[Federal Register: November 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 66328]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14no06-35]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8241-9]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Two Public
Teleconferences of the Science Advisory Board
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a consultation via two public
teleconferences to provide input on the Agency's proposed Risk and
Technology Review (RTR) assessment methodology.
DATES: The SAB will hold two public teleconferences on December 7, 2006
and December 19, 2006. Each teleconference will begin at 1 p.m. and end
at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Location: Telephone conference call only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing to
obtain general information concerning this public teleconference or
should contact Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA
Science Advisory Board (1400F), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/
voice mail: (202) 343-9977; fax: (202) 233-0643; or e-mail at:
shallal.suhair@epa.gov. General information concerning the EPA Science
Advisory Board can be found on the EPA Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee
Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the EPA SAB will
hold a consultation via public teleconference to provide input on EPA's
proposed RTR risk assessment methodology. The SAB was established by 42
U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent scientific and technical advice to
the Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and
regulations. The SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee chartered under
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App.
The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB
Staff Office procedural policies.
Background: Section 112(f)(2) of the CAA requires EPA to determine,
for each section 112(d) source category, if the promulgation of
additional standards is required to provide an ``ample margin of safety
to protect public health''. EPA also has the discretion to impose a
more stringent emissions standard to prevent adverse environmental
effect if such action is justified in light of costs, energy, safety,
and other relevant factors. EPA is proposing a risk assessment
methodology aimed at satisfying these obligations in a streamlined and
efficient manner.
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) has requested that the
Science Advisory Board (SAB) review its proposed Risk and Technology
Review (RTR) Assessment plan. As a part of the technical basis for
rulemaking in the EPA's RTR effort, EPA seeks input on whether its
proposed assessment plan (emission data; dispersion and exposure
modeling; risk characterization) is adequate to provide the basis for
regulatory decisions concerning specific source categories. In sum, EPA
is using a new approach to perform an assessment with the goal of
characterizing the exposures and risks associated with the emissions of
hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from approximately 30 different
industrial source categories. These categories have previously been
subjected to national emission standards, and the purpose of
characterizing their risks now is to determine whether those emission
standards (which were based on emission control technologies, work
practices and other control measures available at the time they were
promulgated) are adequate to protect public health with an adequate
margin of safety and prevent adverse environmental effects.
In response to OAR's request, the SAB is convening an Ad Hoc
consultative panel comprised of members of the SAB and its committees
to provide advice on the proposed plan. The purpose of the first public
teleconference is to receive a briefing on the proposed plan and to
clarify the charge to the panel. During the second teleconference, the
panel will provide input and comments on the proposed assessment plan.
Availability of Materials: The draft agendas and other materials
will be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab prior to
each teleconference. For questions and information concerning the
Agency's proposed plan, please contact Dr. Dave Guinnup, at (919) 541-
5368, or guinnup.dave@epa.gov.
Procedures for Providing Public Input: Interested members of the
public may submit relevant written or oral information for the SAB to
consider during the public teleconference and/or meeting. Oral
Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral
presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be limited to three
minutes per speaker, with no more than a total of one-half hour for all
speakers. To be placed on the public speaker list, interested parties
should contact Dr. Sue Shallal, DFO, in writing (preferably via e-
mail), by November 30, 2006 for the first teleconference and by
December 12, 2006 for the second teleconference, at the contact
information noted above. Written Statements: Written statements should
be received in the SAB Staff Office in accordance with the dates
mentioned above so that the information may be made available to the
SAB for their consideration prior to each teleconference. Written
statements should be supplied to the DFO in the following formats: One
hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail
(acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, WordPerfect, MS Word, MS
PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format).
Accessibility: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Sue Shallal at (202)
343-9977 or shallal.suhair@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a
disability, please contact Dr. Shallal preferably at least ten days
prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
Dated: November 8, 2006.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff
Office.
[FR Doc. E6-19168 Filed 11-13-06; 8:45 am]
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