[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 57452-57455] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-27795] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6463-3] Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee Meeting: Environmental Economics Advisory Committee Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that several committees of the USEPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on the dates and times noted 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. Important Notice: Documents that are the subject of SAB reviews are normally available from the originating EPA office and are not available from the SAB Office--information concerning availability of documents from the relevant Program Office is included below. 1--Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) The Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on Friday, November 12, 1999, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building--North, Room 6013, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (the entrance to the building is adjacent to the Federal Triangle Metro stop on 12th Street). The SAB main telephone number is (202) 564-4533. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end no later than 3:00 p.m. Purpose of the Meeting The EEAC is meeting to consider and to provide advice and comment to EPA on its report Induced Travel: A Review of Recent Literature with a Discussion of Policy Issues. The EEAC will also receive a briefing by Agency personnel on the status of its efforts to develop an Economic Research Strategy and the committee will discuss its plans for additional meetings during Fiscal Year 2000. Background Information (a) Induced Travel: The Environmental Economics Advisory Committee has been asked to conduct an advisory review of the EPA report, Induced Travel: A Review of Recent Literature with a Discussion of Policy Issues. This follows a briefing on the subject at its April 20, 1999 meeting (see 64 FR 14232-14233). The theory of induced growth in vehicle travel hypothesizes that increases in the carrying capacity of a specific highway corridor or road network will result in an increased level of vehicle traffic. The increase in road capacity results in a decrease in the generalized cost of travel (especially the time costs of travel) and hence an increase in the demand for travel. This issue is a contentious issue among traffic engineers, transportation planners, and the environmental community. A common engineering approach assumes that demand for travel is derived from exogenous growth in economic activities, generally neglecting the inter- relationships between highway capacity, relative travel times, and overall regional accessibility. The background document developed on this issue by EPA outlines the behavioral relationships underlying the theory of induced travel and reviews recent research that documents and empirically measures induced travel effects. The Agency believes that this research provides a strong case for the existence of induced travel effects, and in some cases suggests that a large fraction of growth in vehicle miles of travel (VMT) is directly attributable to increases in road capacity. The paper concludes with a discussion of the relevant research needs in this area and the implications for EPA policies and regulations. (b) Economic Research Plan: The EEAC was asked at its April 9, 1998 meeting to provide the Agency with its advice on a list of topics proposed for inclusion in the EPA economic research program (see 63 FR 14112). The committee sent an Advisory to the EPA Administrator on September 22, 1998 [[Page 57453]] (EPA-SAB-EEAC-ADV-98-005) to satisfy this request. Since that time, the Agency has continued to develop a draft Economics Research Strategy. The Agency will brief the EEAC on the status of its efforts to complete this strategy. Charge to the Committee The principal questions for the Science Advisory Board are: (1) Is the theory of induced travel from the provision of highway capacity consistent with economic theory? (2) Does the analytical methodology used in recent research-- specifically the use of the econometric fixed effects statistical models--test the hypothesis of induced travel over the highway networks during the time periods studied? (3) Do the empirical results of the recent research support a conclusion that induced travel has historically occurred over the national and state highway networks during the time periods studied? For Further Information Single copies of the background document on ``Induced Travel'' can be obtained by contacting Dr. Lewison Lem, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy and Reinvention, Energy and Transportation Sectors Division (2126), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20460, (202) 260-5447, FAX (202) 260-0512, or via email at: [email protected]. No background material is to be provided on the economics research strategy. Anyone wishing to make an oral presentation at the meeting must contact Mr. Thomas Miller, Designated Federal Officer for the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee, in writing no later than 4:00 pm, November, 8, 1999, at the above address, via fax (202) 501- 0582, or via email 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 Mr. Miller no later than the time of the presentation for distribution to the Committee and the interested public. To discuss technical aspects of the meeting, please contact Mr. Miller by telephone at (202) 564-4558. A copy of the draft agenda will be available on the SAB Website (http:/ /www.epa.gov/sab) or upon request from Ms. Dorothy Clark at (202) 564- 4537, or by FAX at (202) 501-0582 or via e-mail at [email protected] no later than November 2, 1999. 