[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40289-40290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14767]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7230-4]


EPA Science Advisory Board; Request for Comments and Notification 
of Public Advisory Committee Teleconference Meeting

SUMMARY: The Office of the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB, the Board) 
is requesting public comment both on a draft document related to SAB 
Policies and Procedures for obtaining public input to be used in panel 
formation and on the need for additional documents on policies and 
procedures.
    Also, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 
92-463, notice is hereby given that the Policies and Procedures 
Subcommittee (PPS or the Subcommittee) of the SAB, a chartered Federal 
advisory committee, is announcing that it will meet in a public 
teleconference on July 8, 2002 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time. 
The meeting will be hosted out of Conference Room 6013, US EPA, Ariel 
Rios Federal Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20004. 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 or how to obtain the phone number, please 
contact the individual listed below.
    Request for Comment--The Office of the EPA Science Advisory Board 
Staff is requesting comment on a short booklet, entitled Overview of 
the SAB Panel Formation Process (this is Appendix A to the report found 
at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/ecm02003.pdf)
    The booklet describes a new four-stage process that developed so 
that the SAB may benefit from public input on panel formation and so 
the process of recruiting and selecting panel members is clearer to the 
public. The intended audience includes SAB Members and Consultants, the 
public, and EPA staff. The SAB Staff invites public comment on: (1) 
Whether the document describes the new processes clearly so that the 
public can understand and participate in the process; and (2) other 
ways to strengthen the Board's operations, including panel formation.
    The SAB Staff may develop booklets describing its policies and 
procedures for project selection panel deliberations; report writing; 
the roles of the Executive Committee, SAB Standing Committees, and 
panels; the role of the SAB Staff; and communication. The SAB Staff 
invites public comment on whether booklets describing policies and 
procedures for these areas, or other areas, are of interest to members 
of the public.
    Please send any public comments to Dr. Angela Nugent of the EPA 
Science Advisory Board staff by June 21, 2002. Comments are preferred 
via email. Please see contact information below.
    Notification of Teleconference and Purpose of the Teleconference--
At the planned teleconference, the PPS will discuss their plans to 
develop advice for the SAB Staff on the development of new guidance for 
policies and procedures for the Board.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public desiring 
additional information about the Teleconference meeting must contact 
Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer, EPA Science Advisory 
Board (1400A), Suite 6450, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4562; fax at 
(202) 501-0323; or via e-mail at [email protected].
    Members of the public desiring additional information about the 
meeting location or the call-in number, must contact Ms. Betty Fortune, 
Management Assistant, EPA Science Advisory Board (1400A), Suite 6450, 
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4534; fax at (202) 501-0323; 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 AGENDAS subheading) approximately 12 days 
before the meeting.
    Oral Comments--The SAB will have a brief period (no more than 15 
minutes) available during the Teleconference meeting for applicable 
public comment. Members of the public who wish to make a brief oral 
presentation must contact Dr. Nugent in writing (by letter, fax, or e-
mail--see previously stated information) no later than 12 noon Eastern 
Time, June 28, in order to be included on the Agenda. The oral public 
comment period will be limited to 15 minutes divided among the speakers 
who register. Registration is on a first come basis, allowing 
approximately three to five minutes per speaker or organization. 
Speakers who are unable to register in time, may provide their comments 
in writing.

Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

    It is the policy of the EPA Science Advisory Board to accept 
written public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public 
comments whenever possible. The EPA Science Advisory Board expects that 
public

[[Page 40290]]

statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of 
previously submitted oral or written statements.
    Oral Comments: In general, for conference call 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 face-to-face meetings.
    Written Comments: Although the SAB accepts written comments until 
two days following the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated 
above), 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 the appropriate DFO 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: Adobe Acrobat (*.PDF), 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 35 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 EPA Science 
Advisory Board FY2001 Annual Staff Report--Expanding Expertise and 
Experience 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. Nugent at least five business days prior to the meeting so 
that appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: June 5, 2002.
Robert Flaak,
Acting Deputy Staff Director, EPA Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 02-14767 Filed 6-11-02; 8:45 am]
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