[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53583-53584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20871]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7260-2]


ISCMEM Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental 
Modeling; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The annual public meeting of the Federal Interagency Steering 
Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM) will convene to 
review progress by the working groups and to discuss initiatives for FY 
2003.

DATES: September 12, 2002, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Thomas Jefferson 
Auditorium), 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Official: Gary J. 
Foley, 919-541-2106; General Information: Dave Brown, 706-355-8300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 5, 2001, six Federal agencies entered into a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) on research and development of multimedia 
environmental models. The MOU establishes a framework for facilitating 
cooperation and coordination among the following agencies (the specific 
research organization within the agency is in parenthesis): U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (Engineer Research and Development Center); U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service); U.S. 
Department of Energy (Office of Science and Technology); U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Research and Development); 
U.S. Geological Survey; and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Office 
of Nuclear Regulatory Research) in research and development (R&D) of 
multimedia environmental models, software and related databases, 
including development, enhancements, applications and assessments of 
site-specific, generic, and process-oriented multimedia environmental 
models as they pertain to human and environmental health risk 
assessment. Specifically, the MOU supports the exchange of technical 
information through data bases, information systems, clearinghouses, 
conferences, workshops, activities for developing a common model-data 
framework, collaboration on scientific projects supporting the modeling 
framework, and other means pertaining to multimedia model development, 
enhancements and applications focusing on environmental risk 
assessments.

Goals of the MOU

    Provide a mechanism for the cooperating Federal Agencies to pursue 
a common technology in multimedia environmental modeling with a shared 
scientific basis; Reduce redundancies and improve the common technology 
through exchange and comparisons of multimedia environmental models, 
software and related databases; Seek mutual benefit from their 
respective R&D programs related to multimedia environmental model 
development and enhancement activities, and to ensure effective 
exchange of information between their technical staff and contractors; 
Facilitate the establishment of working partnerships among the 
cooperating Federal Agencies' technical staff and designated 
contractors in order to enhance productivity and mutual benefit through 
collaboration on mutually-defined research studies such as the 
development of a common model-data framework; Develop high-quality 
research and modeling products and commit to following established 
quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures.

Focus of the MOU

    Exchange of information related to multimedia environmental 
modeling tools and supporting scientific information for environmental 
risk assessments, protocols for establishing linkages between disparate 
databases and models, and development and use of a common model-data 
framework; Research and development programs include development and 
field applications of a wide variety of software modules, data 
processing tools, and uncertainty assessment approaches for 
understanding and predicting contaminant transport processes including 
the impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors on human and 
ecological health.

Public Meeting Purpose

    The annual public meeting provides an opportunity for the 
scientific community, other Federal and State agencies, and the public 
to be briefed on the progress of the MOU working groups and their 
initiatives for the upcoming year, and to discuss technological 
advancements in multimedia environmental modeling. Copies of the

[[Page 53584]]

agenda are available upon request to Dr. Dave Brown, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecosystems 
Research Division, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605-
2720; telephone number: (706) 355-8300; fax number: (706) 355-8302; e-
mail address: [email protected].

Meeting Synopsis

    The tentative agenda is for the ISCMEM Chair to report on two 
initiatives: progress on establishing Web sites for technology 
transfer; and new participating Federal agencies. The four MOU working 
groups: Software System Design and Implementation; Uncertainty and 
Parameter Estimation; Modeling Reactive Transport; and Watershed 
Modeling will report on their progress during the year. A series of 
three technical presentations will focus on: ``Modeling Frameworks--
G.I.S. Integration'' be presented by Olaf David, PhD., Research 
Scientist, Colorado State University/Agricultural Research Service, 
USDA, Fort Collins, CO; ``Multi-Objective Parameter Estimation and 
Uncertainty Analysis for Watershed Modeling'' to be presented by Steve 
Markstrom, U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, CO; and ``Object Modeling 
System \1\ (OMS) Implementation Implications for Technology Transfer 
and E-Government'' to be presented by Jack Carlson, Director, 
Information Technology Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
USDA, Fort Collins, CO.
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    \1\ Object Modeling System information can be viewed at: http://xml.gov/efforts/oms.htm.
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Access

    The USDA Jefferson Auditorium is located on the first floor of the 
South Agriculture Building at 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 
DC between the fourth and fifth wings. To access the Jefferson 
Auditorium, please use the fourth wing entrance on Independence Avenue. 
The most convenient transportation to the meeting venue is via Metro. 
Please take Metro to the Smithsonian stop on the Blue or Orange Lines, 
exit via the Independence Avenue escalator, proceed west on 
Independence Avenue to the South Agriculture Building and enter through 
the wing 4 which is the visitors entrance. Please inform the security 
personnel that you are attending the public meeting on multimedia 
modeling in the Jefferson Auditorium.

    Dated: August 9, 2002.
David S. Brown,
Chief, Regulatory Support Branch.
[FR Doc. 02-20871 Filed 8-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P