[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33918-33919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11130]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Request for Nominations of Experts to Peer-Review Draft Guidance 
on Valuing Ecosystem Services in Federal Benefit-Cost Analyses

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget.

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will propose draft 
guidance called Guidance for Assessing Changes in Environmental and 
Ecosystem Services in Benefit-Cost Analysis. This notice requests 
public nominations of experts to participate in an independent 
scientific peer review of this forthcoming proposed Guidance.

DATES: The 21-day public comment period to provide nominations begins 
May 25, 2023, and ends June 15, 2023. Nominations must be received on 
or before June 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations by emailing them to 
[email protected] (subject line: Peer 
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance) no later than June 
15, 2023. To receive full consideration, nominations should include all 
of the information requested below. Please be advised that public 
comments, including communications on these nominations, are subject to 
release under the Freedom of Information Act.
    Privacy Act Statement: Submission of nominations is voluntary. 
Solicitation of this information is authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1111. The 
information furnished will be used to select independent peer reviewers 
to evaluate forthcoming proposed guidance entitled Guidance for 
Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-
Cost Analysis. While the information solicited by this notice is 
intended to be used for internal purposes, in certain circumstances it 
may be necessary to disclose this information externally, for example 
to contractors, as necessary to perform their duties for the Federal 
government; to a congressional office in response to an inquiry from 
that congressional office made at the request of the individual to whom 
the record pertains; or to other agencies, courts, and persons as 
necessary and relevant in the course of litigation, and as necessary 
and in accordance with requirements for law enforcement. A complete 
list of the routine uses can be found in the system of records notice 
associated with this collection of information, OMB Public Input System 
of Records, OMB/INPUT/01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
[email protected] (subject line: Peer 
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Two OMB circulars provide guidance to Federal agencies on benefit-
cost analyses. Circular A-4: Regulatory Analysis \1\ discusses analyses 
of regulations' impacts, as required under section 6(a)(3) of Executive 
Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review),\2\ the Regulatory 
Right-to-Know Act,\3\ and a variety of related authorities. Circular A-
94: Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal 
Programs \4\ discusses analyses of Federal programs or policies, 
decisions whether to lease or purchase, and asset valuation and sale. 
In April 2023, OMB proposed draft updates to both circulars.\5\ These 
draft updates both note the importance of analyses accounting for 
effects on environmental and ecosystem services, as feasible and 
appropriate, and reference forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem 
services for more discussion on how to conduct such analyses.\6\ E.O. 
14072 section 4(b) also calls for guidance related to the valuation of 
ecosystem and environmental services and natural assets in Federal 
regulatory decision-making.\7\
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    \1\ OMB, Circular A-4, Regulatory Analysis (Sept. 17, 2003), 
available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A4/a-4.pdf.
    \2\ Exec. Order No. 12866, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993).
    \3\ Public Law 106-554, 624, 114 Stat. 2763A-161 (codified at 31 
U.S.C. 1105 note).
    \4\ OMB, Circular A-94, Guidelines and Discount Rates for 
Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs (Oct. 29, 1992), available 
at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A94/a094.pdf.
    \5\ See OMB, Draft for Public Review: Circular A-4, Regulatory 
Analysis (Apr. 6, 2023), available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DraftCircularA-4.pdf (hereinafter Draft 
Circular A-4 Update); OMB, Draft for Public Review: Circular A-94, 
Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal 
Programs (Apr. 6, 2023), available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CircularA94.pdf (hereinafter Draft Circular 
A-94 Update).
    \6\ See Draft Circular A-4 Update 51-52 (``Many regulations will 
influence environmental or ecosystem services that directly impact 
the welfare of relevant populations. . . . Where you identify 
relevant ecosystem services, you should seek to monetize their 
impacts when feasible, quantify impacts when monetization is not 
feasible, and describe qualitatively impacts that are not monetized 
or quantified. See . . . forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem 
services for additional information and guidance.''); Draft Circular 
A-94 Update 8 (``Projects may directly affect or alter access to the 
natural environment and the benefits it provides. Analyses should 
account for relevant effects on ecosystem and environmental services 
when feasible. See forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem services 
for additional discussion on how to capture the welfare effects of 
ecosystem and environmental services.'').
    \7\ Executive Order No. 14072, Strengthening the Nation's 
Forests, Communities, and Local Economies Sec.  4(b), 87 FR 24851, 
24854 (Apr. 27, 2022).
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    OMB is currently drafting this guidance, entitled Guidance for 
Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-
Cost Analysis. OMB will solicit public comments on the proposed 
guidance. In addition, the proposed guidance will be peer reviewed. The 
independent, external scientific peer review will be managed by an OMB 
contractor. This notice requests public nominations of experts to 
participate in the independent scientific peer review of the 
forthcoming guidance on valuing ecosystem services in benefit-cost 
analyses consistent with Circulars A-4 and A-94.

[[Page 33919]]

II. Information About This Peer Review

    OMB is seeking nominations of individuals with demonstrated and 
nationally recognized expertise in ecosystem services and natural 
assets. OMB seeks diverse perspectives, including relevant natural 
science (e.g., ecology, biology, marine sciences, or hydrology), 
systems science (e.g., ecosystem ecology or biogeochemistry), applied 
science (e.g., civil or environmental engineering), and environmental 
and resource economics disciplines. Nominations of individuals with 
expertise in multiple disciplines and perspectives are encouraged. A 
balanced review panel should include experts who together possess the 
necessary domains of knowledge and a breadth of economic and scientific 
perspectives to provide rigorous peer review. All nominations will be 
evaluated for real or perceived conflicts of interest and independence.
    To form the list of candidate external reviewers, nominations 
submitted in response to this notice will be considered along with 
candidates identified using traditional techniques (e.g., a literature 
search) to identify additional qualified candidates in the disciplines 
listed above. After consideration of public nominations, a final multi-
disciplinary panel of four to six peer reviewers will be selected from 
the pool. Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include: 
(a) distinguished and nationally recognized technical expertise, as 
well as experience; (b) availability and willingness to serve; and (c) 
real or perceived conflicts of interest and independence.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any person or 
organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas described 
above. Self-nominations are permitted. Submit your nominations by email 
to [email protected] (subject line: Peer 
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance). To receive full 
consideration, nominations should include all of the following 
information: contact information for the person making the nomination; 
the nominee's contact information and institutional affiliation; the 
nominee's disciplinary and specific areas of expertise; and the 
nominee's r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae or equivalent 
information about their current position, educational background, 
expertise, and experience. To assess conflicts of interest and 
independence for nominees being considered for the peer review, OMB 
will seek to identify, among other factors, professional affiliation 
with the Executive Office of the President within the last 3 years, 
current contracts with the Federal government to conduct regulatory 
impact analysis or other decision support analyses, and regular 
business streams to advocate for or critique regulatory impact analyses 
on behalf of non-federal entities.

Richard L. Revesz,
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-11130 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P