[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7199-7200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2873]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9264-5]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public 
Meeting of the Science Advisory Board Panel for the Review of EPA's 
Hydraulic Fracturing Study 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 face-to-face 
meeting of the SAB Panel to conduct an independent review of EPA's 
Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 7, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
and March 8, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).

ADDRESSES: The Panel meeting will be held at the Westin Alexandria 
Hotel located at 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this meeting may contact Mr. Edward 
Hanlon, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by 
telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-2134; by fax at (202) 565-2098 or via 
e-mail at [email protected]. General information concerning the EPA 
Science Advisory Board can be found at the EPA SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab. Any inquiry regarding EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing 
Study Plan should be directed to Susan Burden, EPA Office of Research 
and Development (ORD), at [email protected] or (202) 564-6308. Media 
inquiries regarding EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan should 
be directed to Ms. Amy Dewey, EPA Office of Public Affairs (OPA), at 
[email protected] or (202) 564-7816.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The SAB was established pursuant to the Environmental 
Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDAA), 
codified at 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), 5 U.S.C., 
App. 2. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, notice is hereby given that an 
ad hoc SAB Panel will hold a public meeting to review EPA's Draft 
Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan. The SAB will comply with the 
provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural 
policies.
    The EPA Draft Study Plan develops research questions and identifies 
research needs, and proposes an approach to: (1) Gather existing data 
and information, including input from stakeholders; (2) catalog 
potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources; 
and (3) identify data gaps. EPA is seeking SAB review and comment 
regarding the Draft Study Plan. The SAB Staff Office previously 
announced that it was forming an SAB ad hoc Panel to provide 
independent expert advice on EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study 
Plan (75 FR 42087-42088, July 20, 2010). The purpose of the March 7-8, 
2011, meeting is for the Panel to discuss their review comments on 
EPA's Draft Study Plan.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and the EPA Draft 
Study Plan will be available on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the meeting.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for 
consideration by EPA's federal advisory committees and panels has a 
different purpose from public comment provided to EPA program offices. 
Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a federal advisory 
committee is different from the process used to submit comments to an 
EPA program office.
    Federal advisory committees and panels, including scientific 
advisory committees, provide independent advice to EPA. Members of the 
public

[[Page 7200]]

can submit comments for a federal advisory committee to consider as it 
develops advice for EPA. They should send their comments directly to 
the Designated Federal Officer for the relevant advisory committee. 
Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral 
presentation at this public meeting will be limited to five minutes per 
speaker. Interested parties should contact Mr. Edward Hanlon, DFO, in 
writing (preferably via e-mail), at the contact information noted 
above, by February 28, 2011 to be placed on the list of public speakers 
for the meeting. Written Statements: Written statements should be 
received in the SAB Staff Office by February 28, 2011 so that the 
information may be made available to the SAB Hydraulic Fracturing Study 
Plan Review Panel 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). Submitters are 
requested to provide two versions of each document submitted: One each 
with and without signatures, because the SAB Staff Office does not 
publish documents with signatures on its Web sites.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Mr. Edward Hanlon 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: February 3, 2011.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-2873 Filed 2-8-11; 8:45 am]
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