[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11028-11029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4271]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6946-8]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee 
Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given that two 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.
    The Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC) of the Science 
Advisory Board (SAB), will meet on Tuesday, March 6, 2001 and 
Wednesday, March 7, 2001 in the EPA Ariel Rios Building, Room 6013 
North, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. The meeting 
will begin at 8:30 am and end no later than 5 pm on both days.
    The purpose of the meeting is to begin an advisory on second phase 
of RSAC's review of the Peer Review Program (see 64 FR 46189, August 
24, 1999 for additional details), a consultation on the National 
Program Director process established by ORD to manage large cross-
cutting programs and how the Agency obtains science from other sources, 
a consultation on multi-year research planning, a consultation on 
performance metrics for science programs, and to plan for the FY 2002 
policy budget review and commentary and testimony to Congress likely to 
be held in May 2001.
    As it begins its advisory on EPA's implementation of the peer 
review program the Committee will examine two to three case studies to 
better understand how the peer review guidance was followed, how the 
charge questions helped focus the review, and how the product was 
improved by the review. The consultation with the National Program 
Directors will examine how the NPD program works as the NPDs share 
their experiences in getting science from various sources within and 
outside the Agency to support the EPA's mission. The multi-year 
research planning consultation will look at one core and one problem-
driven research plan as a basis to inform the committee of this 
activity, to elicit advice from the individual members about how the 
process could be improved and to begin to discuss how to measure the 
success of science programs over time. The performance metrics 
consultation will build on the points raised during the multi-year 
planning discussion and explore the implications of the Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requirements which requires that 
outcomes be described for all Federal programs, including science 
programs. How does one measure the success of environmental science 
efforts which take time for completion and which contribute to but do 
not directly result in clean air, water and soil. During the budget 
discussion the Committee will begin to identify specific themes and 
issues against which it will evaluate EPA's FY 2002 Science and 
Technology budget request.
    Charge to the Committee--The current RSAC charge with respect to 
its review of the peer review process at EPA is: (a) Is EPA peer 
reviewing the right products? (b) Are the peer reviews conducted 
appropriately? (c) Do the peer reviews make a difference? (d) Does EPA 
peer review all the science it uses (e.g., data submitted from parties 
outside the Agency)? (e) Does the RSAC have additional comments/
guidance for EPA?
    For Further Information--Members of the public desiring additional 
information about the meeting should contact Dr. Jack Fowle, Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO), Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC), 
USEPA Science Advisory Board (1400A), Room 6450, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-
4547; fax at (202) 501-0582; or via e-mail at [email protected]. For a 
copy of the draft meeting agenda, please contact Ms. Wanda R. Fields, 
Management Assistant at (202) 564-4539 or by FAX at (202) 501-0582 or 
via e-mail at [email protected].
    Background materials are available for some of the above 
discussions. Where available, these can be obtained from Ms. Lisa 
Matthews, US EPA, Office of Research and Development (8101R), 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-6669, fax 
(202) 565-2431, e-mail [email protected].
    Providing Oral or Written Comments--Members of the public who wish 
to make a brief oral presentation to the Committee must contact Dr. 
Fowle in writing (by letter or by fax--see previously stated 
information) no later than 12 noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, February 
28, 2001 in order to be included on the Agenda (see SAB policy on 
providing comments, below). The request should identify the name of the 
individual who will make 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 the presentation 
itself.

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, unless otherwise stated. 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),

[[Page 11029]]

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. Comments should be 
supplied to Dr. Fowle 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 formats: 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 EPA 
Science Advisory Board, its structure, function, and composition, may 
be found on our 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 Dr. Fowle at least five business days prior to the meeting so 
that appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: February 12, 2001.
Donald G. Barnes,
Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 01-4271 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
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