[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 66328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19168]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8241-9]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Two Public 
Teleconferences of the Science Advisory Board

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a consultation via two public 
teleconferences to provide input on the Agency's proposed Risk and 
Technology Review (RTR) assessment methodology.

DATES: The SAB will hold two public teleconferences on December 7, 2006 
and December 19, 2006. Each teleconference will begin at 1 p.m. and end 
at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).
    Location: Telephone conference call only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing to 
obtain general information concerning this public teleconference or 
should contact Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA 
Science Advisory Board (1400F), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/
voice mail: (202) 343-9977; fax: (202) 233-0643; or e-mail at: 
[email protected]. General information concerning the EPA Science 
Advisory Board can be found on the EPA Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the EPA SAB will 
hold a consultation via public teleconference to provide input on EPA's 
proposed RTR risk assessment methodology. The SAB was established by 42 
U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent scientific and technical advice to 
the Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and 
regulations. The SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee chartered under 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. 
The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB 
Staff Office procedural policies.
    Background: Section 112(f)(2) of the CAA requires EPA to determine, 
for each section 112(d) source category, if the promulgation of 
additional standards is required to provide an ``ample margin of safety 
to protect public health''. EPA also has the discretion to impose a 
more stringent emissions standard to prevent adverse environmental 
effect if such action is justified in light of costs, energy, safety, 
and other relevant factors. EPA is proposing a risk assessment 
methodology aimed at satisfying these obligations in a streamlined and 
efficient manner.
    EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) has requested that the 
Science Advisory Board (SAB) review its proposed Risk and Technology 
Review (RTR) Assessment plan. As a part of the technical basis for 
rulemaking in the EPA's RTR effort, EPA seeks input on whether its 
proposed assessment plan (emission data; dispersion and exposure 
modeling; risk characterization) is adequate to provide the basis for 
regulatory decisions concerning specific source categories. In sum, EPA 
is using a new approach to perform an assessment with the goal of 
characterizing the exposures and risks associated with the emissions of 
hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from approximately 30 different 
industrial source categories. These categories have previously been 
subjected to national emission standards, and the purpose of 
characterizing their risks now is to determine whether those emission 
standards (which were based on emission control technologies, work 
practices and other control measures available at the time they were 
promulgated) are adequate to protect public health with an adequate 
margin of safety and prevent adverse environmental effects.
    In response to OAR's request, the SAB is convening an Ad Hoc 
consultative panel comprised of members of the SAB and its committees 
to provide advice on the proposed plan. The purpose of the first public 
teleconference is to receive a briefing on the proposed plan and to 
clarify the charge to the panel. During the second teleconference, the 
panel will provide input and comments on the proposed assessment plan.
    Availability of Materials: The draft agendas and other materials 
will be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab prior to 
each teleconference. For questions and information concerning the 
Agency's proposed plan, please contact Dr. Dave Guinnup, at (919) 541-
5368, or [email protected].
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Interested members of the 
public may submit relevant written or oral information for the SAB to 
consider during the public teleconference and/or meeting. Oral 
Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral 
presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be limited to three 
minutes per speaker, with no more than a total of one-half hour for all 
speakers. To be placed on the public speaker list, interested parties 
should contact Dr. Sue Shallal, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-
mail), by November 30, 2006 for the first teleconference and by 
December 12, 2006 for the second teleconference, at the contact 
information noted above. Written Statements: Written statements should 
be received in the SAB Staff Office in accordance with the dates 
mentioned above so that the information may be made available to the 
SAB for their consideration prior to each teleconference. Written 
statements should be supplied to the DFO in the following formats: One 
hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail 
(acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS 
PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format).
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Sue Shallal at (202) 
343-9977 or [email protected]. To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Dr. Shallal preferably at least ten days 
prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request.

    Dated: November 8, 2006.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff 
Office.
[FR Doc. E6-19168 Filed 11-13-06; 8:45 am]
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