[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 65339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22661]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8497-8]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public 
Teleconference of the Science Advisory Board Ecological Processes and 
Effects Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science 
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of 
the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to discuss advisory 
activities for the coming year.

DATES: The SAB will hold a public teleconference on December 17, 2007. 
The teleconference will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. (Eastern 
Time).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding the public teleconference may contact Dr. 
Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Dr. Armitage may be 
contacted at the EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
or via telephone/voice mail: (202) 343-9995; fax (202) 233-0643; or e-
mail at: [email protected]. General information about the EPA 
SAB, as well as any updates concerning the teleconference announced in 
this notice, may be found in the SAB 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 SAB Ecological 
Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) will hold a public 
teleconference to discuss advisory activities for the coming year. 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: The SAB EPEC has been asked to provide advice on two 
EPA activities in the coming year. To acquaint the EPEC with these 
activities, EPA will provide introductory briefings on: (1) The EPA 
Office of Research and Development Ecological Research Strategy and 
Multiyear Plan; (2) A methodology for deriving water quality criteria 
for protection of aquatic life based on mode of action. Preliminary 
background information on these activities follow. EPEC will also 
discuss possible additional self-initiated work.
    Ecological Research Strategy and Multiyear Plan--EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD) has requested that the SAB review the 
Agency's proposed Ecological Research Program Strategy and Multi-year 
Plan. The proposed research strategy is focused on developing an 
understanding of the ways in which management choices affect the type, 
quality, and magnitude of the goods and services received from 
ecosystems. ORD has requested that the SAB review the proposed approach 
and components of the research strategy and multiyear plan. ORD has 
also asked the SAB to comment on emerging research issues relative to 
ecosystem services.
    Methodology for deriving water quality criteria for protection of 
aquatic life based on mode of action--EPA's Office of Water has 
developed a white paper that provides a scientific assessment of issues 
facing the Agency in deriving water quality criteria for chemicals such 
as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, particularly those 
exhibiting endocrine disrupting activity. The Office of Water has 
requested advice from the SAB on the overall approach and proposed 
scientific methodology for deriving water quality criteria for these 
compounds.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: The draft agenda and other 
materials will be posted on the SAB Web Site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab 
prior to the teleconference.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Interested members of the 
public may submit relevant written or oral information for the SAB 
Panel to consider during the public teleconference. Oral Statements: In 
general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at a 
public teleconference will be limited to three minutes per speaker, 
with no more than a total of 30 minutes for all speakers. Interested 
parties should contact Dr. Armitage, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-
mail) at the contact information noted above, no later than December 
10, 2007 to be placed on a list of public speakers for the 
teleconference. Written Statements: Written statements should be 
received in the SAB Staff Office by December 10, 2007 so that the 
information may be made available to the SAB Panel members for their 
consideration. 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. Armitage at the phone 
number or e-mail address noted above, preferably at least ten days 
prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process 
your request.

    Dated: November 13, 2007.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E7-22661 Filed 11-19-07; 8:45 am]
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