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EPA Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee Meetings
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: January 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2434-2436]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ja02-48]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7129-7]
EPA Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory
Committee Meetings
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463,
notice is hereby given that two committees of the US EPA Science
Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on the dates and times noted below. All
times noted are Eastern Time. All meetings are open to the public,
however, seating is limited and available on a first come basis.
Important Notice: Documents that are the subject of SAB reviews are
normally available from the originating EPA office and are not
available from the SAB Office--information concerning availability of
documents from the relevant Program Office is included below.
1. The PM Centers Interim Review Panel of the Executive Committee
(PM Centers Panel)--February 11-12, 2002
The PM Centers Interim Review Panel of the Executive Committee of
the US EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB), will meet on Monday and
Tuesday, February 11-12, 2002 in the EPA Science Advisory Board
Conference Room (room 6013), USEPA, Ariel Rios Building North, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. The meeting will begin
by 8:30 am on February 11 and adjourn no later than 5 pm on February
12, 2002.
[[Page 2435]]
Purpose of the Meeting--In 1995 EPA introduced a research grants
program (Science To Achieve Results (STAR)) focused on targeted,
investigator-initiated, peer-review-competed grants. Subsequent
experience suggested that there could be substantial benefits gained by
investing some resources in larger, more coordinated grants to
``research centers'' that would focus the combined efforts of a group
of researchers on closely related problems. The Particulate Matter (PM)
Centers were funded in 1999 for a five-year period and thus, are in the
middle of their grants. Although two and a half years of the PM Centers
program is not sufficient time to evaluate fully its merits, the Agency
is seeking an interim assessment of the PM centers concept that will
help the Agency as it formulates its future research funding plans. It
is for this purpose of providing interim advice on the effectiveness of
the PM centers concept as a research mechanism that the SAB Panel is
being convened.
Charge to the Subcommittee--The Panel has been asked to address the
following Charge questions:
Overall Objective
To assess the value-added nature of a PM Centers research program.
Overall Charge Question
Based on progress to date, should a PM Centers research program be
undertaken beyond 2004? In which areas, to what extent, and for what
reasons is a PM Centers program beneficial? Identify specific areas in
which the program could be improved.
Specific Charge Questions
(a) Recognizing the PM Centers program is barely at its halfway
point, what important research findings (or promising investigations)
have been made that would not have occurred otherwise? What unique
aspect(s) of a Centers program enabled such actions to be taken?
(b) To what extent has the direction or focus of research shifted
as a result of the multi-disciplinary interactions within the Center
(i.e., findings in one department influence researchers in another to
change direction or emphasis)? To what extent have changes in research
direction or emphasis been influenced by Science Advisory Committee
reviews, interactions with other PM Centers, or interactions with the
broader PM research community? Which factors have been most
influential?
(c) How successful are Centers in communicating their findings to
the public and specifically, to those who directly use their research?
Is it clear that the work has been supported by the PM Centers program?
(d) How, if at all, does a PM research centers program facilitate
agreement or consensus on protocols or procedures to enable more direct
comparison of results among research institutions or centers?
(e) How, if at all, does a PM research centers program leverage or
maximize use of resources through sharing expensive equipment, samples,
data, etc.?
(f) How is the program perceived within and outside the research
community? Does a research center have greater visibility, and if so,
what is the impact?
Availability of Review Materials: The Agency is coordinating the
preparation of background materials that will help to inform the
review. To access these materials, please contact Ms. Stacey Katz
(Phone: 202-564-8201, or e-mail katz.stacey@epa.gov) or Ms. Gail
Robarge (Phone: 202-564-8301, or e-mail robarge.gail@epa.gov) in the
EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD).
For Further Information--Members of the public wishing an Agenda or
a roster of the Committee should contact Ms. Diana Pozun, Program
Specialist, Research Strategies Advisory Committee, EPA Science
Advisory Board (1400A), Suite 6450, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4544; fax
at (202) 501-0582; or via e-mail at pozun.diana@epa.gov. Any member of
the public wishing further information concerning this meeting or
wishing to submit brief oral comments (10 minutes or less) must contact
Dr. Donald Barnes, Designated Federal Officer, EPA Science Advisory
Board (1400A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-4533; FAX (202)
501-0323; or via e-mail at barnes.don@epa.gov. Requests for oral
comments must be in writing (e-mail, fax or mail) and received by Dr.
Barnes no later than noon Eastern Standard Time on February 4, 2002
[five business days before the meeting].
2. Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC)--February 20-21,
2002
The Research Strategies Advisory Committee (RSAC) of the US EPA
Science Advisory Board (SAB) will meet on Wednesday, February 20, 2002
and Thursday, February 21, 2002 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (Eastern Time).
The meeting will be held in the EPA Science Advisory Board Conference
Room (room 6013), USEPA, Ariel Rios Building North, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.
Purpose of the Meeting--In this meeting, the Research Strategies
Advisory Committee plans to review the Science and Technology component
of the President's Budget Request for the Fiscal Year 2003 EPA budget.
The tentative charge questions are:
(a) Does the budget request provide adequate balance and attention
to the core and problem driven research needed to provide satisfactory
knowledge for current and future decisions EPA will be required to
make?
(b) How can EPA better use measures of performance to identify the
impact of its research and development program and the funds that
Congress provides for that Program? (the intent of this question is to
go beyond GPRA requirements and help address issues surrounding using
the findings from GPRA evaluations, OIG audits, GAO reports, etc.)
(c) Is the EPA research and development program addressing the
important issues needed to adequately protect human health and the
environment in the US and globally? What important issues are not
receiving adequate attention at the current level of resources provided
for the R&D program and the S&T budget?
(d) Does the budget request reflect the priorities identified in
the EPA and ORD Strategic Plans?
Availability of Review Materials: Materials that are the subject of
this review are available from Mr. Mike Feldman of the Office of the
Chief Financial Officer or from Ms. Amy Battaglia Office of Research
and Development. Mr. Feldman can be reached on (202) 564-6951 or by e-
mail at feldman.mike@epa.gov and Ms. Battaglia can be reached on (202)
564-6685 or via e-mail on battaglia.amy@epa.gov.
For Further Information--Members of the public wishing an Agenda or
a roster of the Committee should contact Ms. Betty Fortune, Office
Assistant, Research Strategies Advisory Committee, EPA Science Advisory
Board (1400A), Suite 6450, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail at (202) 564-4534; fax at
(202) 501-0323; or via e-mail at fortune.betty@epa.gov. Any member of
the public wishing further information concerning this meeting or
wishing to submit brief oral comments (10 minutes or less) must contact
Dr. John ``Jack'' R. Fowle III, Designated Federal Officer,
[[Page 2436]]
EPA Science Advisory Board (1400A), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone
(202) 564-4547; FAX (202) 501-0582; or via e-mail at
fowle.jack@epa.gov. Requests for oral comments must be in writing (e-
mail, fax or mail) and received by Dr. Fowle no later than noon Eastern
Standard Time on February 13, 2002.
Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings
It is the policy of the EPA Science Advisory Board to accept
written public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public
comments whenever possible. The EPA Science Advisory Board expects that
public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of
previously submitted oral or written statements. Oral Comments: In
general, each individual or group requesting an oral presentation at a
face-to-face meeting will be limited to a total time of ten minutes
(unless otherwise indicated). For teleconference meetings,
opportunities for oral comment will usually be limited to no more than
three minutes per speaker and no more than fifteen minutes total.
Deadlines for getting on the public speaker list for a meeting are
given above. Speakers should bring at least 35 copies of their comments
and presentation slides for distribution to the reviewers and public at
the meeting. Written Comments: Although the SAB accepts written
comments until the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated),
written comments should be received in the SAB Staff Office at least
one week prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be made
available to the committee for their consideration. Comments should be
supplied to the appropriate DFO at the address/contact information
noted above in the following formats: one hard copy with original
signature, and one electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format:
WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files (in IBM-PC/Windows 95/98 format).
Those providing written comments and who attend the meeting are also
asked to bring 25 copies of their comments for public distribution.
General Information--Additional information concerning the EPA
Science Advisory Board, its structure, function, and composition, may
be found on the SAB Website (http://www.epa.gov/sab) and in The FY2000
Annual Report of the Staff Director which is available from the SAB
Publications Staff at (202) 564-4533 or via fax at (202) 501-0256.
Committee rosters, draft Agendas and meeting calendars are also located
on our website.
Meeting Access--Individuals requiring special accommodation at this
meeting, including wheelchair access to the conference room, should
contact the appropriate DFO at least five business days prior to the
meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Dated: January 11, 2002.
Donald G. Barnes,
Staff Director, EPA Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 02-1245 Filed 1-16-02; 8:45 am]
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