Environmental Protection Agency November 15, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations for membership on the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. The membership of this committee will include a balanced representation of interested persons with relevant experience to contribute to the functions of the committee and will be drawn from farm groups, conservation and environmental groups, agricultural processors and retailers, academia, citizen's groups and tribal governments. Background: In order to help EPA build a more positive and proactive relationship with the agricultural industry to protect human health and the environment, the EPA is forming a Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. This Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator on environmental issues and programs that impact, or are of concern to, farms, ranches and rural communities. The Committee expects to meet approximately two (2) times a year, or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer DFO). Meetings will be held in Washington DC and the EPA regions. Members serve on the Committee in a voluntary capacity. However, EPA may provide reimbursement for travel expenses associated with official government business. Because of the nature of the issues to be discussed, it is the intent of the Agency for the Committee to have a majority of members who are actively engaged in farming or ranching. Members may represent farmers, ranchers, and rural communities large and small, crop and livestock, commodity and specialty, regionally balancedand the rural suppliers, marketers, and processors that serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities; as well as the academic/research community who do research on environmental issues impacting agriculture, tribal agriculture groups, state and local government representatives, and environmental/conservation groups. USDA and other Federal agencies, as appropriate, will be invited to nominate members to serve as regular government employees. In selecting committee members, EPA will consider each candidate's qualifications including, but not limited to, whether the candidate is: Actively engaged in farming. Occupies a senior position within their organization. Holds leadership positions in ag-related organizations, businesses and/or workgroups. Has broad experience outside of their current position. Has experience working on issues where building consensus is necessary. Has membership in professional societies, broad-based networks or the equivalent. Has extensive experience in the environmental field dealing with agricultural issues. Provides services to producers. Is involved in processing, retailing, manufacturing and distribution of agricultural products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's (CASAC) Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Primary NAAQS Review Panel (Panel) to conduct a peer review of EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for Sulfur OxidesHealth Criteria (First External Review Draft) (EPA/600/R-07/108, September 2007) and to conduct a consultation on the EPA's Sulfur Oxides Health Assessment Plan: Scope and Methods for Exposure and Risk Assessment.

Section 110(h) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (the ``Act''), requires EPA by November 15, 1995, and every three years thereafter, to assemble the requirements of the Federally enforceable State Implementation Plans (SIPs) in each State and to publish notice in the Federal Register of the availability of such documents. This notice of availability fulfills the three-year requirement of making these SIP compilations for each State available to the public.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) and the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action revises and adds various definitions of terms used by the ICAPCD and MBUAPCD. We are proposing to approve these local rules under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).