[Federal Register: September 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 55620-55621]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22se05-39]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7973-6]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming SAB
Meeting To Review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System
Screening Tool (GISST)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is
announcing a public meeting of the SAB Ecological Processes and Effects
Committee to review the EPA Region 6 Geographic Information System
Screening Tool (GISST).
DATES: December 7-8, 2005. The SAB meeting will convene Wednesday,
December 7 at 8:30 a.m., adjourning at approximately 4 p.m. (central
time) Thursday, December 8.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting of the Panel will be held at the U.S. EPA
Region 6 Headquarters Office, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas TX 75202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding the public meeting may contact Dr. Thomas
Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/voice mail at
(202) 343-9995; via e-mail at armitage.thomas@epa.gov; or at the U.S.
EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB can be found in
the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
For technical inquiries concerning the EPA Region 6 Geographic
Information System Screening Tool, please contact Dr. Sharon Osowski by
telephone/voice mail at 214-665-7506; via e-mail at
osowski.sharon@epa.gov; or by mail at U.S. EPA Region 6 (mail code 6EN-
XP), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75272-2733.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
EPA Region 6 has requested that the SAB conduct a review of the
Geographic Information System Screening Tool (GISST). The GISST is an
environmental assessment tool developed to provide a systematic
approach to considering single media and cumulative impacts in making
decisions concerning complex projects, such as those subject to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The GISST uses geographic
information system coverages and environmental and socioeconomic data
to provide screening level assessments of the potential environmental
vulnerabilities of project locations or the impacts of specified
activities. Decision criteria are used in the GISST to score available
data on a scale of one to five, where one equals lower potential
environmental vulnerability or concern and five equals a higher level
of vulnerability or concern. Scores are used by decision-makers to help
prioritize potential project locations and alternatives and to help
identify levels of environmental concern. EPA Region 6 is seeking
comment from the SAB on the validity of the GISST methodology, the
defensibility of the GISST results, and the usefulness of the GISST,
particularly within the NEPA process. EPA Region 6 is also interested
in making the GISST more user-friendly, and is seeking comments on
further enhancements to the GISST.
Panel Formation
The Science Advisory Board is a chartered Federal advisory
committee established under 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent
scientific and technical advice, consultation, and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and
regulations. The SAB Staff Office is augmenting the expertise on the
SAB Ecological Processes and Effects Committee to conduct the review of
the GISST. The panel being formed will provide advice to the EPA
through the Chartered SAB. The Panel will comply with the provisions of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act and all appropriate SAB procedural
policies, including the SAB process for panel formation described in
the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental
Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, which can be found on the
SAB's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec0210.pdf. The SAB Staff
Office has previously formed panels that provided advice on EPA's
Critical Ecosystem Assessment Model (CrEAM) and Regional Vulnerability
Assessment (ReVA) methods for multi-scale decision-making. The
expertise needed on the GISST Review Panel is similar to the expertise
that was required for review of the CrEAM and the ReVA methods.
[[Page 55621]]
Therefore, the SAB Staff Office will select a set of nominees for
consideration to serve on the GISST Review Panel (known as the ``Short
List'') from the rosters of SAB panels that reviewed the CrEAM and ReVA
methods, and from previously published Short Lists of candidates for
those panels. The rosters of the SAB Critical Ecosystem Assessment
Model Review Panel and the SAB Regional Vulnerability Assessment
Advisory Panel, as well as the Short Lists of candidates for these
panels, are available on the SAB Web site http://www.epa.gov/sab The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/.
sab, and will include, for each candidate, the nominee's name and
biosketch. Public comments on the Short List will be accepted for 14
calendar days. During this comment period, the public will be requested
to provide information, analysis or other documentation on nominees
that the SAB Staff should consider in evaluating candidates for the
Panel.
For the SAB, a balanced review panel (i.e., committee,
subcommittee, or panel) is characterized by inclusion of candidates who
possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant scientific
perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced by work
history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of experience to
adequately address the charge. Public responses to the Short List
candidates will be considered in the selection of the panel, along with
information provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB
Staff independently of the background of each candidate (e.g.,
financial disclosure information and computer searches to evaluate a
nominee's prior involvement with the topic under review). Specific
criteria to be used in evaluation of an individual subcommittee member
include: (a) Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and
experience (primary factors); (b) absence of financial conflicts of
interest; (c) scientific credibility and impartiality; (d) availability
and willingness to serve; and (e) ability to work constructively and
effectively in committees.
Prospective panelists will also be required to fill-out the
``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government
Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential
form allows Government officials to determine whether there is a
statutory conflict between that person's public responsibilities (which
includes membership on an EPA Federal advisory committee) and private
interests and activities, or the appearance of a lack of impartiality,
as defined by Federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded
from the following URL address: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-48.pdf
.
Availability of Meeting Materials
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463,
notice is hereby given that the Panel will hold a public meeting to
conduct this review. The dates and times for the meeting are provided
above. A roster of panel members, their biosketches, the meeting
agenda, and the charge to the SAB panel will be posted on the SAB Web
site prior to the meeting. Meeting materials also include the EPA
Region 6 GIS Screening Tool (GISST) User's Manual available at the
following URL address: http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6en/xp/enxp2a3.htm.
Procedures for Providing Public Comments
The SAB Staff Office accepts written public comments, and will
accommodate oral public comments when possible. Written Comments:
Written comments are preferred and should be submitted by e-mail to Dr.
Thomas Armitage at armitage.thomas@epa.gov in Adobe Acrobat,
WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP
format) by November 30, 2005. Those without access to e-mail may submit
one signed hard copy of the comments to Dr. Armitage by mail or
courier. Commenters planning to attend the meeting in person are asked
to bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution. Oral
Comments: Requests to provide oral comments must be in writing (e-mail
or fax) and received by Dr. Armitage no later than November 30, 2005 to
reserve time on the meeting agenda. Presentation time for oral comment
will typically be about five minutes per speaker, but may be reduced
depending on time availability and the number of requests.
Meeting Accommodations
Individuals requiring special accommodation to access the public
meetings listed above should contact the DFO at least five business
days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Dated: September 16, 2005.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff
Office.
[FR Doc. 05-18954 Filed 9-21-05; 8:45 am]
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