[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70445-70446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29299]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9491-5]


Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Chartered Science 
Advisory Board

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a 
public teleconference of the Chartered SAB on December 6, 2011 to 
receive an update on EPA strategic research directions and to conduct 
quality reviews of two draft SAB reports, a draft Review of Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative Action Plan and draft SAB Recommendations for 
EPA's FY2011 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA).

DATES: The public teleconference will be held on December 6, 2011 from 
12 p.m. to 3 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 to 
obtain general information concerning the public teleconference may 
contact Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Dr. Nugent 
may be contacted at the EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; or by telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-2218; fax 
at (202) 565-2098; or email at [email protected]. General 
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on 
the EPA 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 EPA 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 the SAB will hold a public 
teleconference to receive an update on EPA strategic research 
directions and to conduct quality reviews of two draft SAB reports, a 
draft SAB Recommendations for EPA's FY2011 Scientific and Technological 
Achievement Awards (STAA) and a draft Review of Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative Action Plan. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA 
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.

Background

(1) Update on Office of Research and Development (ORD) Strategic 
Research Directions

    At ORD's request, the SAB provided joint advice with ORD's Board of 
Scientific Counselors on strategic research directions through an 
October 2011 report, Office of Research and Development (ORD) New 
Strategic Research Directions: A Joint Report of the Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) and ORD Board of Scientific Councilors (BOSC) (EPA-SAB-12-
001). The ORD Deputy Associate Administrator for Science will provide 
an update on ORD activities in this area and discuss ORD's request for 
additional SAB advice.

(2) EPA's Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA)

    At ORD's request, the Science Advisory Board makes recommendations 
to the Administrator concerning nominations for the Agency's FY 2011 
Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards. These awards are 
established to honor and recognize EPA employees who have made 
outstanding contributions in the advancement of science and technology 
through their research and development activities, as exhibited in 
publication of their results in peer-reviewed journals.
    An SAB committee reviewed the nominations and prepared a draft 
report making recommendations for the Administrator's consideration for 
FY 2011 recognition and awards. Background information about this 
advisory activity can be found on the SAB Web site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/2011%20STAA?OpenDocument.

(3) Review of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan

    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 is designed to target the most 
significant environmental problems in the region. 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 EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager requested the SAB to 
review the GLRI Action Plan to assess the appropriateness of its 
measures and actions to achieve its stated priorities and goals.
    An SAB panel reviewed the EPA's action plan and prepared a draft 
report that will undergo quality review by the chartered SAB. 
Background information about this advisory activity can be found on the 
SAB Web site at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Review%20of%20GLRI%20Action%20Plan?OpenDocument.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and other materials 
in support of the teleconference will be placed on the SAB Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the teleconference.
    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 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 provides specific scientific or technical 
information or analysis for the SAB to consider or if it relates to the 
clarity or accuracy of the technical information. Members of the public 
wishing to provide comment should contact the Designated Federal 
Officer directly. Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups 
requesting an oral presentation at a teleconference will be limited to 
three minutes. Those interested in being placed on the public speakers 
list for the December 6, 2011 teleconference should contact Dr. Nugent 
at the contact information provided above no later than December 1, 
2011. Written Statements: Written statements should be supplied to the 
DFO via email at the contact information noted above by December 1, 
2011 for the teleconference so that the information may be made 
available to the Panel members for their consideration. Written 
statements should be supplied in one of the following electronic 
formats: Adobe

[[Page 70446]]

Acrobat PDF, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/
Windows 98/2000/XP format. It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to 
post written comments on the Web page for the advisory meeting or 
teleconference. Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version 
of each document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish 
documents with signatures on its Web sites. Members of the public 
should be aware that their personal contact information, if included in 
any written comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site.
    Copyrighted material will not be posted without explicit permission 
of the copyright holder.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent (202) 564-2218 
or [email protected]. To request accommodation of a disability, 
please contact Dr. Nugent preferably at least ten days prior to the 
teleconference to give EPA as much time as possible to process your 
request.

    Dated: November 3, 2011.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-29299 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
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