02-31905. EPA Science Advisory Board, Notification of Public Advisory Committee Meeting; Contaminated Sediment Science Plan Review Panel

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the Contaminated Sediment Science Plan Review Panel (CSSP Review Panel) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet via teleconference on January 6, 2003, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. This teleconference meeting will be hosted out of Conference Room 6013, USEPA, Ariel Rios Building North, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. The meeting is open to the public, but, due to limited space, seating will be on a first-come basis. The public may also attend via telephone, however, lines may be limited. Information on how to participate is given below.

Background—The background for this review and the charge to the CSSP Review Panel were published in the Federal Register (67 FR 49336, July 30, 2000). The notice also included a draft charge to the CSSP Review Panel, a call for nominations for members of the CSSP Review Panel in certain technical expertise areas needed to address the charge and described the process to be used in forming the CSSP Review Panel. Subsequently, notice was published (67 FR 61622, October 1, 2002) of three meetings that have since been convened: a teleconference on October 17, 2002, a meeting in Washington, DC on October 30 and 31, 2002, and another teleconference on November 22, 2002. Details on the activities of the CSSP Review Panel can be found on our Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/​sab/​panels/​cssprpanel.html.

Purpose of this Meeting—The purpose of this public teleconference meeting is for the CSSP Review Panel to: (a) Review and revise the panel's draft report as necessary; and (b) approve the report as revised for delivery to the SAB Executive Committee.

For Further Information—To inquire about public participation in the meeting identified above please contact Mr. Lawrence Martin, Designated Federal Officer, CSSP Review Panel, USEPA Science Advisory Board (1400A), Suite 6450DD, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at [phone]; fax at [phone]; or via e-mail at [e-mail]. Members of the public desiring additional information about the meeting locations or the call-in number for the teleconference, must contact Mr. Martin at the addresses and numbers identified above.

Submitting Public Comments—The SAB will have a brief period (no more than 10 minutes) available during the Teleconference meeting for applicable public comment. For the Teleconference, the oral public comment period will be divided among the speakers who register. Registration is on a first come basis. Speakers who have been granted time on the agenda may not yield their time to other speakers. Those wishing to speak but who are unable to register in time may provide their comments in writing. Requests for oral comments must be in writing (e-mail, fax or mail) and received by Mr. Martin at the address above no later than noon eastern time on December 30, 2002.

Availability of Review Material—There is one primary document that is the subject of the review. This review document is available electronically at the following site http://www.epa.gov/​sab/​panels/​cssprpanel.html. For questions and information pertaining to the review document, please contact Dr. Lee Hofmann, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Mail Code 5103T, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460 at telephone number 202-566-1928, or by e-mail at: [e-mail]. The Panel's draft report, which will be the topic for the January 6 teleconference, will be available on December 20 at the following site: http://www.epa.gov/​sab/​panels/​cssprpanel.html.

Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

It is the policy of the EPA Science Advisory Board to accept written public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments whenever possible. The EPA Science Advisory Board expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted oral or written statements. Oral Comments: In general, each individual or group requesting an oral presentation at a face-to-face meeting will be limited to a total time of 10 minutes (unless otherwise indicated above). For teleconference meetings, opportunities for oral comment will usually be limited to no more than three minutes per speaker and no more than 15 minutes total (unless otherwise indicated above). Deadlines for getting on the public speaker list for a meeting are given above. Speakers should bring at least 35 copies of their comments and presentation slides for distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting. Written Comments: Although the SAB accepts written comments until the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), written comments should be received in the SAB Staff Office at least one week prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be made available to the review panel for their consideration. Comments should be supplied to the appropriate DFO at the address/contact information noted above in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat, WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files (in IBM-PC/Windows 95/98 format). Those providing written comments and who attend the meeting are also asked to bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution.

Meeting Access—Individuals requiring special accommodation at this meeting, including wheelchair access to the conference room, should contact Mr. Martin at least five business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

General Information—Additional information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board, its structure, function, and composition, may be found on the SAB Web site (http://www.epa.gov/​sab) and in the Science Advisory Board FY2001 Annual Staff Report which is available from the SAB Publications Staff at [phone] or via fax at [phone].

Dated: November 9, 2002.

A. Robert Flaak,

Acting Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.