[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10238-10240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5031]



[[Page 10238]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7457-7]


A National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging: Setting 
Priorities for Research and Education To Address Environmental Hazards 
That Threaten the Health of Older Persons

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public listening sessions and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In October 2002 EPA launched an Aging Initiative to study the 
effects of environmental health hazards on older persons and examine 
the impact that a rapidly aging population will have on the 
environment. The Initiative will also identify model programs that will 
provide opportunities for older persons to volunteer in their 
communities to reduce environmental hazards and protect the environment 
for future generations. EPA is seeking public comment through Friday, 
May 16, 2003 to assure that the final agenda includes input from the 
broadest base of expertise including Federal, State, local and tribal 
governments, public and private organizations, professional health, 
aging and environmental associations, academia, business and volunteer 
organizations, and others including older Americans and their families. 
EPA encourages comments from all those interested in addressing 
environmental health hazards that affect the health of older persons.
    In addition, six public listening sessions will be held this Spring 
to gather input for the National Agenda. The meetings are open to the 
public. Pre-registration is required due to the limited seating 
capacity at each location. When registering to attend or present 
comments during the public listening sessions, individuals requiring 
special accommodations should note their needs so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made. In addition, every effort will be made to 
ensure that non-English speaking persons can participate in public 
meetings and through written comments.

Public Listening Sessions

Dates: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Registration  deadline*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Thursday, April 3, 2003, 1:30-3:30      March 26.
 p.m., Tampa, FL.
2. Tuesday, April 8, 2003, 1:30-3:30       April 1.
 p.m., San Antonio, TX.
3. Tuesday, April 15, 2003, 1:30-3:30      April 8.
 p.m., Iowa City, IA.
4. Wednesday, April 23, 2003, 2-4 p.m.,    April 16.
 Pittsburgh, PA.
5. Tuesday, April 29, 2003, 1:30-3:30      April 22.
 p.m., Los Angeles, CA.
6. Wednesday, May 7, 2003, 1:30-3:30       April 29.
 p.m., Baltimore, MD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Pre-registration is required.


ADDRESSES:

1. Tampa Auditorium, University of South Florida College of Public 
Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, Florida
2. San Antonio University Auditorium, University of Texas Health 
Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, 
Texas
3. Iowa City Second Floor Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union, the University 
of Iowa, Corner of Jefferson and Madison Streets, Iowa City, Iowa
4. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Room, First Floor, Pittsburgh Athletic 
Association, 4215 Fifth Avenue (Oakland area), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5. Los Angeles Grand Horizon Room, 3rd Floor, Covel Commons, Sunset 
Village on the UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California
6. Baltimore Auditorium, School of Nursing, University of Maryland 
Baltimore, 655 West Lombard Street (corner of Lombard and Penn), 
Baltimore, Maryland

    For additional information, contact Kathy Sykes, EPA's Aging 
Initiative Coordinator, at 202-564-2188 or by email: 
aging.info@epa.gov">aging.info@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA's Aging Initiative is working with 
various partners on the development of a National Agenda on the 
Environment and the Aging

1. Tampa University of South Florida; West Central Florida Area Agency 
on Aging
2. San Antonio University of Texas Health Science Center at San 
Antonio; Bexar County Area Agency on Aging
3. Iowa City University of Iowa College of Public Health and The Center 
on Aging; The Heritage Agency
4. Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public 
Health; Allegheny Area Agency on Aging
5. Los Angeles University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Graduate 
School of Public Health, UCLA Center on Aging, City of Los Angeles 
Department of Aging; Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging
6. Baltimore University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine and 
Center for Research on Aging, University of Maryland Baltimore School 
of Nursing

    At the beginning of each public listening session an EPA official 
will describe the process that will be used to develop the National 
Agenda on the Environment and the Aging. Public comments will follow 
from pre-registered speakers who wish to contribute to the agenda by 
offering brief comments on one or all of the three priority areas 
described below. Each presentation will be limited to three minutes and 
the written or preferably typed statement of the comments must be 
provided in advance. Please fax your statement to (202) 564-2733 no 
later than the registration deadline for the session you have selected 
(see above for listing of deadlines). There is no page limitation on 
written comments.
    If time allows, members of the audience will have an opportunity to 
provide comments. Pre-registration is required for attendance at each 
session and for providing comments due to limited seating and time. To 
register to attend or participate, go to http://www.epa.gov/aging and 
click on the ``Public Listening Sessions'' side bar and follow 
instructions to register to attend or to speak. Deadlines to pre-
register for each session are provided.

National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging

Setting Priorities for Research and Education to Address Environmental 
Hazards That Threaten the Health of Older Persons

    In October 2002 EPA launched an Aging Initiative to study the 
effects of environmental health hazards on older persons and examine 
the impact that a rapidly aging population will have on the 
environment. The Initiative will also identify model programs that will 
provide opportunities for older persons to volunteer in their 
communities to reduce environmental hazards and protect the environment 
for future generations. EPA is seeking public comment through Friday, 
May 16, 2003, to assure that the final agenda includes input from the 
broadest base of expertise including Federal, State, local, and tribal 
governments, public and private organizations, professional health, 
aging and environmental associations, academia, business and volunteer 
organizations, and other stakeholders, including older Americans and 
their families. EPA encourages comments from all those interested in 
contributing to the agenda. The agenda

[[Page 10239]]

will be developed through an open, participatory process. The National 
Agenda will be composed of three parts:
    (1) Identifying research gaps in environmental health;
    (2) Preparing for an aging society; and
    (3) Encouraging older adults to volunteer to address environmental 
hazards.

