98-16407. Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Meetings

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33653-33655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16407]


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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 [phone]; fax [phone]; or via 
Email at: [e-mail]. 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: [e-mail].

2. Ecological Processes and Effects Committee

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

[[Page 33654]]

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 [phone]. 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 
[phone], fax [phone], or via Email at 
[e-mail].
    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 [phone]; or Email at 
[e-mail]. 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 [phone]. 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. 98-16407 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
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