[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72754-72755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23295]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-11456-01-OA]


Science Advisory Board Environmental Justice Science and Analysis 
Review Panel; Nominations Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific 
experts to form a panel to review the revised Technical Guidance for 
Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (Environmental 
Justice Technical Guidance or EJTG) and develop a self-initiated 
commentary outlining recommendations on advancing environmental justice 
science in rulemaking. The SAB Environmental Justice Science and 
Analysis Review Panel will review the revised EJTG to be released 
publicly in 2023, as well as other information to be provided by the 
EPA. The Panel will provide recommendations and expert input on both 
advisory activities.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by November 13, 2023 per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Notice and the request for 
nominations may contact Dr. Suhair Shallal, Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office by telephone/voice mail 
(202) 564-2057, or email at [email protected]. General information 
concerning the EPA SAB can be found at the EPA SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a chartered Federal 
Advisory Committee that provides independent scientific and technical 
peer review, advice, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on 
the technical basis for EPA actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, 
the SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S. Code 10) and related regulations. The SAB 
Staff Office is forming an expert panel, the Environmental Justice 
Science and Analysis Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered 
SAB. The Environmental Justice Science and Analysis Review Panel will 
provide advice through the chartered SAB. The SAB and the Environmental 
Justice Science and Analysis Review Panel will comply with the 
provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural 
policies.
    The SAB Environmental Justice Science and Analysis Review Panel 
will conduct a review of the revised Technical Guidance for Assessing 
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (Environmental Justice 
Technical Guidance or EJTG) and develop a self-initiated commentary 
outlining recommendations on advancing environmental justice science in 
rulemaking. The SAB Environmental Justice Science and Analysis Review 
Panel will consider the revised EJTG as well as other information to be 
provided by the EPA. The Panel will provide recommendations and expert 
input on both advisory activities.
    The revised EJTG is a document that provides EPA analysts with 
broad guidance on how to assess disproportionate and adverse human 
health and environmental impacts of proposed rules and actions on 
vulnerable and overburdened populations in a variety of regulatory 
contexts. The 2016 EJ Technical Guidance was peer reviewed by the SAB 
in 2014. EPA is currently revising the EJ Technical Guidance, that will 
be released publicly in late 2023. The Panel will also identify key 
findings about the current state of environmental justice science 
utilized across EPA in the context of regulations and develop a 
commentary with actionable recommendations for potential methodological 
and technical improvements of environmental justice analyses utilized 
to support regulatory actions.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking 
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists 
with demonstrated expertise in the following disciplines: environmental 
exposure, fate and transport, human health risk assessment, toxicology, 
public health, social and behavioral sciences, data visualization, 
environmental justice screening tools and modeling; environmental 
pollution and/or contaminants; environmental economics, including cost-
benefit analysis; sociology; environmental stressors; exposure and 
dose-response assessment; epidemiology; demographics; geospatial 
analyses; spatial mathematics or distributional analysis; decision-
making science; statistics; traditional ecological knowledge, and risk 
communication. Specifically, we are seeking experts with experience in 
assessing impacts related to environmental justice concerns, and 
conducting scientific analyses conducted to inform regulatory impacts. 
Strongest consideration will be given to individuals with demonstrated 
experience working with overburdened and vulnerable communities, or 
communities with EJ concerns in addition to the disciplines listed 
above (as documented in their curriculum vitae, resume, and/or 
publication history).
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals in the areas 
of expertise described above for possible service on the SAB Panel. 
Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should be submitted in 
electronic format (preferred) using the online nomination form on the 
SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov (see the ``Public Input on 
Membership'' list under ``Committees, Panels, and Membership'' 
following the

[[Page 72755]]

instructions for ``Nominating Experts to Advisory Panels and Ad Hoc 
Committees Being Formed,'' provided on the SAB website (see the 
``Nomination of Experts'' link under ``Current Activities'' at https://sab.epa.gov). To be considered, nominations should include the 
information requested below. EPA values and welcomes diversity. All 
qualified candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of sex, race, 
disability, or ethnicity. Nominations should be submitted in time to 
arrive no later than November 13, 2023.
    The following information should be provided on the nomination 
form: contact information for the person making the nomination; contact 
information for the nominee; and the disciplinary and specific areas of 
expertise of the nominee. Nominees will be contacted by the SAB Staff 
Office and will be asked to provide a recent curriculum vitae and a 
narrative biographical summary that includes current position, 
educational background; research activities; sources of research 
funding for the last two years; and recent service on other national 
advisory committees or national professional organizations. Persons 
having questions about the nomination procedures, or who are unable to 
submit nominations through the SAB website, should contact the DFO at 
the contact information noted above. The names and biosketches of 
qualified nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register 
Notice, and additional experts identified by the SAB Staff Office, will 
be posted in a List of Candidates for the Panel on the SAB website at 
https://sab.epa.gov. Public comments on the List of Candidates will be 
accepted for 21 days. The public will be requested to provide relevant 
information or other documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff 
Office should consider in evaluating candidates.
    For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced review panel includes 
candidates who possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant 
scientific perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced 
by work history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of 
experience to adequately address the charge. In forming the expert 
panel, the SAB Staff Office will consider public comments on the Lists 
of Candidates, information provided by the candidates themselves, and 
background information independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. 
Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include: (a) 
scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience 
(primary factors); (b) availability and willingness to serve; (c) 
absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an 
appearance of a loss of impartiality; (e) skills working in committees, 
subcommittees and advisory panels; and (f) for the panel as a whole, 
diversity of expertise and scientific points of view.
    The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial 
conflicts of interest will include a review of the ``Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental Protection Agency Special 
Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential form is 
required and allows government officials to determine whether there is 
a statutory conflict between a person's public responsibilities (which 
include membership on an EPA federal advisory committee) and private 
interests and activities, or the appearance of a loss of impartiality, 
as defined by federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded 
through the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors'' link on the SAB 
website at https://sab.epa.gov. This form should not be submitted as 
part of a nomination.

V. Khanna Johnston,
Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2023-23295 Filed 10-20-23; 8:45 am]
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