2023-05024. Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board Environmental Justice Screen (EJScreen) Review Panel

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Science Advisory Board Environmental Justice Screen (EJScreen) Review Panel. The purpose of the meeting is to receive a demonstration of the updated EPA's EJScreen mapping and screening tool from EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, review and discuss the charge questions. The panel will schedule a future public meeting in late Spring 2023 to peer review the EJScreen methodology and updated calculations for the EJ indexes released publicly in October 2022, as well as other aspects of the calculations. Additional information, materials, background, and meeting agendas for future activities will be posted on SAB's website at: https://sab.epa.gov.

DATES:

The virtual public meeting of the SAB EJScreen Review Panel will be held on March 31, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard time.

ADDRESSES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Any member of the public who wants further information concerning this notice may contact Dr. Zaida Figueroa, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone [phone], or email at [e-mail]. General information about the SAB, as well as any updates concerning the meetings 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.C. app. 2. 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 Science Advisory Board EJScreen Review Panel will hold a public meeting to receive a demonstration of the updated EJScreen mapping and screening tool, review and discuss the charge questions.

Availability of Meeting Materials: Prior to the meeting, the agenda and other materials will be accessible on the SAB website under the meeting date (which may be found under Meetings and Events). Information on the EJScreen mapping and screening tool and charge questions associated with this review will also be posted at this site.

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 comment should follow the instructions below to submit comments.

Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at a meeting conducted by video 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 above by March 24, 2023, 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 March 24, 2023, for consideration at the March 31, 2023, meeting. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO at the contact information above. It is the SAB Staff Office general policy to post written comments on the web page for the meeting. 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 explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Zaida Figueroa, at [phone] or [e-mail], preferably at least ten days prior to the meeting, to give the EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

V. Khanna Johnston,

Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.