2023-14803. National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Public Meeting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notification for a public meeting.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will meet on the dates and times described below. The meeting is open to the public. Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances, EPA is announcing this meeting with less than 15 calendar days public notice. For additional information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see Registration under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION . Pre-Registration is required.

DATES:

The NEJAC will convene a hybrid in-person public meeting with a virtual option. The public meeting will start on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The NEJAC meeting continues Wednesday, July 26, 2023, from approximately 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday, July 27, 2023, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A public comment period relevant to current NEJAC charges and recommendations will be considered by the NEJAC at the meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ). Members of the public who wish to participate during the public comment period must register by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, July 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

The NEJAC meeting will be held at the Sheraton Puerto Rico, 200 Convention Blvd., San Juan, PR 00907.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paula Flores-Gregg, NEJAC Designated Federal Officer, U.S. EPA; email: [e-mail]; telephone: [phone]. Additional information about the NEJAC is available at https://www.epa.gov/​environmentaljustice/​national-environmental-justice-advisory-council.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Charter of the NEJAC states that the advisory committee “will provide independent advice and recommendations to the Administrator about broad, cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice. The NEJAC's efforts will include evaluation of a broad range of strategic, scientific, technological, regulatory, community engagement and economic issues related to environmental justice.”

Registration: Individual registration is required for the public meeting. No two individuals can share the same registration link. Information on how to register is located at https://www.epa.gov/​environmentaljustice/​national-environmental-justice-advisory-council-meetings. Registration to attend the meeting is available through the scheduled meeting days. The deadline to sign up to speak during the public comment period will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, July 19, 2023. When registering, please provide your name, organization, city and state, and email address. Please also indicate whether you would like to provide oral public comment during the meeting, or whether you are submitting written comments at time of registration.

A. Public Comment

The meeting discussions will focus on several topics including, but not limited to, workgroup activity, final recommendations for council consideration, presentations and charges created through collaborations with various EPA national program offices. The NEJAC is interested in receiving public comments relevant to the following charges and recommendations:

(1) Recommendations for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/309 Training

(2) Recommendations for Water Infrastructure Technical Assistance

(3) Cumulative Impacts Framework Charge

(4) Farmworker and Pesticides Charge

(5) Environmental and Climate Justice Program Funding Opportunities: What infrastructure projects and capacity building activities provide the most beneficial impact within Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands? What has kept organizations from applying for funding?

Individuals or groups making remarks during the oral public comment period will be limited to three (3) minutes. Please be prepared to briefly describe your comments; including your recommendations on what you want the NEJAC to advise the EPA to do. Submitting written comments for the record are strongly encouraged. You can submit your written comments in three different ways, (1) by using the webform at https://www.epa.gov/​environmentaljustice/​forms/​national-environmental-justice-advisory-council-nejac-public-comment, (2) by sending comments via email to [e-mail] and (3) by creating comments in the Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OEJECR–2023–0101 at https://www.regulations.gov. Written comments can be submitted through August 9, 2023. More information about the NEJAC's current charges can be found here.

B. Information About Services for Individuals With Disabilities or Requiring English Language Translation Assistance

For information about access or services for individuals requiring assistance, please contact Paula Flores-Gregg, at (214) 665–8123 or via email at [e-mail]. To request special accommodations for a disability or other assistance, please submit your request at least fourteen (14) working days prior to the meeting, to give EPA sufficient time to process your request. All requests should be sent to the email or phone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Lilian Dorka,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for External Civil Rights, Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.