Meetings: Science Advisory Board,

[Federal Register: June 19, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 118)]

[Notices]

[Page 33653-33655]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19jn98-70]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6113-7]

Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Meetings

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that several committees of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on the dates and times described below. All times noted are Eastern Time. All meetings are open to the public, however, due to limited space, seating at meetings will be on a first-come basis. For further information concerning specific meetings, please contact the individuals listed below. Documents that are the subject of SAB reviews are normally available from the originating EPA office and are not available from the SAB Office.

1. Executive Committee

   The Science Advisory Board's (SAB) Executive Committee (EC) will conduct a public meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 1998, and Thursday, July 9, 1998. The meeting will convene each day at 8:30 a.m., in the Administrator's Conference Room 1103 West Tower of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building at 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, and adjourn no later than 5:30 p.m. on each day (Eastern Time). The meeting is open to the public, however, seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

   At this meeting, the Executive Committee will receive updates from its committees and subcommittees concerning their recent and planned activities. As part of these updates, some committees will present draft reports for Executive Committee review and approval. Anticipated drafts include the following:

   (a) Ecological Processes and Effects Committee Review of the Blackstone River Initiative in Region I;

   (b) Environmental Economics Advisory Committee Advisory on Economic Research Topics;

   (c) Radiation Advisory Committee

   (1) Commentary on the Radiation Quality Assurance Program

   (2) Report on the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS).

   Other items on the agenda tentatively include, but are not limited to, the following:

   (a) Discussion of the Agency's new Urban Environment program and the role of science in the program;

   (b) Discussion of the Agency's American Indian Program and the associated scientific issues;

   (c) Discussion of Agency requests for SAB reviews in FY99.

   For Further Information--Any member of the public wishing further information concerning the meeting or who wishes to submit comments should contact Dr. Donald G. Barnes, Designated Federal Officer for the Executive Committee, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. EPA, Washington, DC 20460, phone (202)-260-4126; fax (202)-260-9232; or via Email at: barnes.don@epa.gov. Copies of the draft meeting agenda and the draft reports will be available on the SAB Website (// http:www.epa.gov/sab) by July. Alternatively, these materials can be obtained from Ms. Priscilla Tillery-Gadson at the above phone and fax numbers or via Email: tillery.priscilla@epa.gov.

2. Ecological Processes and Effects Committee

   The Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) of the Science

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   Advisory Board will meet on July 9-10, 1998 in Room 3709 Mall, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The meeting will convene at 8:30 am and end no later than 5:30 pm on both days. The meeting is open to the public, with seating available on a first-come basis. The purpose of the meeting is to: (a) engage in a consultation with Agency staff on a framework for the application of Toxicity Equivalency Factors in ecological risk assessments; (b) engage in a consultation with Agency staff on the development of further guidance on four ecological risk assessment topics; and (c) develop a Committee strategic project on ecological report cards.

   An SAB Consultation in an interaction between SAB members and Agency staff where the advice of individual members is offered, rather than a consensus Committee opinion, and no formal report results from the discussions. The purpose of a Consultation is for SAB members to assist the Agency during the early phases of project scoping and planning. This is in contrast to a formal written review of an Agency work product.

   Background

   (a) Ecological Toxicity Equivalency Factors

   In January 1998, EPA's Risk Assessment Forum and the Department of the Interior sponsored a workshop on the application of recently developed World Health Organization toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) for assessing risks to mammals, fish, and birds from chemicals that elicit toxicity through an aryl-hydrocarbon mediated mechanism. The participants at the workshop concluded that the TEF methodology is technically appropriate for ecological risk assessments, and proposed to develop a framework for the application of TEFs in Agency ecological risk assessments. The advice of individul Committee members is sought on the scope and content of such a framework document.

