81_FR_26636 81 FR 26551 - Notification of a Public Meeting and Public Teleconference of the Chartered Science Advisory Board

81 FR 26551 - Notification of a Public Meeting and Public Teleconference of the Chartered Science Advisory Board

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 85 (May 3, 2016)

Page Range26551-26552
FR Document2016-10392

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting and a public teleconference of the chartered SAB to conduct a quality review of a draft SAB report on an assessment of potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources and to receive briefings on topics of interest for possible future SAB advice.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26551-26552]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10392]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9945-99-OA]


Notification of a Public Meeting and Public Teleconference 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 and a public 
teleconference of the chartered SAB to conduct a quality review of a 
draft SAB report on an assessment of potential impacts of hydraulic 
fracturing on drinking water resources and to receive briefings on 
topics of interest for possible future SAB advice.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 15, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 
1:00 p.m. The teleconference, if needed to accommodate registered 
public speakers, will be held on June 8, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 
p.m. (Eastern Time).

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Westin Alexandria, 400 
Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314.

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 carpenter.thomas@epa.gov. General information concerning the 
SAB can be found on the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
    Technical Contact for EPA's Draft Report: Any technical questions 
concerning EPA's draft report, Assessment of the Potential Impacts of 
Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (May 
2015 External Review Draft, EPA/600/R-15/047), should be directed to 
Dr. Jeffrey Frithsen, National Center for Environmental Assessment, 
Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW., Mail Code 8601P, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (703) 347-8623 or 
via email at frithsen.jeff@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 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 the SAB Draft 4-26-16 Review of EPA's draft 
Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and 
Gas on Drinking Water Resources. The EPA's Office of Research and 
Development (ORD) requested the SAB to conduct a peer review of the 
draft assessment report concerning the relationship between hydraulic 
fracturing and drinking water in the United States. The purpose of the 
report, Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for 
Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (May 2015 External Review 
Draft, EPA/600/R-15/047), is to synthesize available scientific 
literature and data to assess the potential for hydraulic fracturing 
for oil and gas to impact the quality or quantity of drinking water 
resources, and identify factors affecting the frequency or severity of 
any potential impacts.
    The SAB Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel conducted a 
peer review of the EPA draft assessment and the chartered SAB will 
conduct a quality review of the panel's draft report. Quality review is 
a key function of the chartered SAB. Draft reports prepared by SAB 
committees, panels, or work groups must be reviewed and approved by the 
chartered SAB before transmittal to the EPA Administrator. Consistent 
with FACA, the chartered SAB makes a determination in a public meeting 
about each draft report and determines whether the report is ready to 
be transmitted to the EPA Administrator.
    Background on the current advisory activity, Assessment of the 
Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking 
Water Resources, can be found on the SAB Web site at https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf//LookupWebProjectsCurrentBOARD/F7A9DB9ABBAC015785257E540052DD54?OpenDocument.
    (2) Briefings from representatives of the EPA and other EPA 
advisory Committees on topics of interest for possible future SAB 
advice.
    If the SAB Staff Office determines that there will be insufficient 
time during the June 14-15, 2016 meeting to accommodate the members of 
the public who registered in advance to provide oral public comments, 
the teleconference will be held on June 8, 2016 to provide additional 
time for oral public comments.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: A meeting agenda and other 
materials for the meeting will be placed on the SAB Web site at http://epa.gov/sab.

[[Page 26552]]

