[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 56 (Thursday, March 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15085-15086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5821]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7888-8]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming 
Meeting of the Science Advisory Board Committee on Valuing the 
Protection of Ecological Systems and Services (C-VPESS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a 
public meeting of the SAB's Committee on Valuing the Protection of 
Ecological Systems and Services (C-VPESS).

DATES: April 12-13, 2005. A public meeting of the C-VPESS will be held 
from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m (eastern time) on April 12, 2005 and from 9 
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (eastern time) on April 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the SAB Conference Center, 
1025 F Street, NW., Suite 3700, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public wishing further 
information regarding the SAB C-VPESS meeting may contact Dr. Angela 
Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone at: (202) 343-
9981 or e-mail at: [email protected]. The SAB mailing address is: 
U.S. EPA, Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB, as well 
as any updates concerning the meetings announced in this notice, may be 
found in the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Background on the SAB C-VPESS and its charge was 
provided in 68 Fed. Reg. 11082 (March 7, 2003). The purpose of the 
meeting is for the SAB C-VPESS to discuss issues concerning methods for 
valuing the protection of ecological systems and services, to continue 
work on the Committee's advisory on the Agency's draft Ecological 
Benefit Assessments Strategic Plan, and to plan committee activities. 
All of these activities are related to the Committee's overall charge, 
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.
    Availability of Review Material for the Meetings: The Agenda and 
background documents for this meeting will be posted prior to the 
meeting on the SAB Staff Office Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/agendas.htm. EPA's draft Ecological Benefits Assessment Strategic Plan 
is available on the EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics 
Web site at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/pages/homepage.
    Procedures for Providing Public Comment: It is the policy of the 
EPA SAB Staff Office to accept written public comments of any length, 
and to accommodate oral public comments whenever possible. The SAB 
Staff Office expects that public statements presented at SAB 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). 
Interested parties should contact the Designated Federal Official (DFO) 
in writing via e-mail 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 appropriate DFO 
at the address/contact information 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 98/2000/XP 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 the relevant

[[Page 15086]]

DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting so that 
appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: March 18, 2005.
Richard Albores,
Acting Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 05-5821 Filed 3-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P