   (b) Ecological Risk Assessment Topics

   EPA's first Agency-wide guidelines for ecological risk assessment were published in the Federal Register on May 14, 1998. As part of the review process for the draft guidelines, EPA solicited recommendations for specific ecological risk-related topics requiring further development, considering the state of the science and Agency needs and priorities. The Committee's suggestions for future guidance topics are contained in its report on the draft guidelines (EPA-SAB-EPEC-97-002). The Risk Assessment Forum, after considering all of the recommendations received, is initiating follow-on projects in FY98 on four topics. Three of these are risk assessment process topics: (a) assessment endpoints and measures of effect; (b) effects at higher levels of biological organization, including landscape-level effects; and (c) risk characterization techniques. The fourth topic, objectives for ecological risk assessment, follows from both the Guidelines and a January 1997 EPA document, Priorities for Ecological Protection: An Initial List and Discussion Document (``Priorities''). In a September 1997 Advisory (EPA-SAB-EPEC-ADV-97-002), EPEC urged the Agency to develop additional guidance on ecological risk assessment for risk managers. This Forum project will revisit the list proposed in Priorities of ecological entities to consider during the Planning and Formulation steps of ecological risk assessments.

   For the consultation on the four risk assessment topics, Committee members have been asked to provide individual feedback in the following areas: (a) How should the content of these broad issues be targeted most effectively to improve ecological risk assessments at the Agency? (b) What aspects of these topics are best suited for guidance in the short-term, and which require long-term emphasis? and (c) What types of products should be considered for short-term and long-term efforts to assist Agency risk assessors with each issue (for example, workshops and reports, white papers, guidance documents, other)?

   (c) Ecological Report Cards

   The Committee is interested in developing a strategic project to offer advice to the Agency on the content and design of an ecological report card, including the definition of baseline ecological data and benchmarks that can be measured to demonstrate improvements in ecological integrity as a result of management or restoration programs. The Committee will hear briefings from various Agency staff involved in efforts to develop indicators and progress measures, and will develop a proposal for conducting the strategic project.

   For Further Information--Copies of the background materials for the consultations on TEFs and Ecological Risk Assessment Topics can be obtained from Ms. Christine Boivin, Risk Assessment Forum, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW (8601-D), Washington, DC, telephone (202) 564-3362. Copies of the agenda are available from Ms. Wanda Fields, Committee Operations Staff, Science Advisory Board (1400), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-5510, fax (202) 260-7118, or via Email at fields.wanda@epa.gov.

   Any member of the public wishing to submit comments must contact Ms. Stephanie Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Committee, in writing no later than noon on July 2nd at: Science Advisory Board (1400), Room 3702, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC 20460; FAX (202) 260-7118; or Email at sanzone.stephanie@epa.gov. The request should identify the name of the individual who will make the presentation and an outline of the issues to be addressed. At least 35 copies of any written comments to the Committee are to be given to the DFO no later than the time of the presentation; these will be distributed to the Committee and the interested public.

   Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

   The Science Advisory Board expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not repeat previously submitted oral or written statements. In general, each individual or group making an oral presentation will be limited to a total time of ten minutes. This time may be reduced at the discretion of the SAB, depending on meeting circumstances. Oral presentations at teleconferences will normally be limited to three minutes per speaker or organization. Written comments (at least 35 copies) received in the SAB Staff Office sufficiently prior to a meeting date, may be mailed to the relevant SAB committee or subcommittee prior to its meeting; comments received too close to the meeting date will normally be provided to the committee at its meeting. Written comments, which may of any length, may be provided to the relevant committee or subcommittee up until the time of the meeting.

   Copies of SAB prepared reports mentioned in this FR Notice may be obtained from the SAB's Committee Evaluation and Support Staff at (202) 260-4126, or via fax at (202) 260-1889. Please provide the SAB report number when making a request.

   Individuals requiring special accommodation at SAB meetings, including wheelchair access, should contact the appropriate DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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   Dated: June 15, 1998. Donald G. Barnes, Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.

   [FR Doc. 98-16407Filed6-18-98; 8:45 am]

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