[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 204 (Wednesday, October 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60368-60369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26665]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7577-4]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Committee on Valuing the 
Protection of Ecological Systems and Services Notification of Upcoming 
Public Workshop and Public Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is 
announcing a non-advisory public workshop and a public advisory meeting 
of the Board's Committee on Valuing the Protection of Ecological 
Systems and Services (Committee).

DATES: October 27, 2003. The Committee will participate in an Initial 
EPA Background Workshop for the Committee from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Eastern 
Time).
    October 28, 2003. A public advisory meeting for the Committee will 
be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The meeting location for the October 27, 2003 workshop and 
the October 28, 2003 Committee meeting will be in Washington, DC. The 
meeting location will be announced on the SAB Web site, http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding the upcoming workshop, the upcoming 
advisory meeting, or the Committee may contact Dr. Angela Nugent, 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO), U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board 
(1400A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; by 
telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4562; or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. General information about the SAB can be found 
in the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public 
Law 92-463, Notice is given that the Committee will hold a public 
meeting, as described above, to provide initial consultative advice on 
the development of EPA's Strategic Plan for Ecological Benefits and to 
plan the Committee's work.
    Background on the Committee and its charge was provided in a 
Federal Register notice published on March 7, 2003 (68 FR 11082-11084). 
The overall charge to the Committee is to assess Agency needs and the 
state of the art and science of valuing protection of ecological 
systems and services, and then to identify key areas for improving 
knowledge, methodologies, practice, and research.
    At its first advisory meeting, the Committee will be providing 
consultative advice on the Agency's plans to develop an ``Ecological 
Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan.'' Documents related to that 
consultation will be available at the following website, maintained by 
EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/webpages/homepage?Opendocument. A 
notice in the ``News Alerts'' box will direct readers to the materials.
    The purpose of the day-long workshop, which precedes the advisory 
meeting, will be to provide a brief introduction for the Committee to 
the major types of EPA decisions involving valuing ecological systems 
and services, current EPA tools and EPA's needs.
    Agendas for the public workshop and advisory meeting will be posted 
on the SAB website ten days before the dates of those events.
    Procedures for Providing Public Comment. It is the policy of the 
EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office to accept written public 
comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The EPA SAB Staff Office 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 
(unless otherwise indicated). 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. 
Interested parties should contact the Designated Federal Official (DFO) 
identified above at least one week prior to the meeting in order to be 
placed on the public speaker list for the meeting. Speakers should 
bring at least 35 copies of their comments and presentation slides for 
distribution to the participants and public at the meeting. Written 
Comments: Although written comments are accepted until the date of the 
meeting (unless otherwise stated), 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 DFO at the address/
contact information noted above in the

[[Page 60369]]

following formats: One hard copy with original signature, and one 
electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat, 
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.
    Meeting Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access these meetings, should contact Dr. Nugent at least five 
business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can 
be made.

    Dated: October 16, 2003.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 03-26665 Filed 10-21-03; 8:45 am]
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