[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1343-1344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-465]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6930-5]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee 
Meeting

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-
463, notice is hereby given that the Clean Air Scientific Advisory 
Committee (CASAC) Technical Subcommittee for Fine Particle Monitoring 
will meet on Monday, January 22, 2001 at the US EPA Environmental 
Research Center (ERC), Classroom 2, Route 54 and Alexander Drive, 
Research Triangle Park, NC. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am and end 
no later than 5 pm, Eastern Time. The meeting is open to the public, 
however, due to limited space, seating will be on a first-come basis. 
For further information concerning the meeting, please contact the 
individuals listed below. Important Notice: Documents that are the 
subject of CASAC reviews are normally available from the originating 
EPA office and are not available from the CASAC Office--information 
concerning availability of documents from the relevant Program Office 
is included below.
    Background--This technical subcommittee of CASAC was established in 
1996 to provide advice and comment to EPA (through CASAC) on 
appropriate methods and network strategies for monitoring fine 
particles in the context of implementing the revised national ambient 
air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter.
    Purpose of the Meeting--At this meeting, the Subcommittee will 
gather information and receive briefings from Agency Staff and outside 
entities.
    Currently, EPA is in the process of preparing a revised criteria 
document and related materials in anticipation of reviewing the 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter 
(PM). As part of that review and in light of the ongoing effort to 
monitor particles, particularly fine particles, there is an increasing 
need to have effective and efficient methods to continuously monitor PM 
mass. Such monitoring presents significant problems and currently, the 
regulations in place make it difficult to qualify a continuous monitor 
as an equivalent method to the designated Federal Reference Method 
(FRM) approach.
    The CASAC Technical Subcommittee for Fine Particle Monitoring is 
soliciting public input on the development of technologies and 
approaches that would provide continuous monitoring of airborne PM with 
a sufficient accuracy and precision that it could be used for 
regulatory purposes. We invite interested individuals, companies, and 
state and local regulatory agencies to submit ideas (in writing or at 
the meeting) as to a framework in which conflicting demands of 
convenience in monitoring, accuracy, precision, and concordance with 
the existing base of monitoring data could be developed. At this time, 
we are not looking for descriptions of specific devices, but rather 
possible approaches (within the regulatory environment) that would 
encourage development, testing, and qualification of new instruments 
for this purpose.
    Presentations may be made to the Subcommittee either orally or via 
a poster. Posters will be set up either within the meeting room or in 
the hallway outside, depending on the number of posters requested. 
Appropriate time will be allocated during the mid-point of the meeting 
to evaluate posters and to discuss these posters with presenters.
    Availability of Review Materials--A brief white paper, outlining 
some of the issues under consideration, will be available from EPA 
Staff on or about January 9th. For further details, or to obtain a copy 
of the draft white paper, please contact Tim Hanley, US EPA, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards (MD-14), Research Triangle Park, NC 
20771, phone (919) 541-4417 or via e-mail at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 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), Suite 6450, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, 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 posted on the SAB Website 
(www.epa.gov/sab) (under the ``Agenda'' subheading) approximately 12 
days before the meeting.
    Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral presentation to 
the Subcommittee, or make arrangements for a poster, must contact Mr. 
Flaak in writing (by letter or by fax--see previously stated 
information) no later than 12 noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, January 17, 
2001 in order to be included on the Agenda. Public comments will be 
limited to approximately ten minutes per speaker or organization, 
unless other arrangements have been made in advance with Mr. Flaak for 
additional time. The request should identify the name of the individual 
making the presentation, the organization (if any) they will represent, 
any requirements for audio visual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 
35mm projector, chalkboard, etc.), and at least 35 copies of an outline 
of the issues to be addressed or of the presentation itself. Those 
requesting a poster should provide their requirements in the same 
request (Posters, or other display materials can be wall mounted, or 
placed on panels or tables).

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. For 
conference call meetings, opportunities for oral comment will be 
limited to no more than five minutes per speaker and no more than 
fifteen minutes total. 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 may be 
provided to the relevant committee or subcommittee up until the time of 
the meeting.

[[Page 1344]]

    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 FY2000 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.
    Individuals requiring special accommodation at this meeting, 
including wheelchair access, should contact Mr. Flaak at least five 
business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can 
be made.

    Dated: December 28, 2000.
Donald G. Barnes,
Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 01-465 Filed 1-5-01; 8:45 am]
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