[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81268-81269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32455]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9243-8]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Two Public 
Quality Review Teleconferences of the Chartered Science Advisory Board

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces 
two public teleconferences of the chartered SAB to conduct quality 
reviews of three SAB draft reports. On January 19, 2011, the chartered 
SAB will review two draft SAB Panel reports entitled ``Review of The 
Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of 
the Central Appalachian Coalfields'' and ``Review of Field-Based 
Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian 
Streams.'' On January 20, 2011 the SAB will review a draft SAB 
Committee report entitled ``Reactive Nitrogen in the United States; an 
Analysis of Inputs, Flows, Consequences, and Management Options: A 
Report of the EPA Science Advisory Board.''

DATES: The public teleconferences on January 19, 2011 and January 20, 
2011 will both be held from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Eastern Time).

ADDRESSES: The public teleconferences will be conducted by telephone 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing to 
obtain general information concerning the January 19, 2011 
teleconference should contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-
2155; fax (202) 565-2098 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Any 
member of the public wishing to obtain general information concerning 
the January 20, 2011 teleconference should contact Dr. Angela Nugent, 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board (1400R), 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/
voice mail (202) 564-2218; fax (202) 565-2098 or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. General information concerning the EPA Science 
Advisory Board can be found on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2, notice is hereby given that the EPA 
Science Advisory Board will hold two public teleconferences to conduct 
quality reviews of three SAB draft reports.
    The SAB was established pursuant to 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 under FACA. The SAB will comply with the 
provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural 
policies.

Background

    January 19, 2010 teleconference. The chartered SAB will first 
conduct a quality review of a draft SAB panel report entitled ``Review 
of the Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic 
Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields.'' This draft SAB 
panel report reviews EPA's assessment of the ecological impacts related 
to mountaintop mining and valley-fill operations. Background 
information about this advisory activity can be found on the SAB Web 
site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/MTM-VF%20Assessment?OpenDocument.
    The SAB will also conduct a quality review of a draft SAB panel 
report entitled ``Review of Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for 
Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams.'' This SAB panel report 
reviews EPA's draft chronic aquatic life conductivity benchmark to 
prevent the loss of 95% of native species in Appalachian streams 
exposed to mountaintop mining and valley fills. Background information 
about this advisory activity can be found on the SAB Web site at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Water%20Quality%20Conductivity?OpenDocument.
    January 20, 2010 Teleconference. The chartered SAB will conduct a 
quality review of an SAB original study ``Reactive Nitrogen in the 
United States; an Analysis of Inputs, Flows, Consequences, and 
Management Options.'' The SAB study analyzes the sources and fate of 
reactive nitrogen and provides advice to EPA on integrated nitrogen 
research and control strategies. Background information about this 
advisory activity can be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Nitrogen%20Project?OpenDocument.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and other materials 
in support of the teleconferences will be placed on the SAB Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the teleconferences.

[[Page 81269]]

    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public comment for 
consideration by EPA's federal advisory committees and panels has a 
different purpose from public comment provided to EPA program offices. 
Therefore, the process for submitting comments to a federal advisory 
committee is different from the process used to submit comments to an 
EPA program office.
    Federal advisory committees and panels, including scientific 
advisory committees, provide independent advice to EPA. Members of the 
public can submit comments for a federal advisory committee to consider 
as it develops advice for EPA. They should send their comments directly 
to the Designated Federal Officer for the relevant advisory committee. 
Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting time to 
make an oral presentation at a public SAB teleconference will be 
limited to three minutes, with no more than one-half hour for all 
speakers. Those interested in being placed on the public speakers list 
for the January 19, 2011 teleconference should contact Dr. Armitage at 
the contact information provided above by January 14, 2011. Those 
interested in being placed on the public speakers list for the January 
20, 2011 teleconference should contact Dr. Nugent at the contact 
information provided above by January 18, 2011. Written Statements: 
Written statements for the January 19, 2011 teleconference should be 
supplied to the DFO via e-mail to [email protected] by January 
14, 2011. Written statements for the January 20, 2011 teleconference 
should be supplied to the DFO via e-mail to [email protected] by 
January 18, 2011. Written statements should be supplied in one of the 
following acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF, MS Word, MS 
PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). 
Submitters are asked to provide versions of each document submitted 
with and without signatures, because the SAB Staff Office does not 
publish documents with signatures on its Web sites.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Dr. Armitage or Dr. 
Nugent, as appropriate at the contact information provided above. To 
request accommodation of a disability, please contact him preferably at 
least 10 days prior to the teleconference, to give EPA as much time as 
possible to process your request.

    Dated: December 16, 2010.
Anthony Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-32455 Filed 12-23-10; 8:45 am]
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