[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40073-40074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19666]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-400115; FRL-5733-3]
Request for Nominations to the Toxics Data Reporting Committee of
the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: EPA is inviting nominations of candidates to consider for
appointment to fill vacancies on the Toxics Data Reporting (TDR)
Committee of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and
Technology (NACEPT). Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. EST,
August 18, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to: Cassandra Vail, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Stop 7408, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC
20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Price at 202-260-3372, e-
mail: price.michelle@epamail.epa.gov for specific information regarding
the TDR Committee and the stakeholder dialogue.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NACEPT is a federal advisory committee under
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. Law 92-463. NACEPT provides
advice and recommendations to the Administrator of EPA on a broad range
of environmental policy issues. The TDR is a committee created under
the auspices of NACEPT.
On April 22, 1997, EPA finalized a rule under the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) section 313
adding seven new industry sectors to the Toxics Release Inventory
program. These newly added industry groups include: metal mining, coal
mining, electric utilities, commercial hazardous waste treatment,
chemicals and allied products-wholesale, petroleum bulk terminals and
plants-wholesale, and solvent recovery services. These are all industry
sectors which will provide significant information on TRI chemicals and
which are engaged in activities directly related to the support of
manufacturing activities currently covered under TRI. Certain
facilities within these industry groups will begin to report to TRI for
activities conducted during the 1998 calendar year with reports
submitted by July 1, 1999.
In finalizing the industry expansion rule, the Vice President
announced that EPA would initiate an intensive stakeholder process to
comprehensively evaluate the current reporting forms and reporting
practices relating to the TRI program. The goals of this process will
be to improve the type of right-to-know information available to
communities and to help streamline right-to-know reporting to ease the
paperwork burden for businesses affected by the requirements. EPA plans
to use the TDR Committee under NACEPT as one avenue to gain input from
stakeholders on this issue. Below are some possible topics for
discussion in the TDR Committee:
Format of the Form R.
Nomenclature used in the Form R.
Opportunities for burden reduction in both the Form R and
Form A.
Additional clarification of the elements in the Form R.
EPA's presentation of the data in public information
documents.
EPA expects to receive specific recommendations from NACEPT for
[[Page 40074]]
changes, modifications, deletions, and/or additions of data elements to
the Form R and the Form A. The recommendations will include information
on how the changes or modifications will improve the type of right-to-
know information available to communities or streamline the paperwork
burden for businesses. In making recommendations to EPA, NACEPT will
also identify a priority level for those recommendations.
EPA will review the recommendations received from NACEPT and use
them to make decisions about changes to the Form R and Form A. Changes
to the Forms will be made as expeditiously as possible depending on
whether these changes can be made administratively versus through
notice and comment rulemaking.
EPA is seeking nominations for representation from all sectors,
including state and local agencies, industry, environmental groups,
public health groups, unions, small business, and community
organizations.
Nominations for membership must include a resume and short
biography describing the educational and professional qualifications of
the nominee and the nominee's current business address and daytime
telephone number. EPA plans to have the first meeting of this committee
in September or October of this year and a total of approximately six
or seven meetings over the course of the next year. Prospective
nominees should consider the fact that serving on this committee is a
serious time commitment. In addition, please consider that a Council
Chair may consider the removal of a Council member if the member has
missed two consecutive meetings of the Council.
Dated: July 22, 1997.
Christine M. Augustyniak,
Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 97-19666 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
