[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36677-36681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17965]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6121-4]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee 
Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-
463, notification is hereby given that various committees/subcommittees 
of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on the dates and times 
described below. All times noted are Eastern Time. All meetings are 
open to the public, however, seating is limited and available on a 
first come basis. Documents that are the subject of SAB reviews are 
normally available from the originating U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) office and are not available from the SAB Office. Public 
drafts of SAB reports are available to the Agency and the public from 
the SAB office. Details on availability are noted below.

1. Environmental Engineering Committee (EEC) Subcommittee

    The EEC's Quality Management Subcommittee will meet Tuesday July 
21, 1998 in Room 3709 of the Mall at the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. The meeting will begin 
at 9:30 am and adjourn no later than 6:00 pm. The Subcommittee reviewed 
the quality management program and project-level documents at its April 
27-29, 1998 public meeting (see 63 FR 17000, April 7, 1998). The 
Subcommittee is scheduled to complete its review September 22-24, 1998 
(location to be determined) to review implementation of EPA's quality 
system. The purpose of the July 21 meeting is to define what needs to 
be done and to schedule and assign the work for the September meeting.
    For Further Information--For further information concerning this 
meeting, please contact the following individuals. Any member of the 
public wishing further information concerning the meeting should 
contact Mr. Robert

[[Page 36678]]

Flaak, Team Leader and Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Committee 
Operations Staff, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Washington DC 20460; (202) 260-5133; FAX (202) 260-
7118; or E-Mail at [email protected]. Copies of the agenda will be 
available from Mrs. Dorothy Clark, Management Assistant, approximately 
a week before the meeting. Mrs. Clark can be reached at (202) 260-4126, 
FAX (202) 260-7118, or E-Mail at [email protected], or at the 
above address.
    Any member of the public wishing to submit oral comments at the 
meeting must contact Mr. Robert Flaak (address above) in writing no 
later than noon on July 16. The request should identify the name of the 
individual who will make the presentation, the organization 
represented, and an outline of the issues to be addressed. At least 35 
copies of any written comments to the Committee are to be given to the 
DFO no later than the time of the presentation; these will be 
distributed to the Committee and the interested public.

2. Environmental Engineering Committee (EEC)

    The Environmental Engineering Committee will meet Wednesday through 
Friday, July 22-24, 1998 in Room 3709 of the Mall at the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. 
The meeting will begin at 8:30 am on July 22 and adjourn no later than 
3:30 pm on July 24.
    At its February 5-6, 1998 meeting, the EEC authorized members to 
draft commentaries on four initiative areas: (a) Uncertainty in 
Environmental Technology Performance; (b) TCLP: From Waste 
Classification to Source Term Prediction; (c) Natural Hazards: A 
Framework for Control of Environmental Impacts; and (d) Waste 
Utilization. The Committee also authorized members to develop 
information on the five following areas: (a) P2: Barriers to 
Implementation and Social Science; (b) Potential Sources of Endocrine 
Disruptors; (c) Potential Sources of PM2.5; (d) Potential 
Use of Measurements for Process Control to Reduce Dioxin Emissions from 
Combustion Sources; and (e) EPA (and other environmental) Strategy & 
Goals.
    EEC members will brief the Committee on: (a) the four proposed 
initiatives, and on what information they have developed in the other 
five areas; (b) the progress of the EEC's Retrospective Subcommittee 
efforts to establish attributes for successful proactive technical 
advice; and (c) on the activities of the EEC's Quality Management 
Subcommittee. The EEC will discuss potential FY 98 and FY 99 
activities. SAB staff may brief the Committee on the progress of tasks 
identified at the Science Advisory Board's (SAB) November 1997 
Strategic Retreat and the SAB's Integrated Risk Project. Technical 
staff from EPA and the public may also brief the Committee on relevant 
Agency activities that bear on these efforts.
    For Further Information--For further information concerning this 
meeting, please contact the following individuals. Any member of the 
public wishing further information concerning the meeting should 
contact Mr. Robert Flaak, Team Leader and DFO, Committee Operations 
Staff, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington DC 20460; (202) 260-5133; FAX (202) 260-7118; or E-
Mail at [email protected]. Copies of the agenda will be available 
from Mrs. Dorothy Clark, Management Assistant, approximately a week 
before the meeting. Mrs. Clark can be reached at (202) 260-4126, FAX 
(202) 260-7118, or E-Mail at [email protected], or at the above 
address.
    Any member of the public wishing to submit oral comments at the 
meeting must contact Mr. Robert Flaak (address above) in writing no 
later than noon on July 16. The request should identify the name of the 
individual who will make the presentation, the organization 
represented, and an outline of the issues to be addressed. At least 35 
copies of any written comments to the Committee are to be given to the 
DFO no later than the time of the presentation; these will be 
distributed to the Committee and the interested public.

3. Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC)

    The Science Advisory Board's (SAB's) Radiation Advisory Committee 
(RAC) will conduct a public meeting on Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, 
July 23, 1998. The meeting will convene each day at 9:00 am in the 
Administrator's Conference Room 1103 West Tower, U.S. EPA Headquarters, 
401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20460 and adjourn no later than 5:30 
pm each day.
    At this meeting, the RAC will briefly discuss projects that are 
planned for review in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999, conduct closure reviews on 
two draft reports being developed by subcommittees of the RAC, and be 
briefed on a number of radiation-related topics by the staff of the 
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA).
    Beginning on Wednesday, July 22, 1998, the RAC will attempt a 
closure review of a draft report prepared by its Uncertainty in 
Radiogenic Risk Subcommittee (URRS) on its review of the Agency's draft 
``Uncertainty Analysis for Estimating Radiogenic Cancer Risks,'' dated 
October 1997. The URRS held two public meetings on November 20, 1997 
(62 FR 55249, October 23, 1997) and on March 4, 1998 (63 FR 6927, 
February 11, 1998). The charge questions to the Subcommittee are: (a) 
Are the relevant major sources of uncertainties addressed?; (b) Is the 
overall approach to quantifying and combining uncertainties 
appropriate?; and (c) Are the mathematical functions used to 
characterize the various sources of uncertainty reasonable, in view of 
available scientific information?
    The RAC will also attempt a closure review of a draft report being 
prepared by its Federal Guidance Report Review Subcommittee (FGRRS) on 
its review of the Agency's Interim Version of Federal Guidance Report 
(FGR) Number 13, Part I, Health Risks From Low-Level Environmental 
Exposure to Radionuclides, EPA 402-R-97-014, dated January 1998. This 
report provides cancer mortality and morbidity risk coefficients for 
internal and external exposures to about 100 radionuclides. The 
methodology combines the radiogenic cancer risk models previously 
reviewed by the SAB's RAC (EPA-SAB-RAC-LTR-93-004--see end of notice 
for ordering information) with dose rates from radionuclide intakes or 
external exposures to calculate health risks to the public.
    The RAC's FGRRS held a public meeting on May 7 and 8, 1998, and a 
public teleconference on June 2, 1998. Both were advertised in 63 FR 
17000, April 7, 1998. The charge to the RAC's FGRRS is as follows: (a) 
Is the methodology employed for calculating health risks from 
radionuclide intakes and external exposure acceptable?; (b) In light of 
available scientific information, have the major uncertainties been 
identified and put into proper perspective?; and (c) Is the proposed 
method for extending the list of radionuclides to include all those 
tabulated in Federal Guidance Reports 11 and 12 reasonable?
    The RAC will be briefed on: (a) Biological Effects of Ionizing 
Radiation (BEIR) VI; (b) the status of a white paper on estimating 
cancer risks for indoor radon as a basis for establishing cancer risks 
for radon; (c) a revised radon risk assessment which looks at the 
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recommendations for a model coming 
out of their final peer reviews; (d) the NAS study of Diffuse 
Naturally-

[[Page 36679]]

Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) and the forthcoming ORIA draft 
scoping document; and (e) Multi-Agency Laboratory Analytical Procedures 
(MARLAP). The RAC also plans to discuss the Agency's response to the 
SAB's review of the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site 
Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), dated December 4, 1997. Other topics 
may be discussed as time permits.
    For Further Information--For further information on the meeting 
contact Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian, Designated Federal Officer, Radiation 
Advisory Committee, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. EPA, 
Washington, DC 20460, phone (202)-260-2560; fax (202)-260-7118; or via 
E-Mail at: [email protected]. Any member of the public wishing 
further information concerning the meeting, including a draft meeting 
agenda, should contact Mrs. Diana L. Pozun, Management Assistant, at 
(202) 260-8432; FAX (202) 260-7118, or via E-Mail at: 
[email protected]. Members of the public who wish to make a brief 
oral presentation to the Committee during the meeting must contact Dr. 
K. Jack Kooyoomjian in writing (address above) no later than noon, 
Wednesday, July 15, 1998 in order to be included on the Agenda.
    For questions pertaining to the review of uncertainty analysis for 
estimating radiogenic cancer risks or pertaining to the review of the 
Federal Guidance Report 13, Part I and to obtain copies of the 
documents to be discussed, please contact Mr. Brian Littleton, ORIA 
(6601J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-9216; FAX (202) 565-2043; or via E-Mail 
at: [email protected].

4. Secondary Data Use Subcommittee of the Executive Committee (EC)

    The Secondary Data Use Subcommittee of the Science Advisory Board's 
(SAB) Executive Committee will meet Thursday, July 30, 1998 in 
Conference Room 3709 Mall, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am and 
adjourn no later than 5:00 pm.
    Purpose--The purpose of this meeting is to begin the SAB's project 
to provide advice to the Agency on the appropriate secondary use of EPA 
regulatory data bases. This review was requested by the Center for 
Environmental Information and Statistics (CEIS) in EPA's Office for 
Policy, Planning and Evaluation (OPPE).
    The CEIS is in the process of reviewing 30 major EPA regulatory 
databases for their potential use in secondary data analyses (i.e., for 
uses other than that for which they were originally collected). The 
Agency's regulatory data bases were designed to be used in making 
enforcement, compliance and standard setting decisions. The CEIS 
reviews will try to determine the extent to which these observational 
data bases can be used for other purposes such as assessment of 
environmental conditions and trends, scientifically based studies of 
cross-media relationships, and human health or environmental risk 
assessment.
    The tentative charge to the Subcommittee is to: (a) Provide 
consultations on the overall process of suitability review; (b) Review 
CEIS's reviews for technical quality, comprehensiveness and clarity; 
(c) Provide consultation on developing minimum criteria or 
characteristics that a database should possess if it is to be used for 
scientific purposes such as exposure assessment; (d) Make 
recommendations for areas where the CEIS should develop new 
quantitative methods for the use of secondary EPA databases; and (e) 
Set up a workshop which brings together Agency and external experts to 
discuss the various issues and concerns regarding the secondary use of 
administrative and observational EPA databases.
    At the July 30 meeting, the Subcommittee expects to hear a briefing 
on the Agency's secondary use review program, discuss the overall 
approach, and plan the Subcommittees work, which is expected to extend 
over several meetings.
    For Further Information--Copies of the review documents and 
background materials are available from Dr. N. Phillip Ross, Chief 
Statistician, Center for Environmental Information and Statistics 
(2163), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, telephone 
(202) 260-5244, fax (202) 260-5880, or via E-Mail at: [email protected].
    Copies of the meeting agenda are available from Mrs. Priscilla 
Tillery-Gadson, Staff Secretary, Executive Committee, Science Advisory 
Board (1400), U.S. EPA, Washington DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-4126, 
fax (202) 260-9232, or via E-Mail at: [email protected].
    Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to 
the Committee during the meeting must contact Mrs. Anne Barton, 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Secondary Data Use 
Subcommittee, in writing no later than noon Thursday July 23, at 
Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington DC 20460; FAX (202) 260-9232; or via E-Mail at 
[email protected]. The request should identify the name of the 
individual who will make the presentation and an outline of the issues 
to be addressed. At least 35 copies of any written comments to the 
Committee are to be given to the DFO no later than the time of the 
presentation; these will be distributed to the Subcommittee and the 
interested public. To discuss technical aspects of the meeting, please 
contact Mrs. Barton by telephone at (202) 260-9280.

5. Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC)

    The Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC) will meet on 
Friday, July 31, 1998 in Conference Room 3709 of the Mall, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. 
The meeting will begin at 8:30 am and adjourn no later than 5:00 pm.
    Purpose--The purpose of the meeting is to advise EPA on science-
related aspects of its FY 2000 budget request. The Committee will use 
resource data (figures) from EPA's FY 1998 operating plan and FY 1999 
proposed budgets. The review will include the entire science and 
technology (S&T) account, not simply the ORD budget, which was the 
focus of the February 1998 RSAC review (see 63 FR 6927, February 11, 
1998). While the Committee will not receive quantitative information 
concerning the FY 2000 budget (since this information is neither 
complete nor publicly available at this time), the Agency will provide 
general information about the priorities that will likely be reflected 
in the FY 2000 budget.
    The SAB is being asked to advise the Agency on: (a) the budget 
allocations and trends that are reflected in the FY 1998 and the FY 
1999 budget figures; (b) the priorities identified for FY 2000; and (c) 
the thrusts and balances that they would recommend for FY 2000.
    For Further Information--Single copies of the review materials are 
available from Mr. Robert Flaak, Designated Federal Officer for the 
Research Strategies Advisory Committee (see below for contact 
information).
    Copies of the meeting agenda are available from Mrs. Mary Winston, 
Management Assistant, Committee Operations Staff, Science Advisory 
Board (1400), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460, telephone 
(202) 260-4126, fax (202) 260-7118, or via E-Mail at: 
[email protected].
    Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to 
the Committee during the meeting must contact Mr. Flaak in writing no 
later

[[Page 36680]]

than noon Thursday July 23, at Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC 20460; (202) 260-5133; 
FAX (202) 260-9232; or via E-Mail at [email protected]. The request 
should identify the name of the individual who will make the 
presentation and an outline of the issues to be addressed. At least 35 
copies of any written comments to the Committee are to be given to the 
DFO no later than the time of the presentation; these will be 
distributed to the Subcommittee and the interested public.

6. Residual Risk Strategies Subcommittee of the Executive Committee 
(EC)

    The Residual Risk Subcommittee of the Executive Committee of the 
Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on Monday, August 3, 1998 in the 
Main Auditorium of the US EPA, Office of Research and Development, 
Environmental Research Center, 86 T.W. Alexander Drive Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am 
and adjourn no later than 5:00 pm.
    Purpose--The purpose of the meeting is to conduct a review of the 
Agency's Draft Residual Risk Report to Congress. This document presents 
the Agency's response to the section 112(f)(1) mandate and the proposed 
strategy for addressing the risks remaining from particular classes of 
air emission sources once Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) 
standards have been adopted.
    The tentative charge to the SAB is as follows: (a) Within the 
context and scope of the section 112(f)(1) requirements, has the Draft 
Residual Risk Report to Congress (Report) properly interpreted and 
considered the technical advice from previous reports, including: (1) 
the NRC's 1994 report ``Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment'' and 
(2) the 1997 report from the Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk 
Management in developing its risk assessment methodology and residual 
risk strategy?; (b) Does the Report identify and appropriately describe 
the most relevant methods (and their associated Agency documents) for 
assessing residual risk from stationary sources?; 
Does the Report provide an adequate characterization of the data needs 
for the risk assessment methods?; (d) Does the Report provide an 
adequate approach to describing the inherent uncertainties associated 
with assessment of residual risks?; and (e) Does the Report adequately 
address the range of scientific and technical issues that underlie a 
residual risk assessment?
    For Further Information--Copies of the draft Report may be obtained 
from the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (MC-6102), 
Docket No. A-97-39, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street 
SW, Room M-1500, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548, 
between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. Copies may also be downloaded from the 
following Internet address: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3rc.html . 
Contact Mr. Dennis Pagano, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards 
(OAQPS); (919) 541-0502; or via E-Mail at: [email protected] if 
you have question about the Report.
    Any member of the public wishing to submit brief oral comments at 
the meeting must contact Dr. Donald Barnes, Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO) for the Subcommittee, in writing no later than noon on Monday, 
July 20. Dr. Barnes can be reached at Science Advisory Board (1400), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC 20460; (202) 260-
4126; FAX (202) 260-9232; or E-Mail at [email protected]. The request 
should identify the name of the individual who will make the 
presentation, the organization represented, and an outline of the 
issues to be addressed. At least 35 copies of any written comments to 
the Committee are to be given to the DFO no later than the time of the 
presentation; these will be distributed to the Committee and the 
interested public.

