[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68057-68058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27141]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9902-78-OA]


Notification of a Public Meeting of the Chartered Science 
Advisory Board

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 public meeting of the chartered 
SAB to: (1) Receive a briefing on ORD's research program; (2) conduct a 
quality review of a draft SAB report on recommendations for the 
Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards; (3) receive briefings 
on EPA climate science and research; and (4) discuss information 
provided by the EPA on actions in the semi-annual regulatory agenda and 
their supporting science.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday December 4, 2013 
from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday December 5, 2013 from 8:00 
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 
Thomas Circle NW., Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants 
further information concerning the meeting may contact Dr. Angela 
Nugent, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board 
(1400R), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-2218, fax 
(202) 565-2098; or email at [email protected]. General information 
concerning the SAB can be found on the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The SAB was established pursuant to the Environmental Research, 
Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA), codified at 
42 U.S.C. 4365, to provide independent scientific and technical advice 
to the Administrator on the scientific and 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. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA and all 
appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. Pursuant to FACA and 
EPA policy, notice is hereby given that the SAB will hold a public 
meeting to discuss and deliberate on the topics below.

Briefing on ORD Research Program

    The SAB and ORD's Board of Scientific Councilors (BOSC) provided a 
joint report to the Administrator in September 2012 entitled 
Implementation of ORD Strategic Research Plans: A Joint Report of the 
Science Advisory Board and ORD Board of Scientific Counselors (EPA-SAB-
12-012). ORD will provide a briefing to update SAB members on recent 
ORD research efforts and plans to request advice from the SAB in 2014 
on ORD's

[[Page 68058]]

implementation of its strategic research plans.

Quality Review of a Draft SAB Report on Recommendations for the 
Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards

    The EPA has established Science and Technological Achievement 
Awards (STAA) 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. In response to 
a request from EPA's Office of Research and Development an SAB panel 
developed a draft report that makes recommendations concerning 
nominations to the Agency's FY 2013 STAA competition. Background 
information about this advisory activity can be found on the SAB Web 
site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/2013%20STAA%20Review?OpenDocument.
    At the December 4-5, 2013, meeting, the chartered SAB will conduct 
a quality review of the panel's draft report before it is transmitted 
to the EPA Administrator. The SAB quality review process ensures that 
all draft reports developed by SAB panels, committees or workgroups are 
reviewed and approved by the Chartered SAB before being finalized and 
transmitted to the EPA Administrator. These reviews are conducted in a 
public meeting as required by FACA.

Briefings on EPA Climate Science and Research

    The chartered SAB has requested an informational briefing from the 
EPA to inform the SAB about EPA's Climate Action Plan and how the 
agency plans to support its regulations, programs, and policies with 
needed science. The SAB has requested this briefing so that the Board 
can: Better understand upcoming EPA climate-related actions; so that it 
can be prepared to provide future advice regarding agency climate 
science and research.

Discussion of Information Provided in the Agency's Semiannual 
Regulatory Agenda

    As part of the EPA's effort to routinely inform the SAB about 
proposed and planned agency actions that have a scientific or technical 
basis, the agency provided notice to the SAB that the Office of 
Management and Budget published the ``Unified (Regulatory) Agenda'' on 
the Web on July 3, 2013 (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain). 
During the December 3-4, 2013 meeting, the SAB will discuss whether it 
should provide advice and comment on the adequacy of the scientific and 
technical basis for EPA actions included in the Agenda. This discussion 
will replace SAB teleconferences originally announced for October 25, 
2013 and October 30, 2013 (78 FR 59678) and subsequently cancelled as a 
result of the federal government shut down.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: A meeting agenda and other 
materials for the meeting will be placed on the SAB Web site at http://epa.gov/sab.
    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 the EPA. Members of 
the public can submit relevant comments pertaining to the EPA's charge, 
meeting materials, or the group providing advice. 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 DFO 
directly.
    Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an 
oral presentation at a public meeting will be limited to five minutes. 
Persons interested in providing oral statements at the December 4-5, 
2013, meeting should contact Dr. Angela Nugent, DFO, in writing 
(preferably via email) at the contact information noted above by 
November 29, 2013.
    Written Statements: Written statements for the December 4-5, 2013, 
meeting should be received in the SAB Staff Office by November 29, 
2013, so that the information may be made available to the SAB for its 
consideration prior to this meeting. Written statements should be 
supplied to the DFO in the following formats: either an electronic copy 
(preferred) via email (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, MS 
Word, WordPerfect, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 
98/2000/XP format) or in hard copy with original signature. Submitters 
are asked to provide electronic versions of each document submitted 
with and without signatures, 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 at the phone 
number or email address noted above, preferably at least ten days prior 
to the meeting, to give the EPA as much time as possible to process 
your request.

    Dated: November 4, 2013.
Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2013-27141 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am]
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