[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55173-55174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27467]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council

[FRL-7097-4]


Notification of Meeting and Public Comment Period; Open Meetings

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 
92-463, we now give notice that the National Environmental Justice 
Advisory Council (NEJAC), along with the various subcommittees, will 
meet on the dates and times described below. All times noted are 
Eastern Standard Time. All meetings are open to the public. Due to 
limited space, seating at the NEJAC meeting will be on a first-come 
basis. Documents that are the subject of NEJAC reviews are normally 
available from the originating EPA office and are not available from 
the NEJAC. The NEJAC and the subcommittee meetings will take place at 
the Renaissance Madison Hotel, 515 Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98104. 
The meeting dates are as follows: December 3, 2001 through December 6, 
2001. This is the fourth in a series of focused policy issue meetings 
for the NEJAC. To help prepare for this specific focused policy issue 
meeting the following background information is provided:

Request and Policy Issue

    The Charter for the NEJAC states that the advisory committee shall 
provide independent advice to the Administrator on areas that may 
include, among other things, ``the direction, criteria, scope, and 
adequacy of the EPA's scientific research and demonstration projects'' 
relating to environment justice. In order to provide such independent 
advice, the Agency requests that the NEJAC convene a focused, issue-
oriented public meeting in Seattle, WA. The meeting shall be used to 
receive comments on, discuss, and analyze issues related to water 
quality, fish consumption and environmental justice. The Agency, 
furthermore, requests that the NEJAC produce a comprehensive report on 
the differing views, interests, concerns, and perspectives expressed by 
the stakeholder participants on the focused policy issue, and provide 
advice and recommendations for the Agency's review and consideration. 
In order to fulfill this charge, the NEJAC is being asked to discuss 
and provide recommendations regarding the following broad public policy 
question:

    What is the relationship between water quality, fish 
consumption, and environmental justice?

    NEJAC will examine this issue with respect to research 
methodologies, risk assessment and risk management approaches, 
remediation and prevention strategies, and the utilization of statutory 
authorities and implementing regulations which are designed to protect 
the health and safety of all people, including minority, low-income and 
tribal communities

Meeting

    Registration for the NEJAC meeting will begin on Monday, December 
3, 2001 at 12 noon. The NEJAC will convene Monday, December 3, 2001, 
from 2-6 p.m. On Monday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. the Seattle community will 
conduct a ``virtual'' tour dialogue with the NEJAC. Structured 
Presentations for the NEJAC Executive Council will take place during 
this ``virtual'' tour dialogue. The NEJAC will reconvene on Tuesday, 
December 4, 2001 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting on Tuesday will 
be organized to create the best environment for a deliberative process. 
The meeting will be conducted in a round table fashion, except during 
the public comment session. A public comment period dedicated to the 
focused policy issue is scheduled for Tuesday evening, December 4, 
2001, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. General environmental justice public 
comment issues will be heard on Tuesday evening, following the focus 
policy public comment issues. The following Subcommittees will meet on 
Wednesday, December 5, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Air and Water; 
Enforcement; Health and Research; Indigenous Peoples; International; 
and Waste and Facility Siting. The full NEJAC will reconvene Thursday, 
December 6, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to wrap up all business 
requiring Executive Council action. All times shown are local time.
    Any member of the public wishing additional information on the 
subcommittee meetings should contact the specific Designated Federal 
Official at the telephone number listed below.
Subcommittee, Federal Official and Telephone Number
Enforcement: Ms. Shirley Pate, 202/564-2607
Health & Research: Ms. Brenda Washington, 202/564-6781; Ms. Aretha 
Brockett, 202/260-3810
International: Ms. Wendy Graham, 202/564-6602
Indigenous Peoples: Mr. Danny Gogal, 202/564-2576
Waste/Facility Siting: Mr. Rey Rivera, 202/260-1910
Air & Water: Mr. Wil Wilson, 202/564-1954; Ms. Alice Walker, 202/260-
1919
    Members of the public who wish to participate in either of the 
public comment period should pre-register by November 29, 2001. Members 
of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to the focus 
issue being deliberated by the NEJAC. Individuals or groups making oral 
presentations during the public comment period will be limited to a 
total time of five minutes. Only one representative from a community, 
organization, or group will be allowed to speak. Any number of written 
comments can be submitted for the record. The suggested format for 
individuals making public comment should be as follows:

    Request To Make Public Comment Speaker's Template:
Name of Speaker:-------------------------------------------------------
Name of Organization/Community:----------------------------------------
Address/Phone/Fax/Email:-----------------------------------------------
Description of Concern:------------------------------------------------
Relationship to the Policy Issue:--------------------------------------
Recommendations/Desired Outcome:---------------------------------------

    If you wish to submit written comments of any length (at least 50 
copies), they should also be received by November 29, 2001. Comments 
received after that date will be provided to the Council as logistics 
allow. All information should be sent to the address or fax number 
cited below.

[[Page 55174]]

Registration

    Pre-registration for all attendees is recommended. To receive a 
registration form, call the number listed below or visit the web site. 
Correspondence concerning registration should be sent to Ms. Victoria 
Robinson of Tetra Tech Environmental Management, Inc. at: 1881 Campus 
Commons, Suite 200, Reston, VA 20191, phone: 703/390-0641 or fax: 703/
391-5876. Hearing-impaired individuals or non-English speaking 
attendees wishing to arrange for a sign language or foreign language 
interpreter, may make appropriate arrangements using these numbers 
also. In addition, NEJAC offers a toll-free Registration Hotline at 1-
888/335-4299. For on-line registration, you may visit the Internet 
site: http://es.epa.gov/oeca/main/ej/nejac/nejacform.html

    Dated: October 26, 2001.
Charles Lee,
Designated Federal Officer, National Environmental Justice Advisory 
Council.
[FR Doc. 01-27467 Filed 10-31-01; 8:45 am]
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