[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1989-1990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-524]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8269-8]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Meeting of 
the Science Advisory Board; Integrated Nitrogen Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a 
public face-to-face meeting of the Integrated Nitrogen Committee to 
develop a work plan for its evaluative study on the need for integrated 
research and control management strategies.

DATES: The meeting dates are Tuesday, January 30, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 
6 p.m. through Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
(eastern standard time).

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U. S. EPA Science Advisory 
Board Staff Office Conference Room, Third Floor, 1025 F Street NW., 
Suite 3700, Washington DC, 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to 
obtain further information about this meeting may contact Ms. Kathleen 
White, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), by mail at EPA SAB Staff 
Office (1400F), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20460; by telephone at (202) 343-9878; by fax at (202) 233-0643; or by 
e-mail at [email protected]. The SAB mailing address is: U.S. EPA, 
Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC, 20460. General information about the SAB, as well as 
any updates concerning the meeting announced in this notice, may be 
found on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    All biologically active, photochemically reactive, and radiatively 
active nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere 
are collectively referred to as reactive nitrogen. Over the past few 
decades, human activities leading to the production of reactive 
nitrogen exceed that of natural terrestrial ecosystem production at the 
global scale. Reactive nitrogen has both benefited (e.g., increased 
food production) and impacted health and welfare of people (e.g., 
respiratory effects) and ecosystems (e.g., biodiversity loss). 
Scientific information suggests that reactive nitrogen is accumulating 
in the environment, and that nitrogen cycling through biogeochemical 
pathways has a variety of consequences. Environmental research suggests 
that the management of reactive nitrogen should be viewed from a 
systems perspective and integrated across environmental media. As 
examples, urban air pollution from reactive nitrogen may contribute to 
water pollution; and extensive nitrogen loads in river basins may 
impact downstream coastal zones. Accordingly, linkages between reactive 
nitrogen induced environmental and human health effects need to be 
understood in order to optimize reactive nitrogen research and risk 
management strategies.
    The EPA Science Advisory Board (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 bases for EPA policies and regulations. Understanding EPA's 
various programs for reactive nitrogen is key to developing scientific 
and technical recommendations regarding the development of an 
integrated research and management strategies for reactive nitrogen. 
The SAB has formed the Integrated Nitrogen Research committee to 
develop information regarding EPA's nitrogen research and risk 
management programs. The information will provide the basis for an SAB 
report that will provide advice and recommendations regarding how the 
Agency may better integrate reactive nitrogen research and risk 
management strategies across environmental media and programs. 
Background information on the formation of this expert committee can

[[Page 1990]]

be found in a Federal Register Notice published March 14, 2005 (70 FR 
12476-12477). The purpose of this meeting is for the Committee to: 
Initiate discussion about the scientific issues underlying the 
environmental problems due to reactive nitrogen in the environment; 
learn more about Agency nitrogen research and control strategies; and 
to plan its future work.

Availbility of Meeting Materials

    A roster of committee members, their biographical sketches, the 
meeting agenda, and any other materials in support of this meeting will 
be placed on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of 
this meeting.

Procedures for Providing Public Input

    Interested members of the public may submit relevant written or 
oral information for the SAB to consider during the advisory process.
    Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an 
oral presentation at a public meeting will be limited to five minutes 
per speaker, with no more than one hour for all speakers. Interested 
parties should contact Ms. White, DFO, at the contact information 
provided above, by January 23, 2007, to be placed on the public speaker 
list for the January 30-31, 2007 meeting.
    Written Statements: Written statements should be received in the 
SAB Staff Office by January 23, 2007, so that the information may be 
made available to the SAB for their consideration prior to this 
meeting. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO in the 
following formats: one hard copy with original signature at the mailing 
address provided above, and one electronic copy via e-mail to 
[email protected] (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, 
WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/
Windows 98/2000/XP format).

Meeting Accommodations

    For information on access or services for individuals with 
disabilities, please contact Ms. Kathleen White at (202) 343-9878, or 
via e-mail at [email protected]. To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Ms. White, preferably at least 10 days prior 
to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your 
request.

    Dated: January 9, 2007.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E7-524 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]
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