[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8424-8425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02430]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-11700-01-OA]
Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory
Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a public meeting of the
chartered Science Advisory Board. The purpose of the meeting is to:
receive a briefing from EPA on the Agency's Scientific Integrity
Policy; conduct a quality review of the draft SAB report titled: Review
of the Clean Air Status and Trends Ambient Air Monitoring Network
(CASTNet); discuss the draft SAB report on the proposed rule titled New
Source Performance Standards: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New,
Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating
Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing
Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the
Affordable Clean Energy Rule (RIN 2060-AV09); and discuss
recommendations received from the SAB Work Group for Review of Science
Supporting EPA Decisions concerning SAB review of EPA planned
regulatory actions.
DATES: Public meeting: The chartered Science Advisory Board will meet
on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 12-5 p.m. eastern time.
Comments: See the section titled ``Procedures for providing public
input'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for instructions and deadlines.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be conducted virtually. Please refer to the
SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov for information on how to attend the
meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants
further information concerning this notice may contact Dr. Thomas
Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone (202) 564-
2155, or email at [email protected]. General information about
the SAB, as well as any updates concerning the meeting announced in
this notice, can be found on the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.
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 EPA 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. Code 10. 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 chartered Science Advisory Board will hold a public meeting to
receive a briefing from EPA on the Agency's Scientific Integrity Policy
and discuss the following topics. (1) The SAB will conduct a quality
review of a draft report developed by an SAB panel. The draft report is
titled: Review of the Clean Air Status and Trends Ambient Air
Monitoring Network (CASTNet). The SAB quality review process ensures
that draft reports developed by SAB panels,
[[Page 8425]]
committees, or workgroups are reviewed by the Chartered SAB before
being finalized and transmitted to the EPA Administrator. (2) The SAB
will discuss a draft report developed by an SAB workgroup on the
proposed rule titled New Source Performance Standards: Greenhouse Gas
Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired
Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas
Emissions from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units;
and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (RIN 2060-AV09). (3) The
SAB will discuss recommendations received from the SAB Workgroup for
Review of Science Supporting EPA Decisions concerning SAB review of EPA
planned regulatory actions. Under the SAB's authorizing statute, the
SAB ``may make available to the Administrator, within the time
specified by the Administrator, its advice and comments on the adequacy
of the scientific and technical basis'' of proposed rules. The SAB
Workgroup for Review of Science Supporting EPA Decisions (SAB SSD
Workgroup) is charged with identifying EPA planned actions that may
warrant SAB review.
Availability of meeting materials: All meeting materials, including
the agenda, will be available on the SAB web page at https://sab.epa.gov.
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
committee's charge or meeting materials. 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 provide comments should follow the
instruction below to submit comments.
Oral statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an
oral presentation will be limited to three minutes. Each person making
an oral statement should consider providing written comments as well as
their oral statement so that the points presented orally can be
expanded upon in writing. Persons interested in providing oral
statements should contact the DFO, in writing (preferably via email) at
the contact information noted under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, by
February 22, 2024, to be placed on the list of registered speakers.
Written statements: Written statements will be accepted throughout
the advisory process; however, for timely consideration by SAB members,
statements should be submitted to the DFO by February 22, 2024, for
consideration at the February 29, 2024, meeting. Written statements
should be supplied to the DFO at the contact information above via
email. Submitters are requested to provide an 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 the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
Accessibility: For information on access or services for
individuals with disabilities, please contact the DFO, at the contact
information noted above, preferably at least ten days before the
meeting, to give the EPA as much time as possible to process your
request.
Thomas H. Brennan,
Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-02430 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P