7. Environmental Engineering Committee (EEC) Subcommittee

    The EEC's Retrospective Subcommittee will meet Friday August 14 
from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in Room E-308, Kitson Hall, Francis College of 
Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, One University 
Avenue, North Campus, Lowell, MA 01854. At this meeting, the 
Subcommittee plans to prepare a commentary on attributes for successful 
proactive technical advice.
    For Further Information--For further information concerning this 
meeting, please contact the individuals listed below. Any member of the 
public wishing further information concerning the meeting should 
contact Mrs. Kathleen Conway, DFO for the EEC, Committee Operations 
Staff, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington DC 20460; (202) 260-2558; FAX (202) 260-7118; or via 
E-Mail at: [email protected]. Copies of the agenda will be 
available from Mrs. Dorothy Clark, Management Assistant, a week before 
the meeting. Mrs. Clark can be reached at (202) 260-4126, FAX (202) 
260-7118, or via E-Mail at: [email protected], or at the above 
address.
    Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to 
the Committee during the meeting must contact Mrs. Kathleen Conway 
(address above) in writing no later than noon on Wednesday, July 29. 
The request should identify the name of the individual who will make 
the presentation, the organization represented, and an outline of the 
issues to be addressed. At least 35 copies of any written comments to 
the Committee are to be given to the DFO no later than the time of the 
presentation; these will be distributed to the Committee and the 
interested public.

Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

    The Science Advisory Board expects that public statements presented 
at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or 
written statements. In general, for meetings, opportunities for oral 
comment will usually be limited to no more than five minutes per 
speaker and no more than thirty minutes total. Written comments (at 
least 35 copies) received in the SAB Staff Office sufficiently prior to 
a meeting date (usually one week before the meeting), may be mailed to 
the relevant SAB committee or subcommittee; comments received too close 
to the meeting date will normally be provided to the committee at its 
meeting. Written comments may be provided to the relevant committee or 
subcommittee up until the time of the meeting. Public comments (written 
or oral) should focus on scientific or technical aspects of the matters 
before the Committee at its meeting.
    Information concerning the Science Advisory Board, its structure, 
function, and composition, may be found in the current Annual Report of 
the Staff Director, as well as copies of SAB prepared reports mentioned 
in this FR document. These are available from the SAB's Committee 
Evaluation and Support Staff (CESS) by contacting US EPA, Science 
Advisory Board (1400), Attention: CESS, Washington, DC 20460 or via 
telephone (202) 260-4126 or via fax (202) 260-1889. Please provide the 
SAB report number, if known, when making a request. Many of the reports 
and additional information concerning the SAB can be found on the SAB 
Home Page at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

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    Individuals requiring special accommodation at SAB meetings, 
including wheelchair access, should contact the appropriate DFO at 
least five business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made.

    Dated: June 30, 1998.
A. Robert Flaak,
Acting Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 98-17965 Filed 7-6-98; 8:45 am]
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