[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17176-17177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08135]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9976-97-OA]


Notification of a Public Meeting of the Chartered Science 
Advisory Board

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the chartered 
SAB to: (1) Conduct a quality review of a draft SAB report on an 
Screening Methodologies to Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR) 
for National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: RTR; (2) 
discuss information provided by the EPA on planned actions in the 2017 
semi-annual regulatory agenda and their supporting science; and (3) 
receive briefings from the EPA Office of Research and Development, the 
Office of Water, and the Office of Air.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018, from 
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday June 1, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 
Thomas Circle NW, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants 
further information concerning the meeting may contact Mr. Thomas 
Carpenter, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board 
(1400R), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-4885, or 
email at [email protected]. General information concerning the 
SAB can be found on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The SAB was established pursuant to the Environmental 
Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA), 
codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365, to provide independent scientific and 
technical advice to the Administrator on the scientific and technical 
basis for Agency positions and regulations. The SAB is a Federal 
Advisory Committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2. The SAB will comply with the provisions of 
FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. Pursuant 
to FACA and EPA policy, notice is hereby given that the SAB will hold a 
public meeting to discuss and deliberate on the topics below.

(1) Quality Review of a Draft SAB Review Report on the Screening 
Methodologies To Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR): A Case 
Study Analysis

    EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) 
requested that the SAB conduct a review of the methods for conducting 
Risk and Technology Review Assessments in conjunction with assessments 
of residual risk required by the Clean Air Act. These assessments 
evaluate the effects of industrial emissions of hazardous air 
pollutants (HAPs) on public health and the environment. The SAB 
convened RTR Methods Panel to review EPA's draft Screening 
Methodologies to Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR) (External 
Review Draft May, 2017).
    The chartered SAB will conduct a quality review of the panel's 
draft report before it is transmitted to the EPA Administrator. The SAB 
quality review process ensures that all draft reports developed by SAB 
panels, committees or workgroups are reviewed and approved by the 
Chartered SAB before being finalized and transmitted to the EPA 
Administrator. These reviews are conducted in a public meeting as 
required by FACA.
    Background on the current advisory activity, Screening 
Methodologies to Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR): A Case 
Study Analysis can be found on the SAB website at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/RTR%20Screening%20Methods%20Review?OpenDocument.

(2) Discussion of Information in the Agency's Semiannual Regulatory 
Agenda

    As part of the EPA's effort to routinely inform the SAB about 
proposed and planned agency actions that have a scientific or technical 
basis, the agency provided notice to the SAB that the Office of 
Management and Budget published the ``Unified (Regulatory) Agenda'' on 
the Web on and available at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain.
    The SAB convened a Work Group to review information provided in the 
agency's 2017 regulatory agenda regarding EPA planned actions and their 
supporting science. The SAB will discuss recommendations and 
information developed by the Work Group regarding the adequacy of the 
science supporting the planned actions. Information about this advisory 
activity can be found on the Web at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/SAB%20Spring%202017%20Reg%20Agenda?OpenDocument.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: A meeting agenda and other 
materials for the meeting will be placed on the SAB website at http://epa.gov/sab.
    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 the EPA. Members of 
the public can submit relevant comments pertaining to the EPA's charge, 
meeting materials, or the group providing advice. Input from the public 
to the SAB will have the most impact if it provides specific scientific 
or technical information or analysis for the SAB to consider or if it 
relates to the clarity or accuracy of the technical information. 
Members of the public wishing to

[[Page 17177]]

provide comment should contact the DFO directly.
    Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an 
oral presentation at a public meeting will be limited to five minutes. 
Persons interested in providing oral statements at the May 31-June 1, 
2018, meeting should contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, DFO, in writing 
(preferably via email) at the contact information noted above by May 
22, 2018 to be placed on the list of registered speakers.
    Written Statements: Written statements for the May 31-June 1, 2018, 
meeting should be received in the SAB Staff Office by March 22, 2018, 
so that the information can be made available to the SAB for its 
consideration prior to the meeting. Written statements should be 
supplied to the DFO at the contact information above via email 
(preferred) or in hard copy with original signature. Submitters are 
requested to provide a signed and unsigned version of each document 
because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents with signatures 
on its websites. Members of the public should be aware that their 
personal contact information, if included in any written comments, may 
be posted to the SAB website. Copyrighted material will not be posted 
without explicit permission of the copyright holder.
    Accessibility: For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Mr. Carpenter at the 
phone number or email address noted above, preferably at least ten days 
prior to the meeting, to give the EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request.

    Dated: April 12, 2018.
 Khanna Johnston,
 Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-08135 Filed 4-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


