2023-05181. Public Meetings of the Science Advisory Board Biosolids Panel

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing public meetings of the Science Advisory Board Biosolids Panel. The purpose of the meetings is to receive a briefing from EPA, review and discuss charge questions, and peer review the EPA's biosolid risk assessment framework.

DATES:

Public Meetings: The Science Advisory Board Biosolids Panel will meet on the following dates. All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

1. April 5, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2. May 2-3, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

3. May 31, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Comments: See the section titled “Procedures for Providing Public Input” under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for instructions and deadlines.

ADDRESSES:

The April 5, 2023, and May 31, 2023, meetings will be conducted virtually. Please refer to the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov for information on how to attend the meeting. The May 2-3, 2023, meeting will be in person and virtually. Please refer to the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov for the location and 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. Shaunta Hill-Hammond, 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 Biosolids Panel will hold three public meetings to receive a briefing from EPA, review and discuss charge questions, listen to public comments and peer review the EPA's biosolid risk assessment framework; including the prioritization process, choice of models and usability of a biosolids screening tool by risk assessors.

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 comment should follow the instructions below to submit comments.

Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at a meeting conducted virtually will be limited to three minutes and individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at an in-person meeting will be limited to five 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 22, 2023, for the April 5, 2023, meeting, by April 18, 2023, for the May 2-3, 2023, and by May 17, 2023, for the May 31, 2023, meeting 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 22, 2023, for consideration at the April 5, 2023, meeting by April 18, 2023, for consideration at the May 2-3, 2023, and by May 17, 2023, for consideration at the May 31, 2023, meeting. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO at the contact information above via email. Submitters are requested to provide a signed and 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 prior to the meetings, to give the EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

V. Khanna Johnston,

Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.