[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8424-8425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02430]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-11700-01-OA]


Public Meeting of the 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 is announcing a public meeting of the 
chartered Science Advisory Board. The purpose of the meeting is to: 
receive a briefing from EPA on the Agency's Scientific Integrity 
Policy; conduct a quality review of the draft SAB report titled: Review 
of the Clean Air Status and Trends Ambient Air Monitoring Network 
(CASTNet); discuss the draft SAB report on the proposed rule titled New 
Source Performance Standards: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, 
Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating 
Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing 
Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the 
Affordable Clean Energy Rule (RIN 2060-AV09); and discuss 
recommendations received from the SAB Work Group for Review of Science 
Supporting EPA Decisions concerning SAB review of EPA planned 
regulatory actions.

DATES: Public meeting: The chartered Science Advisory Board will meet 
on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 12-5 p.m. eastern time.
    Comments: See the section titled ``Procedures for providing public 
input'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for instructions and deadlines.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be conducted virtually. Please refer to the 
SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov for information on how to attend the 
meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants 
further information concerning this notice may contact Dr. Thomas 
Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone (202) 564-
2155, or email at [email protected]. General information about 
the SAB, as well as any updates concerning the meeting announced in 
this notice, can be found on the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.

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 EPA 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. Code 10. 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 chartered Science Advisory Board will hold a public meeting to 
receive a briefing from EPA on the Agency's Scientific Integrity Policy 
and discuss the following topics. (1) The SAB will conduct a quality 
review of a draft report developed by an SAB panel. The draft report is 
titled: Review of the Clean Air Status and Trends Ambient Air 
Monitoring Network (CASTNet). The SAB quality review process ensures 
that draft reports developed by SAB panels,

[[Page 8425]]

committees, or workgroups are reviewed by the Chartered SAB before 
being finalized and transmitted to the EPA Administrator. (2) The SAB 
will discuss a draft report developed by an SAB workgroup on the 
proposed rule titled New Source Performance Standards: Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired 
Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; 
and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (RIN 2060-AV09). (3) The 
SAB will discuss recommendations received from the SAB Workgroup for 
Review of Science Supporting EPA Decisions concerning SAB review of EPA 
planned regulatory actions. Under the SAB's authorizing statute, the 
SAB ``may make available to the Administrator, within the time 
specified by the Administrator, its advice and comments on the adequacy 
of the scientific and technical basis'' of proposed rules. The SAB 
Workgroup for Review of Science Supporting EPA Decisions (SAB SSD 
Workgroup) is charged with identifying EPA planned actions that may 
warrant SAB review.
    Availability of meeting materials: All meeting materials, including 
the agenda, will be available on the SAB web page at https://sab.epa.gov.
    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 
committee's charge or meeting materials. 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 comments should follow the 
instruction below to submit comments.
    Oral statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an 
oral presentation will be limited to three minutes. Each person making 
an oral statement should consider providing written comments as well as 
their oral statement so that the points presented orally can be 
expanded upon in writing. Persons interested in providing oral 
statements should contact the DFO, in writing (preferably via email) at 
the contact information noted under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, by 
February 22, 2024, to be placed on the list of registered speakers.
    Written statements: Written statements will be accepted throughout 
the advisory process; however, for timely consideration by SAB members, 
statements should be submitted to the DFO by February 22, 2024, for 
consideration at the February 29, 2024, meeting. Written statements 
should be supplied to the DFO at the contact information above via 
email. Submitters are requested to provide an unsigned version of each 
document because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with 
signatures on its websites. Members of the public should be aware that 
their personal contact information if included in any written comments, 
may be posted to the SAB website. Copyrighted material will not be 
posted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact the DFO, at the contact 
information noted above, preferably at least ten days before the 
meeting, to give the EPA as much time as possible to process your 
request.

Thomas H. Brennan,
Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-02430 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
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