[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52022-52023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21206]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9721-2]


Notification of a Joint Public Teleconference of the Chartered 
Science Advisory Board and Board of Scientific Counselors

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a joint public teleconference of the 
Chartered SAB and Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) to discuss a 
draft report providing advice on implementation of Office of Research 
and Development's (ORD's) strategic directions for research.

DATES: The public teleconference will be held on September 19, 2012 
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 regarding the quality review teleconference 
should contact Dr. Angela Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA 
Science Advisory Board (1400R), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-2218; fax 
(202) 565-2098 or via email at [email protected]. General 
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on 
the 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 BOSC was established by 
the EPA to provide advice, information, and recommendations regarding 
the ORD research program. The SAB and BOSC are Federal Advisory 
Committees 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 and BOSC will hold a joint public teleconference to 
discuss a draft report providing advice on implementation of ORD's new 
strategic directions for research. The SAB and BOSC will comply with 
the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural 
policies.
    Background: ORD has restructured its research programs to better 
understand environmental problems and inform sustainable solutions to 
meet EPA's strategic goals. The restructured research programs comprise 
six program areas: Air, Climate, and Energy; Safe and Sustainable Water 
Resources; Sustainable and Healthy Communities; Chemical Safety for 
Sustainability; Human Health Risk Assessment; and Homeland Security.
    ORD requested that the SAB work jointly with the BOSC to provide 
advice on implementation of ORD's strategic research action plans; 
efforts to strengthen program integration; and efforts to strengthen 
and measure innovation. The SAB and BOSC held a joint public meeting on 
July 10-11, 2012, to discuss implementation of ORD's six major research 
programs (77 FR 36273-36274). The SAB and BOSC will hold a public 
teleconference on September19, 2012, to discuss their draft joint 
advisory report. Additional information about SAB and BOSC advice on 
implementing ORD strategic research directions can be found on the SAB 
Web site at http://

[[Page 52023]]

yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr--activites/
Impl%20ORD%20Strat%20Dir?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 relevant comments pertaining to the 
group providing advice, EPA's charge questions and EPA review or 
background documents. 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 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 DFO 
for the relevant advisory committee directly.
    Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting time 
to make an oral presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be 
limited to three minutes. Those interested in being placed on the 
public speakers list for the September 19, 2012 teleconference should 
contact Dr. Nugent at the contact information provided above by 
September 14, 2012.
    Written Statements: Written statements should be supplied to the 
DFO via email to [email protected] by September 14, 2012. Written 
statements should be supplied in one of the following acceptable file 
formats: Adobe 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 polity to post written comments on the Web page for the 
advisory meeting or teleconference.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Nugent, as 
appropriate at the contact information provided above. To request 
accommodation of a disability, please contact Dr. Nugent preferably at 
least 10 days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as 
possible to process your request.

    Dated: August 16, 2012.
Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-21206 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 am]
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