[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 78 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21829-21830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9143]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL -7652-4]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Environmental Economics 
Advisory Committee of the Science Advisory Board; Review of Upcoming 
Projects and Consultation on Mortality Risk Reduction Notification of a 
Public Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a public meeting of the SAB's 
Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC). The EEAC will 
convene to review upcoming project requests and to offer a day long 
consultation on the methods for the valuation of mortality risk 
reduction.

DATES: May 12-13, 2004. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 
12, 2004 from 12:30 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m. eastern time, and 
on Thursday, May 13, 2004 from 9 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m. 
eastern time.

MEETING LOCATION: The meeting will be held at the Science Advisory 
Board Conference Center located at 1025 F Street, NW., Suite 3705, 
Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this meeting may contact Dr. Holly 
Stallworth, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/voice mail 
at (202) 343-9867, via e-mail at [email protected], or by mail 
at U.S. EPA SAB (MC 1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 
DC, 20460. General information about the SAB can be found in the SAB 
Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE) has 
requested the SAB conduct a consultation on ways to improve the metrics 
for the valuation of mortality risk reduction associated with EPA

[[Page 21830]]

actions. The valuation of mortality risk reduction is an integral part 
of the economic analyses performed by EPA as recognized in its 
Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses (2000). However, because 
economic research on valuing health risk reductions is rapidly 
evolving, new information and approaches have become available since 
the release of the Guidelines. EPA is in the process of revisiting 
current estimates and methods used for valuing health risk reductions 
and plans to revise the Guidelines accordingly. This task is part of 
EPA's commitment to evaluate and revise components of EPA's Guidelines 
for Preparing Economic Analyses (2000) and to consult with the SAB as 
it does so.
    The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent 
scientific and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to 
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and 
regulations. The SAB EEAC will conduct the requested consultation and 
will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA) and all appropriate SAB procedural policies, and will report to 
the chartered SAB.
    The SAB's EEAC will conduct the consultation on May 13, 2004. A 
roster of EEAC members, their biosketches, and the meeting agenda will 
be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab prior to the 
meeting.

Availability of Meeting Materials

    A copy of the draft agenda for the meeting that is the subject of 
this notice will be posted on the SAB Web site prior to the meeting. 
Other materials that may be made available for this meeting may also be 
posted on the SAB Web site in this time-frame.

Procedures for Providing Public Comments

    It is the policy of the SAB Staff Office to accept written public 
comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The SAB expects that public statements presented at 
the meeting 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). 
Interested parties should contact the DFO in writing (e-mail, fax or 
mail--see contact information above) by close of business May 4, 2004 
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, 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 panel for their 
consideration. Comments should be supplied to the 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 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 this meeting, 
should contact the DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting 
so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: April 16, 2004.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff.
[FR Doc. 04-9143 Filed 4-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P