[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32607-32608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16131]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8928-2]


EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office Request for Nominations 
of Experts To Augment the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The SAB Staff Office is requesting the nomination of experts 
to augment the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) to 
review an EPA white paper on deriving estimates for the value of 
mortality risk reduction for use in cost-benefit analysis of EPA rules 
and regulations.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by July 29, 2009, per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact 
Dr. Holly Stallworth, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff 
Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9867; by fax at (202) 233-
0643; or via e-mail at [email protected]. General information 
concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on the EPA SAB 
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
historically has used a value of statistical life (VSL) to express the 
benefits of mortality risk reductions in monetary terms for use in 
benefit cost analyses of its rules and regulations. EPA has used a 
central default value (adjusted for inflation) in its primary analyses 
since 1999. Since then, EPA's National Center for Environmental 
Economics (NCEE) has sought advice from the SAB Environmental Economics 
Advisory Committee (SAB-EEAC) on various approaches to deriving VSL, 
including the use of meta analysis and appropriate methodologies for 
valuing life extensions of different lengths. EPA is now preparing a 
white paper which proposes a revision of the VSL based on recent 
literature as well as historical advice from the EEAC. NCEE has 
requested an SAB peer review of the white paper, which will include a 
description of the approach used for deriving estimates for mortality 
risk valuation, a list of selection criteria detailing how the Agency 
selected studies for inclusion in the analysis, and the VSL that 
results from the revised approach. Background information on the use of 
VSL in EPA analyses may be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/webpages/Mortality%20Risk%20Valuation.html.
    The 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 basis for Agency positions and 
regulations. In response to NCEE's request, the SAB Staff Office will 
augment the SAB Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) with 
additional experts to review EPA's draft paper on VSL. The current 
membership of the EEAC may be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/WebCommitteesSubcommittees/Environmental%20Economics%20Advisory%20Committee. The augmented EEAC 
will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA) and all appropriate EPA and SAB procedural policies. Upon 
completion, the panel's report will be submitted to the chartered SAB 
for final approval for transmittal to the EPA Administrator.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting 
nominations of nationally recognized experts with expertise in the 
valuation of mortality risk reduction, including the use of stated 
preference and revealed preference (i.e., hedonic wage) methods for 
estimating the value of mortality risk reductions. In addition, we also 
seek nominations of nationally recognized individuals with expertise in 
meta-analytic techniques.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible 
service on the augmented EEAC in the areas of expertise described 
above. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format (which is 
preferred over hard copy) following the instructions for ``Nominating 
Experts to Advisory Panels and Ad Hoc Committees Being Formed'' 
provided on the SAB Web site. The form can be accessed through the 
``Nomination of Experts'' link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB 
Web

[[Page 32608]]

site at http://www.epa.gov/sab. To receive full consideration, 
nominations should include all of the information requested.
    EPA's SAB Staff Office requests contact information about the 
person making the nomination; contact information about the nominee; 
the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the 
nominee's curriculum vitae; sources of recent grant and/or contract 
support; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current 
position, educational background, research activities, and recent 
service on other national advisory committees or national professional 
organizations.
    Persons having questions about the nomination procedures, or who 
are unable to submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should 
contact Dr. Holly Stallworth, DFO, as indicated above in this notice. 
Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than July 
29, 2009.
    The EPA SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations. 
The names and biosketches of qualified nominees identified by 
respondents to the Federal Register notice and additional experts 
identified by the SAB Staff will be posted on the EPA SAB Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/sab. Public comments on this ``Short List'' of 
candidates will be accepted for 21 calendar days. The public will be 
requested to provide relevant information or other documentation on 
nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating 
candidates.
    For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced subcommittee or review 
panel includes candidates who possess the necessary domains of 
knowledge, the relevant scientific perspectives (which, among other 
factors, can be influenced by work history and affiliation), and the 
collective breadth of experience to adequately address the charge. In 
establishing the augmented EEAC, the SAB Staff Office will consider 
public comments on the ``Short List'' of candidates, information 
provided by the candidates themselves, and background information 
independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. Selection criteria to 
be used for Panel membership include: (a) Scientific and/or technical 
expertise, knowledge, and experience (primary factors); (b) 
availability and willingness to serve; (c) absence of financial 
conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an appearance of a lack of 
impartiality; and (e) skills working in committees, subcommittees and 
advisory panels; and, for the Panel as a whole, (f) diversity of, and 
balance among, scientific expertise, viewpoints, etc.
    The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial 
conflicts of interest will include a review of the ``Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on 
Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential form allows Government 
officials to determine whether there is a statutory conflict between 
that person's public responsibilities (which includes membership on an 
EPA Federal advisory committee) and private interests and activities, 
or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, as defined by Federal 
regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded from the following 
URL address: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-48.pdf.
    The approved policy under which the EPA SAB Office selects 
subcommittees and review panels is described in the following document: 
Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection 
Agency Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), which is posted on 
the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf.

    Dated: July 1, 2009.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E9-16131 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
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