[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 101 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30103-30104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11609]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8570-9]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming 
Meeting of the Science Advisory Board Ecological Processes and Effects 
Committee Augmented for the Advisory on EPA's Ecological Research 
Program Multi-Year Plan

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 Augmented for the 
Advisory on EPA's Ecological Research Program Multi-Year Plan (Plan). 
The teleconference is being held to discuss the Committee's draft 
advisory report.

DATES: The teleconference will be held on June 13, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 
4 p.m. (Eastern Daylight 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 Augmented for the Advisory on EPA's 
Ecological Research Program Multi-Year Plan will hold a public 
teleconference to discuss a draft advisory report on the EPA Ecological 
Research Program Multi-Year Plan. 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 EPA Office of Research and Development developed a draft 
Ecological Research Program Multi-Year Plan that establishes long-term 
and annual goals for the Agency's Ecological Research Program and 
discusses planned research. The Multi-Year Plan describes a new 
direction for the Ecological Research Program intended to fill the need 
for a better understanding of the implications of human impacts on 
ecosystems and the services they provide. The redirected Ecological 
Research Program builds on past research efforts in ecosystem 
monitoring, restoration, and functioning to develop operational methods 
for incorporating quantitative information on ecosystem services into 
decision making.
    EPA's Office of Research and Development requested that the SAB 
provide advice on the program focus, research questions, and 
implementation approach articulated in the Agency's draft Ecological 
Research Program Multi-Year Plan. The SAB was asked to comment on:
    (1) The utility of the program in offering meaningful contributions 
to ecological sciences and providing useful information for decision 
making, (2) the adequacy of the proposed goals, objectives, and 
research questions in meeting the overall purpose of the program, (3) 
the proposed implementation approach, (4) anticipated challenges to 
achieving the overall goal of the program, and (5) ways to measure the 
progress, productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the program.
    In response to EPA's request, the SAB Ecological Processes and 
Effects Committee is providing advice on the Plan. To augment the 
expertise on the Committee the SAB Staff Office selected several SAB 
committee members with expertise in valuing ecosystem services to 
participate in this advisory activity. The Committee has previously 
held one face-to-face meeting (73 FR 9327). Information about the SAB 
Ecological Processes and Effects Committee Augmented for the Advisory 
on EPA's Ecological Research Program Multi-Year Plan is available on 
the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

[[Page 30104]]

    Availability of Meeting Materials: The draft Ecological Research 
Program Multi-Year Plan 2008-2014 reviewed by the SAB Committee is 
available on the following EPA Office of Research and Development Web 
site: http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/pdfs/ERP-MYP-complete-draft-v5.pdf. 
The agenda and other material for the upcoming public teleconference 
will be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab in 
advance of the teleconference.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Interested members of the 
public may submit relevant written or oral information for the SAB 
Committee to consider during the advisory process. 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 June 6, 
2008 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 June 6, 2008 so that the information may be made 
available to the SAB Committee 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: May 19, 2008.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
 [FR Doc. E8-11609 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
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