[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34749-34750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16899]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5848-8]


Peer Review of Agency Research Plans

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces two workshops sponsored by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and 
Development (ORD) to obtain scientific peer-review for two research 
plans, one entitled ``Research Plan for Endocrine Disruptors'' and the 
other entitled ``Global Change Research Strategy.''

DATES: The dates for the workshops are listed below. Members of the 
public may attend as observers. Due to limited space, seating at the 
meetings will be on a first-come first-serve basis.
    Peer Review of Endocrine Disruptors Research Plan. The workshop 
will begin at 8 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 
1997, and begin at 9 a.m. and end no earlier than 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 
July 9, 1997.
    Peer Review of Global Change Research Strategy. The workshop will 
begin at 8 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 
1997, and begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no earlier than 3:30 p.m. on 
Thursday, July 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Both peer reviews will be held at the Carlton Hotel, 923 
16th Street, Washington, DC Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA 
contractor, is providing logistical support for the workshop. To attend 
the workshop as an observer, contact Eastern Research Group, Inc., Tel: 
(617) 674-7374. Space is limited so please register early.

AVAILABILITY OF REVIEW MATERIALS: An electronic version of each 
research strategy is accessible on EPA's Office of Research and 
Development home page on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ORD/
resplans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Endocrine Disruptors Research Plan 
Peer Review--Dr. Robert Kavlock, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(MD-71), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-2771. 
Global Change Research Strategy Peer Review--Mr. Thomas Barnwell, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (MD-75), Research Triangle Park, NC 
27711, telephone (919) 541-2106.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Endocrine Disruptors Research Plan was 
developed to provide a roadmap for the EPA's Office of Research and 
Development research program on endocrine disruptors. It is intended to 
provide guidance to both the intramural research program and the 
extramural grants program in terms of research priorities and the 
pacing of the research programs over the next five years. The plan 
recognizes that considerable research in this area is funded by several 
federal agencies and seeks to emphasize those areas where EPA can make 
a substantive and meaningful contribution. The plan has been circulated 
through the CENR (Committee on the Environment and National Resources) 
Working Group on Endocrine Disruptors that is coordinating efforts 
across the federal government.
    Briefly, the plan addresses research needs in the areas of 
biological effects (both for human health and wildlife) and exposure 
assessment. Importantly, it also contains a ``linkage'' section that 
strives to integrate effects and exposure research to provide a more 
complete analysis of the risks than has generally been done in the past 
for endocrine disruptors. Specific projects will be chosen for funding 
following peer review of proposals submitted under targeted Reguests 
for Applications (RFAs) during each budget year. These RFAs will be 
based on the overall strategy, and fine tuned each year to ensure the 
appropriate balance and mix of research, given progress achieved in 
prior years.
    The Global Change Research Strategy is focused on the resolution of 
issues resulting from the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change (IPCC) report suggesting the potential for serious ecological 
and health effects due to global change, and on addressing priorities 
established in the overall federal research program. The strategic foci 
of ORD's global change research program are: identification and 
evaluation of (1) regional ecological vulnerabilities (including 
associated human health impacts) to temperature and hydrologic changes 
associated with predicted changes in climate; and (2) adaptation 
strategies and cost-effective technologies to prevent or control 
greenhouse gas emissions.
    ORD's first major focus is to provide a stronger scientific basis 
for understanding, predicting and assessing the causes and impacts of 
changes in terrestrial, aquatic and coastal ecosystems resulting from 
human-induced and natural stressors. ORD's second major focus is to 
implement a variety of emission reduction and adaptation measures to 
implement a variety of emission reduction. Due to uncertainties about 
the significance of impacts and the wide variety of emission sources, 
an array of options will be needed. The strategy document describes the 
research areas and planned direction for the ORD program over the next 
3 to 5 years.


[[Page 34750]]


    Dated June 23, 1997.
Joseph K. Alexander,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, Office of Research and 
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-16899 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
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