I. Identifying Research Gaps in Environmental Health

Strategy To Address Environmental Hazards That Threaten the Health of 
Older Persons: Research and Educational Priorities

    The National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging will lay out 
a strategy that combines research and educational programs that promote 
preventive actions to address environmental health hazards. One 
fundamental question is: How do environmental hazards affect older 
persons differently from younger persons? Understanding the biology 
underlying differing age-related responses can inform a scientific 
rationale for decisions on how to appropriately incorporate the 
differential sensitivity of those who are aging into environmental risk 
assessment, decisions and actions.
    EPA's effort to develop a national agenda to address environmental 
issues that affect the health and well-being of the nation's older 
persons has been advanced by a workshop on the ``Differential 
Susceptibility and Exposure of Older Persons to Environmental Hazards'' 
convened by the National Academy of Sciences in December 2002. At that 
meeting, experts discussed priority issues for the National Agenda on 
the Environment and the Aging. Experts focused on exposures to 
environmental hazards found in drinking water, indoor and outdoor air, 
and food residues that may have health effects including respiratory 
and cardiopulmonary disease, neurotoxicity, infectious disease and 
cancer.
    EPA invites public comments on environmental hazards that may 
affect the health of older persons in states and local communities. 
Among questions which may be considered are:
    [sbull] What specific environmental exposures in your community 
particularly affect the health of older persons?
    [sbull] Which health conditions specific to older adults may 
increase their susceptibility to chemical toxicants?
    [sbull] Which lifestyle factors of older adults may increase the 
exposure to environmental hazards?
    [sbull] What steps may individuals and communities take to reduce 
the potential environmental health risks that older adults may face?

II. Preparing for an Aging Society

Impact of an Aging Population on the Environment

    The EPA invites comments on the extent to which an aging population 
may affect the environment. The nation's demographics will have changed 
dramatically by 2030: the U.S. population over 65 years of age is 
expected to double. The largest cohort born in U.S. history (76 million 
Americans were born between 1946 and 1964) begins to turn 65 in 2011 
and will markedly influence the quality of life for both older persons 
and young people. The National Agenda will focus on the interface 
between older persons and their environment.
    As an increasing number of adults approach retirement age, 
migration may substantially increase to areas characterized by 
temperate climates, lower population and traffic density, and better 
environmental quality. These areas may be sparsely populated and 
ecologically diverse regions. To ensure harmony between the needs of 
this growing population and preserving important natural resources, it 
is important to have the tools available for regional and landscape 
planning. The EPA invites comments on the extent to which an aging 
population has unique needs with respect to housing, transportation, 
health care, recreation, and other quality of life issues, and how 
these needs may affect the environment. Issues which may be considered 
include:
    [sbull] What can city, county and regional planners do to meet the 
needs of today's older adults and prepare for the anticipated increase 
in the number of retirees and at the same time enhance preservation of 
natural resources for recreation, wildlife, water, air and land 
quality?
    [sbull] Can you identify unique resource needs and utilization 
patterns of older adults that may generate novel ecological pressures?
    [sbull] What steps can individual baby boomers and older adults 
take to not only reduce potential hazards to the environment but also 
preserve and enhance the quality of the environment for themselves and 
future generations?

III. Encouraging Older Adults to Volunteer to Reduce Environmental 
Hazards

Opportunities for Older Persons To Enhance the Environment and Their 
Health

    The National Agenda will not only identify strategies to protect 
the quality of life for older persons from environmental hazards, but 
also suggest ways to engage the nation's older persons in programs and 
strategies designed to enhance the environment for all generations.
    Many older Americans contribute their time, energy and expertise to 
protect their environment and educate their communities about 
environmental hazards to citizens and threats to natural resources. The 
EPA intends to encourage further involvement and expand opportunities 
for older persons to volunteer in programs designed to lessen 
environmental hazards. Programs or activities that are of interest 
include activities that increase awareness of environmental hazards, 
and preserve the quality of the environment for today and tomorrow's 
citizens. The EPA welcomes comments on encouraging older adults to 
volunteer to reduce environmental hazards in their communities. Among 
the questions to which the EPA invites comments are the following:
    [sbull] Which volunteer programs that address environmental hazards 
in your community warrant examination for possible replication in other 
communities?
    [sbull] What incentives are needed to encourage older persons to 
volunteer their time and ideas to protect the environment, reduce 
environmental hazards and enhance the health of and the environment for 
people of all ages?
    [sbull] In an effort to raise awareness of environmental factors 
important to all citizens, how can older persons serve as models of 
good practice and mentors for younger generations about environmental 
hazards found in the community?
    [sbull] In your community or state, what intergenerational 
environmental projects have been successful in improving the health of 
children or older persons?
    [sbull] What potential barriers exist to volunteering in your 
community to reduce environmental hazards?
    Public comments will be accepted until Friday, May 16, 2003.
    (1) To pre-register to attend or speak at a public listening 
session, please go to EPA's Aging Initiative Web site: http://www.epa.gov/aging.

[[Page 10240]]

    (2) To submit written comments, please send them by mail or hand 
deliver to: EPA's Aging Initiative, Mail Code 1107A, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Room 2512 Ariel Rios North, Washington, DC 20460, or
    (3) Fax comments to: National Agenda for the Environment and the 
Aging (202) 564-2733, or
    (4) E-mail comments to: aging.info@epa.gov">aging.info@epa.gov.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Joanne Rodman,
Acting Director, Office of Children's Health Protection.
[FR Doc. 03-5031 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P