[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63709-63710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25411]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8734-1]


National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of meeting; Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice of Meeting--Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
Public Law 92463, EPA gives notice of a meeting of the National 
Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). 
NACEPT provides advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of 
environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NACEPT is a 
committee of individuals who represent diverse interests from academia, 
industry, non-governmental organizations, and local, state, and tribal 
governments.
    The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the draft findings from 
NACEPT's 20th anniversary report, sustainable water infrastructure, 
biofuels, EPA's 2009-2014 Strategic Plan Change Document, and EPA's 
Draft Information Access Strategy. A copy of the agenda for the meeting 
will be posted at http://www.epa.gov/ocem/nacept/cal-nacept.htm.
    Request for Comments--In recognition of its 20th anniversary in 
2008, NACEPT is preparing two reports that seek to: (1) Identify the 
issues and challenges EPA will face and should focus on over the next 
5-10 years (``prospective report''), and (2) review NACEPT's activities 
and accomplishments during its 20-year history (``retrospective 
report'').
    For the prospective report (1 above), EPA has begun 
gathering input on the following ten questions about future 
environmental issues and trends and EPA's role in addressing them.
    1. What do you consider to be the most influential long-term trends 
or forces (whether social, economic, technological, or otherwise) that 
are most likely to impact the environment over the next ten years?
    2. What is your opinion on whether EPA is adequately addressing 
these trends or developments?
    3. What steps could EPA take to improve its ability to anticipate 
and address these trends and related issues?
    4. What do you consider to be the top environmental issues or 
challenges that the EPA must address in the next 10 years?
    5. What might limit the Agency's ability to respond to the 
identified issues?
    6. What are some specific steps that the Agency could take to 
respond to the issues and overcome the constraints?
    7. What might the Agency look like ten years from now and what 
major changes in the way the Agency currently operates should be 
implemented now to achieve this ten year vision?
    8. Over the next ten years, how would you define success for the 
EPA?
    9. What measures would indicate success or failure for the Agency 
in the next ten years?
    10. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
    The initial findings that have emerged from the input received thus 
far include the following:
     Climate change presents a challenge that will require 
substantial EPA involvement over the next ten years and beyond.
     EPA does or should play a pivotal role as the nation's 
leading source of environmental science and technology and should 
foster collaborative and cooperative relationships with all public and 
private sector interests.
     Some factors that will influence the degree to which EPA 
is successful over the next ten years remain largely beyond the 
Agency's control.
    The draft prospective report will be posted at http://epa.gov/ocem/nacept/reports/index.html. You may send your comments to Sonia Altieri 
at the contact information listed below. EPA will review the comments 
received, but will not respond to individual comments.

DATES: NACEPT will hold a two-day meeting on Thursday, November 13, 
2008, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday, November 14, 2008, from 
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

[[Page 63710]]


ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Gaylord National Resort and 
Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745. 
The meeting is open to the public, with limited seating on a first-
come, first-served basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sonia Altieri, Designated Federal 
Officer, [email protected], (202) 564-0243, U.S. EPA, Office of 
Cooperative Environmental Management (1601M), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests to make oral comments or to provide 
written comments to the Council should be sent to Sonia Altieri, 
Designated Federal Officer, at the contact information above. All 
requests must be submitted no later than November 7, 2008.
    Meeting Access: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Sonia Altieri at 202-564-
0243 or [email protected]. To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Sonia Altieri, preferably at least 10 days 
prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process 
your request.

    Dated: October 16, 2008.
Megan Moreau,
Acting, Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-25411 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
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