2--Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC) The Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Tuesday, November 16 through Thursday, November 18, 1999. The meeting will convene at 9 a.m. each day in the Science Advisory Board Conference Room 6013 Ariel Rios Building (North Entrance--adjacent to the entrance to the Federal Triangle Metro Stop on 12th Street), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC and adjourn no later than 5:30 pm the first and second day, and no later than 2:30 pm the third day. At this meeting, the RAC will: (a) Conduct a review of the risk assessment of radon in homes in light of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VI) report. The Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) draft document being reviewed is entitled ``Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes,'' dated October, 1999; (b) discuss and plan for the next RAC review meeting; and (c) briefly discuss additional projects planned for review in the balance of Fiscal Year 2000 and other projects as time permits. During this meeting, the RAC intends to draft its report in review of the ORIA draft document. This was originally reviewed by the RAC as an advisory of a white paper (see EPA-SAB-RAC-ADV-99-010, dated July 14, 1999. Also 64 FR 10294-10295, dated Wednesday, March 4, 1999) focusing on the technical aspects of the Agency's methodology for estimating cancer risks from exposure to indoor radon in light of the NAS BEIR VI committee report entitled ``Proposed EPA Methodology for Assessing Risks from Indoor Radon Based on BEIR VI,'' dated February 1999. The charge questions to be answered will include, but are not limited to areas of adequacy of the methodology and overall approach; appropriateness of assumptions behind the calculations; and the adequacy in describing and characterizing the limitations and uncertainties. Regarding planning for upcoming reviews, the RAC will discuss with ORIA the proposed projects for Fiscal Year 2000. Among the proposed projects to be discussed are Review of an Updated Computer Model for Evaluating Atmospheric Releases of Radionuclides; Review of a Draft Uranium Mining Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM ) Technical Report; Review of the Multi-Agency Radiation Laboratory Analytical Protocols (MARLAP) Manual; and proposed project sheets on self-initiated topics that are being explored by the RAC, namely Orphan Source Contamination of Metals, and Border Detectors. For Further Information Members of the public wishing further information concerning the meeting, such as copies of the proposed meeting agenda, or who wish to submit written comments should contact Mrs. Diana L. Pozun at (202) 564-4544; fax (202) 501-0582, or via E-Mail at: [email protected]. Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to the Committee must contact Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian in writing (by letter, fax, or by e-mail--see contact information below) no later than 12 noon Eastern Time, Tuesday, November 9, 1999 in order to be included on the Agenda. For further information, contact Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian, Designated Federal Officer for the Radiation Advisory Committee, Science Advisory Board (1400A), U.S. EPA, Washington, DC 20004, phone (202)-564-4557; fax (202)-501-0582; or via E-Mail at: [email protected]. For questions pertaining to the Review of the Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes, please contact Dr. Jerome S. Puskin, ORIA (Mail Code 6603J), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; tel. (2020 564-9212, or Fax (202) 565-2065, or E-mail: [email protected]. For questions on any other topics discussed between the SAB's RAC and the ORIA staff, please contact Dr. Mary E. Clark, (6601J), ORIA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, tel. (202) 564-9348; Fax (202) 565- 2043; or E-mail: [email protected]. Documents pertaining to BEIR VI may also be obtained on the world wide web at the following address: http://www4.nas.edu/cls/brerhome.nsf and then click on ``Publication List.'' The documents are in ascending chronological order, with BEIR VI being published in February, 1998 (near the end of the list). The documents pertaining to BEIR VI may also be obtained on the world wide web at the following address: http://www.nap.edu/reading room and search on ``radon.'' 3--Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on Thursday, November 18, 1999 at the Hawthorne Suites, 300 Meredith Drive Durham, NC 27713, tel. (919) 361- 1234. [[Page 57454]] The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. Purpose of the Meeting The Committee will continue its review of the carbon monoxide (CO) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) with a review of the National Center for Environmental Assessment's (NCEA) revised draft Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide (Second External Review Draft) October 1999, EPA/600/P-99/001B. At this meeting (the second in a series of meetings--see EPA-SAB-CASAC-LTR-99-003 for results of that first review), EPA is seeking advice and comment from CASAC with regard to the scientific soundness of the draft CO Criteria Document for its subsequent use in providing scientific basis for Agency decisions on retention or the possible need for revision to the existing CO NAAQS. The CASAC review will focus on the extent to which the draft document: (1) Adequately identifies and poses pertinent issues that need to be addressed in the document; (2) accurately and concisely summarizes relevant key findings from previous CO criteria review(s); (3) accurately and concisely summarizes and assesses important newly available pertinent information (or have any important new studies been omitted?); (4) appropriately interprets and synthesizes the assessed information; and (5) arrives at sound conclusions and findings, taking into account the newly available data assessed. The CASAC will also conduct a Consultation with the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (EXPOS) (of the Office of Air and Radiation) on its plans for the draft Carbon Monoxide Staff Paper and related analyses. CASAC will receive a briefing from ORD concerning the review process and schedule for the upcoming CASAC review of the Particulate Matter NAAQS (which begins on December 2, 1999--this meeting will be the subject of a subsequent Federal Register notice). For information on obtaining copies of the second external review draft of the Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide, or to obtain information concerning contact individuals, please see 64 FR 55923, October 15, 1999. (For information concerning the first external review draft of the Air Quality Criteria for Carbon Monoxide, please see 64 FR 13198-13199, March 17, 1999.) For Further Information Concerning the Meeting Members of the public desiring additional information about the meeting should contact Mr. Robert Flaak, Designated Federal Officer, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, Science Advisory Board (1400A), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone/ voice mail at (202) 564-4546; fax at (202) 501-0582; or via e-mail at [email protected]. A copy of the draft agenda will be available approximately two weeks prior to the meeting on the SAB website (http:/ /www.epa.gov/sab) or from Ms. Diana Pozun at (202) 564-4544; FAX: (202) 501-0582; or e-mail at: [email protected]. Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to the CASAC must contact Mr. Flaak in writing (by letter, fax or e-mail-- see previously stated information) no later than 12 noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, November 10, 1999 in order to be included on the Agenda. 4--Data From Testing on Human Subjects Subcommittee (DTHSS) The Joint Science Advisory Board/Scientific Advisory Panel (SAB/ SAP) Data from Testing on Human Subjects Subcommittee (DTHSS) will meet on November 30, 1999 at the Sheraton Crystal Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA 22202. The hotel telephone number is 703- 486-1111. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am and end no later than 7:30 pm. Purpose of the Meeting: The DTHSS is meeting to discuss issues on which the Subcommittee could not reach consensus following its initial meeting on December 10-11, 1998 (That meeting was announced in the Federal Register at 63 FR 64714-64715, November 23, 1998). The complete draft Charge identifying and addressing these issues will be posted on the SAB Website (http://www.epa.gov/sab) by October 30, 1999. Availability of Review Materials: There are no new review materials for this meeting, however, hard copies of the EPA primary background documents for the previous meeting may be obtained by contacting: Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; Office location: Room 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202; telephone: (703) 305-5805. For Further Information: Members of the public desiring additional information about the conduct of the meeting should contact Mr. Samuel Rondberg, (1400a), Co-Designated Federal Officer, DTHSS, Science Advisory Board, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at (301) 812-2560; fax at (410) 286-2689; or via e-mail at [email protected] or Dr. Stephanie R. Irene, Co-Designated Federal Officer, U.S. EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7505C), 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460, telephone/voice mail 703-305-5024, fax 703-305-6309, email to Irene.S[email protected]. A copy of the draft agenda will be available on the SAB Website (http://www.epa.gov/sab) or upon request from Ms. Wanda Fields (202) 564-4539, or by FAX at (202) 501-0582 or via e-mail at [email protected] no later than November 15, 1999. Providing Oral or Written Comments: Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to the Committee must contact Mr. Rondberg in writing (by letter, or by e-mail--see previously stated information) no later than 12 noon Eastern Time, November 19, 1999 in order to be included on the Agenda. Written comments may be sent by mail to: The Public Information and Records Integrity Branch (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person or by delivery service, bring comments to: Room 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202. Comments and data also may be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail (E-Mail) to: opt- [email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data also will be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 8.0 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the docket number OPP-98- 31247. No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through E-Mail. Electronic comments may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic submissions can be found under Supplementary Information below. Supplementary Information: The Agency encourages that written statements be submitted before the meeting to provide Panel Members time to consider and review the comments. Information submitted as a comment in response to this notice may be claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as ``Confidential Business Information'' (CBI). Information marked CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. An edited copy of the comment that [[Page 57455]] does not contain the CBI material must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public docket. All comments and materials received will be made part of the public record and will be considered by the Panel. A public record has been established for this notice (including comments and data submitted electronically) under docket number OPP-98- 31247. A public version of this record, including printed versions of electronic comments, which does not include information claimed as CBI, will be available for inspection from 8:30 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public record is located in Room 119 of the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch, Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202. The official record for this notice, as well as the public version, as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official record which will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the address in Availability of Review Materials earlier in this Notice. 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, each individual or group making an oral presentation will be limited to a total time of ten minutes. 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, or mailed soon after receipt by the Agency. Written comments may be provided to the relevant committee or subcommittee up until the time of the meeting. Additional information concerning the Science Advisory Board, its structure, function, and composition, may be found on the SAB Website (http://www.epa.gov/sab) and in the Annual Report of the Staff Director which is available from the SAB Publications Staff at (202) 564-4533 or via fax at (202) 501-0256. Meeting Access Individuals requiring special accommodation at this meeting, 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: October 19, 1999. John R. Fowle III, Acting Staff Director, Science Advisory Board. [FR Doc. 99-27795 Filed 10-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P