns for regulatory actions. The recommendations encourage analysts to conduct the highest quality analysis feasible, recognizing that data limitations, time and resource constraints, and analytic challenges will vary by media and circumstance. They are not designed to be prescriptive and do not mandate the use of a specific approach. Updates to the technical guidance reflect advancements in the state of the science; other new peerreviewed Agency guidance documents; and new priorities and direction related to the conduct of environmental justice analysis, including Executive Order 14096. The technical guidance builds on the EPA’s experience in evaluating environmental justice as part of the rulemaking analytic process and underscores the EPA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The technical guidance will enable the EPA to conduct better analysis of regulations which will ultimately enable the EPA to make better decisions. C. How will my comments be used? Public comment received on the draft revision of the Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis will be reviewed and considered for incorporation into or modification of text in the final revised draft of the Guidance. The final draft Guidance will then undergo internal EPA review and revision, and then be finalized for publication following peer review by the EPA’s Science Advisory Board. An EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) review of this document will be announced in December 2023. Information on the SAB review can be found here: https://sab.epa.gov/ords/ sab/r/sab_apex/sab/home. Victoria Arroyo, Associate Administrator, Office of Policy. [FR Doc. 2023–28598 Filed 12–27–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 89687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28598]



[[Page 89687]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2013-0320; FRL-11531-02-OA]


Revised Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in 
Regulatory Analysis: Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 15-
day extension of the public comment period on the draft revision of the 
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory 
Analysis (EJ Technical Guidance). The original Federal Register 
document announcing the public comment period was published on November 
15, 2023. The EPA is extending the deadline of the comment period from 
January 15, 2024 to January 30, 2024.

DATES: The public comment period for the notice published on November 
15, 2023 (88 FR 78358) is being extended by 15 days. The EPA must 
receive comments on or before January 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To review the EJ Technical Guidance, please visit https://www.epa.gov/environmental-economics/epa-draft-revision-technical-guidance-assessing-environmental-justice. You may send comments, 
identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2013-0320, by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ 
(our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, 
Office of Policy, Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery or 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 submissions received must include the Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2013-0320. 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 
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ann Wolverton, National Center for 
Environmental Economics, Office of Policy (Mail Code 1809A), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-2278; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

A. Written Comments

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No EPA-HQ-OA-2013-
0320, 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 comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to 
EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you 
consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary 
Business Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the 
full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or 
multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective 
comments.

II. General Information

A. Where can I find the document?

    The draft revision of the Technical Guidance for Assessing 
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis is available at https://www.epa.gov/environmental-economics/epa-draft-revision-technical-guidance-assessing-environmental-justice.

B. What is the purpose of the document?

    The Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in 
Regulatory Analysis (Guidance) addresses the issue of how to 
analytically consider environmental justice in regulatory analyses. It 
directs EPA analysts to assess whether environmental justice concerns 
exist prior to the rulemaking and whether such concerns are likely to 
be exacerbated or mitigated for each regulatory option under 
consideration. The technical guidance makes recommendations designed to 
ensure greater consistency across EPA assessments of EJ concerns for 
regulatory actions. The recommendations encourage analysts to conduct 
the highest quality analysis feasible, recognizing that data 
limitations, time and resource constraints, and analytic challenges 
will vary by media and circumstance. They are not designed to be 
prescriptive and do not mandate the use of a specific approach. Updates 
to the technical guidance reflect advancements in the state of the 
science; other new peer-reviewed Agency guidance documents; and new 
priorities and direction related to the conduct of environmental 
justice analysis, including Executive Order 14096. The technical 
guidance builds on the EPA's experience in evaluating environmental 
justice as part of the rulemaking analytic process and underscores the 
EPA's ongoing commitment to ensuring the just treatment and meaningful 
involvement of all people with respect to the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. The technical guidance will enable the EPA to conduct better 
analysis of regulations which will ultimately enable the EPA to make 
better decisions.

C. How will my comments be used?

    Public comment received on the draft revision of the Technical 
Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis 
will be reviewed and considered for incorporation into or modification 
of text in the final revised draft of the Guidance. The final draft 
Guidance will then undergo internal EPA review and revision, and then 
be finalized for publication following peer review by the EPA's Science 
Advisory Board. An EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) review of this 
document will be announced in December 2023. Information on the SAB 
review can be found here: https://sab.epa.gov/ords/sab/r/sab_apex/sab/home.

Victoria Arroyo,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-28598 Filed 12-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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