[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10496-10498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3869]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6945-1]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Three Public Advisory 
Committee Meetings

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given of three meetings of the Joint Subcommittee on 
Industrial Ecology and Environmental Systems Management of the US EPA 
Science Advisory Board's (SAB) Environmental Engineering Committee 
(EEC). First, the Subcommittee will meet by conference call from 1-2 
p.m on Thursday March 1, 2001. From March 21 to 23, the Subcommittee 
will meet face-to-face in conference room 130/138 of the National Risk 
Management Research Laboratory at the Environmental Protection Agency's 
Andrew W. Breidenback Environmental Research Facility, 26 West Martin 
Luther King Boulevard, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Subcommittee will convene 
at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday March 21 and adjourn no later than 3 p.m. 
Friday March 23. The Subcommittee may begin earlier and end later 
otherwise as needed for the work. Finally, on Wednesday April 18 the 
Subcommittee will meet by conference call from 1-3 p.m.
    Both conference call meetings will be coordinated through a 
conference call connection in room 6450C Ariel Rios North (6th Floor), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., 
Washington, DC. The

[[Page 10497]]

public is strongly encouraged to attend the meeting through a 
telephonic link, but may attend physically if arrangements are made in 
advance with the SAB staff. In both cases, arrangements should be made 
with the SAB staff by noon the Wednesday before the meeting. Staff may 
not be able to accommodate the presence of people who appear in person 
without advance notice. Additional instructions about how to 
participate in the conference calls can be obtained by calling Ms. Mary 
Winston, Management Assistant, at (202) 564-4538, and via e-mail at: 
[email protected].
    All times noted are Eastern Standard 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 
activities 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.

Purpose of the Meetings

    1. The purpose of the March 1, 2001 conference call meeting is to 
allow the Subcommittee and the Agency to complete preparations for the 
face-to face meeting on March 21-23, 2001.
    2. At the March 21-23, 2001 meeting, the Committee will conduct a 
consultation on environmental systems management research at EPA and 
prepare a commentary on industrial ecology.
    A ``consultation'' is a means of conferring, as a group of 
knowledgeable individuals, in public session with the Agency on a 
technical matter, before the Agency has begun substantive work on that 
issue. The goal is to leaven EPA's thinking by brainstorming a variety 
of approaches to the problem very early in the development process. 
There is no attempt or intent to express an SAB consensus or to 
generate a formal SAB position. The Board, via a brief letter, simply 
notifies the Administrator that a Consultation has taken place.
    The Subcommittee will prepare by individually selecting and reading 
documents that provide background information on the direction and 
focus of EPA's programs and those being conducted by or under the 
sponsorship of other government agencies, corporations, and Non 
governmental organizations (NGOs). The purpose of this preparation is 
to understand the context for the Environmental Systems Management 
research program.
    Also, the Subcommittee will review a short document prepared by the 
Agency which describes the direction, scope, and focus of EPA's current 
and planned research and expertise in the areas that comprise 
Environmental Systems Management. Information in the document may be 
supplemented by briefings, Q&A and discussion with the Subcommittee and 
relevant ORD staff.
    This is the tentative charge for this consultation. The 
Subcommittee will not attempt to develop a consensus. Individual 
members will comment on:
    (a) the completeness of EPA's existing and planned research 
programs in Environmental Systems Management;
    (b) whether scope, direction, and focus draw on EPA strengths and 
support EPA's mission;
    (c) whether the Agency's assembled expertise is sufficient to 
address the multi-disciplinary nature of this type of research;
    (d) the appropriateness of the EPA program given its strengths and 
weaknesses;
    (e) whether there is a sound scientific basis for the program;
    (f) overlaps with programs of other agencies, corporations, and 
NGOs
    (g) the advisability of better coordination among different groups;
    (h) the forms such coordination might take; and
    (i) the adequacy of the planned budget.
    While no written report will be prepared of the Subcommittee's 
thoughts, individual members will be encouraged to provide their 
comments in writing to the DFO who will include these with the minutes 
of the meeting.
    A ``commentary'' is a short communication that provides unsolicited 
SAB advice about a technical issue the Board feels should be drawn to 
the Administrator's attention. The tentative charge for this commentary 
is:
    (a) The Commentary will provide an overview of Industrial Ecology, 
including, for reference, a brief summary of activities at EPA.
    (b) The Commentary will address how Industrial Ecology is 
consistent with, and complementary to, the single-pollutant, risk-based 
approach to environmental management.
    (c) The Commentary will address the implications of industrial 
ecology for environmental policy, including identification of potential 
applications at EPA.
    (d) The Commentary will address the kinds of research that would 
strengthen the scientific foundation of Industrial Ecology and provide 
a robust framework for application to environmental policy.
    3. The Subcommittee will meet by conference call on April 18, 2001 
from 1-3 p.m. to complete any remaining business from the March 21-23, 
2001 meeting.
    Availability of Materials--Copies of the brief descriptive material 
prepared by the Agency for the Environmental Systems Management 
Research consultation can be obtained after February 20, 2001 from Ms. 
Amy Fox, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther 
King Drive, MS-498, Cincinnati, OH 45268. Ms. Fox may be reached by 
telephone at (513) 569-7079; fax (513) 487-2511, and by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information concerning this meeting or wishing to submit brief 
oral comments (10 minutes or less) must contact Ms. Kathleen White, 
Designated Federal Officer, Science Advisory Board (1400A), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-4559; fax (202) 501-0582; or 
via e-mail at [email protected]. Requests for oral comments must 
be in writing (e-mail, fax or mail) and received by Ms. Kathleen White 
no later than noon Eastern Standard Time on the Wednesday before the 
scheduled meeting.

Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

    It is the policy of the Science Advisory Board to accept written 
public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The Science Advisory Board expects that public 
statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of 
previously submitted oral or written statements. Oral Comments: In 
general, each individual or group requesting an oral presentation at a 
face-to-face meeting will be limited to a total time of ten minutes. 
For teleconference meetings, opportunities for oral comment will 
usually be limited to no more than three minutes per speaker and no 
more than fifteen minutes total. Deadlines for getting on the public 
speaker list for a meeting are given above. Speakers should bring at 
least 35 copies of their comments and presentation slides for 
distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting. Written 
Comments: Although the SAB accepts written comments until the date of 
the meeting (unless otherwise stated), written comments should be 
received in the SAB Staff Office at least one week prior to the meeting 
date so that the comments may be made available to the committee for 
their consideration.

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Comments should be supplied to Ms. White at the address/contact 
information noted above in the following formats: one hard copy with 
original signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file 
format: WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files (in IBM-PC/Windows 95/98 
format). Those providing written comments and who attend the meeting 
are also asked to bring 25 copies of their comments for public 
distribution.
    General Information--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. 
Committee rosters, draft Agendas and meeting calendars are also located 
on our website.
    Meeting Access--Individuals requiring special accommodation at this 
meeting, including wheelchair access to the conference room, should 
contact Ms. White at least five business days prior to the meeting so 
that appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: February 7, 2001.
Donald G. Barnes,
Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 01-3869 Filed 2-14-01; 8:45 am]
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