[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51364-51365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21100]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9452-7]


Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Science Advisory 
Board Panel for the Review of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
Action 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 Panel to discuss its draft advisory report on the interagency 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan FY 2010-2014.

DATES: The teleconference will be held on September 16, 2011 from 1 
p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).

ADDRESSES: The public teleconference will be conducted by telephone 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this teleconference meeting may contact 
Mr. Thomas Carpenter, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff 
Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4885; by fax at (202) 565-
2098 or via e-mail [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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 teleconference 
to discuss its draft advisory report on the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative Action Plan. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA 
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
    Background: EPA is leading an interagency Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative (GLRI) to protect and restore the chemical, biological, and 
physical integrity of the Great Lakes. The GLRI Action Plan is designed 
to target the most significant environmental problems in the region, as 
documented in extensive scientific studies, conferences and workshops. 
To guide the efforts of the GLRI, EPA and its Federal partners, through 
the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, developed a comprehensive 
multi-year Action Plan. The GLRI Action Plan identifies outcome-
oriented performance goals, objectives, measurable ecological targets, 
and specific actions for five major focus areas: toxic substances and 
areas of concern; invasive species; near-shore health and nonpoint 
source pollution; habitat and wildlife protection and restoration; and 
accountability, education, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and 
partnerships. EPA is seeking SAB review and comment regarding the Great 
Lakes Restoration Initiative's Action Plan. Additional information 
describing the scientific background and basis for the Action Plan can 
be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Review%20of%20GLRI%20Action%20Plan?OpenDocument.
    The panel held a public meeting on July 12 and 13, 2011 (76 FR 115, 
34977-34978 and 76 FR 131 40355) to discuss their comments on the 
Action Plan. The purpose of the September 16, 2011 teleconference is 
for the Panel to discuss their draft advisory report.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and the draft 
Advisory Report on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action 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

[[Page 51365]]

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 can submit comments for a Federal 
advisory committee to consider as it develops advice for EPA. Input 
from the public to the SAB will have the most impact if it consists of 
comments that provide specific scientific or technical information or 
analysis for SAB panels to consider or if it relates to the clarity or 
accuracy of the technical information included. Members of the public 
wishing to provide comment should contact the Designated Federal 
Officer for the relevant advisory committee directly.
    Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an 
oral presentation at this public teleconference will be limited to 
three minutes per speaker. Interested parties should contact Mr. Thomas 
Carpenter, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-mail), at the contact 
information noted above, by September 12, 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 September 12, 2011 so that the information may be 
made available to the SAB Oil Spill Research 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. It is the SAB Staff Office general 
policy to post written comments on the Web page for the advisory 
meeting or teleconference. Members of the public should be aware that 
their contact information, if included in any written comments, will 
appear on the web. Furthermore, special care should be taken not to 
include copy-righted material.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter 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: August 10, 2011.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-21100 Filed 8-17-11; 8:45 am]
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