[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51917-51918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26005]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6169-8]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given that the Ecological Processes and Effects 
Committee of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on October 13-
15, 1998 in Room 3709 Mall, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. 
and end no later than 5:30 p.m. each day. The meeting is open to the 
public, with seating available on a first-come basis. The purpose of 
the meeting is to: a) review certain aspects of the Office of Water's 
Index of Watershed Indicators; and b) continue work on a Committee 
project on ecological report cards.

Background

    Index of Watershed Indicators: In May 1997, the EPEC prepared an 
advisory document recommending improvements and modifications to the 
Agency's Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI). The IWI is a geographic 
information system (GIS)-based tool for providing integrated 
information on the condition and vulnerability of watersheds in the 
United States. The first version of the IWI, released in October 1997, 
contains 15 data layers (or indicators) providing information on water 
and sediment quality within a watershed, indicators of urban and 
agricultural runoff potential, information on aquatic species at risk 
in a watershed, and so forth. In its September 1997 advisory report, 
the Committee recommended that subsequent versions of the IWI include a 
broader range of indicators, including indicators of terrestrial 
condition, and that the algorithm used to integrate the various 
indicators into a watershed score be evaluated.
    The Charge to the Committee for the October review of the IWI is to 
provide peer review and advice on the strategic plan for the IWI; the 
algorithm used to calculate watershed scores; and the proposed 
indicators of terrestrial condition. In addition, the Committee may 
comment on other aspects of the IWI, including the ability of the suite 
of indicators to adequately characterize watershed condition and 
vulnerability.
    Copies of the IWI information provided to the Committee are NOT 
available from the SAB Office, but may be obtained by contacting Lynda 
Buie, EPA Office of Water, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, Mail 
Code (4503F), telephone (202) 260-7046, or via email at 
Buie.L[email protected].
    Ecological Report Cards: The Committee is conducting a self-
initiated project to offer advice to the Agency on the content and 
design of an ecological report card, including the definition of 
baseline ecological data and benchmarks that can be measured to 
demonstrate improvements in ecological integrity as a result of 
management or restoration programs. At its meeting in July 1998, the 
Committee was briefed on various Agency efforts to develop indicators 
and progress measures. The October meeting will be an opportunity for 
the Committee to finalize a project description, and begin discussion 
of a conceptual framework for ecological report cards. Subsequent 
meetings will likely focus on the application of the report card 
framework to example Agency efforts, as well as possible

[[Page 51918]]

discussion of data requirements and data-related issues.
For Further Information Contact: The proposed meeting agenda is 
available from Ms. Mary Winston, Committee Operations Staff, Science 
Advisory Board (1400), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW., Washington DC 
20460, telephone (202) 260-2554, fax (202) 260-7118, or via Email at 
[email protected].

    Any member of the public wishing to submit comments must contact 
Ms. Stephanie Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the 
Committee, in writing no later than 4:00 pm on October 8, 1998 at: 
Science Advisory Board (1400), Room 3702, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington DC 20460; FAX (202) 260-7118; or 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 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 repeat previously submitted oral or written 
statements. In general, each individual or group making an oral 
presentation will be limited to a total time of ten minutes. This time 
may be reduced at the discretion of the SAB, depending on meeting 
circumstances. Oral presentations at teleconferences will normally be 
limited to three minutes per speaker or organization. Written comments 
(at least 35 copies) received in the SAB Staff Office sufficiently 
prior to a meeting date, may be mailed to the relevant SAB committee or 
subcommittee prior to its meeting; comments received too close to the 
meeting date will normally be provided to the committee at its meeting. 
Written comments, which may be of any length, may be provided to the 
relevant committee or subcommittee up until the time of the meeting.
    Copies of SAB prepared reports mentioned in this FR document may be 
obtained from the SAB's Committee Evaluation and Support Staff at (202) 
260-4126, or via fax at (202) 260-1889. Please provide the SAB report 
number when making a request.
    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: September 22, 1998.
Donald G. Barnes,
Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 98-26005 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
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