    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 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 June 14-15, 2016 
meeting should contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, DFO, in writing 
(preferably via email) at the contact information noted above by June 
1, 2016 to be placed on the list of registered speakers. Written 
Statements: Written statements for the June 14-15, 2016 meeting should 
be received in the SAB Staff Office by June 7, 2016 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 Web sites. Members of the 
public should be aware that their personal contact information, if 
included in any written comments, may be posted to the SAB Web site. 
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 27, 2016.
 Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2016-10392 Filed 5-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 3, 2016 / Notices 26551 (31) Docket ID Number: EPA–HQ– (SAB) Staff Office announces a public hold a public meeting to discuss and OECA–2014–0034; Title: NSPS for Kraft meeting and a public teleconference of deliberate on the topics below. Pulp Mills (40 CFR part 60, subpart BB); the chartered SAB to conduct a quality (1) Quality review of the SAB Draft 4– EPA ICR Number 2485.03, OMB Control review of a draft SAB report on an 26–16 Review of EPA’s draft Assessment Number 2060–0690; Expiration Date: assessment of potential impacts of of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic June 30, 2017. hydraulic fracturing on drinking water Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Respondents: Kraft pulp mills. resources and to receive briefings on Water Resources. The EPA’s Office of Respondent’s obligation to respond: topics of interest for possible future SAB Research and Development (ORD) Mandatory (40 CFR part 60, subpart BB). advice. requested the SAB to conduct a peer Estimated number of respondents: 4 DATES: The public meeting will be held review of the draft assessment report (total). on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, from 8:30 concerning the relationship between Frequency of response: Initially, a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June hydraulic fracturing and drinking water occasionally, and semiannually. 15, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the United States. The purpose of the Estimated annual burden: 1,910 The teleconference, if needed to report, Assessment of the Potential hours. accommodate registered public Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil Estimated annual cost: $753,000, speakers, will be held on June 8, 2016 and Gas on Drinking Water Resources includes $567,000 annualized capital or from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern (May 2015 External Review Draft, EPA/ O&M costs. Time). 600/R–15/047), is to synthesize Changes in Estimates: There is an available scientific literature and data to ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at expected increase in burden hours from assess the potential for hydraulic the Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse the previous ICR due to growth in the fracturing for oil and gas to impact the Square, Alexandria, VA 22314. respondent universe. quality or quantity of drinking water FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any resources, and identify factors affecting (32) Docket ID Number: EPA–HQ– member of the public who wants further OECA–2013–0316; Title: NSPS for the frequency or severity of any information concerning the meeting potential impacts. Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants may contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, The SAB Hydraulic Fracturing (40 CFR part 60, subparts KKK and Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Research Advisory Panel conducted a LLL); EPA ICR Number 1086.12, OMB Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S. peer review of the EPA draft assessment Control Number 2060–0120; Expiration Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 and the chartered SAB will conduct a Date: August 31, 2017. Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, quality review of the panel’s draft Respondents: Onshore natural gas DC 20460; via telephone/voice mail report. Quality review is a key function processing plants. (202) 564–4885, or email at of the chartered SAB. Draft reports Respondent’s obligation to respond: carpenter.thomas@epa.gov. General prepared by SAB committees, panels, or Mandatory (40 CFR part 60, subparts information concerning the SAB can be work groups must be reviewed and KKK and LLL). found on the EPA Web site at http:// approved by the chartered SAB before Estimated number of respondents: www.epa.gov/sab. transmittal to the EPA Administrator. 577 (total). Technical Contact for EPA’s Draft Consistent with FACA, the chartered Frequency of response: Initially, Report: Any technical questions SAB makes a determination in a public occasionally, and semiannually. concerning EPA’s draft report, meeting about each draft report and Estimated annual burden: 122,000 Assessment of the Potential Impacts of determines whether the report is ready hours. Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on to be transmitted to the EPA Estimated annual cost: $12,000,000, Drinking Water Resources (May 2015 Administrator. includes $68,400 annualized capital or External Review Draft, EPA/600/R–15/ Background on the current advisory O&M costs. 047), should be directed to Dr. Jeffrey activity, Assessment of the Potential Changes in Estimates: There is no Frithsen, National Center for Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil change in burden hours from the Environmental Assessment, Office of and Gas on Drinking Water Resources, previous ICR. Research and Development, U.S. EPA, can be found on the SAB Web site at Dated: April 18, 2016. 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/ Edward J. Messina, Code 8601P, Washington, DC 20460, sabproduct.nsf//LookupWebProjects Director, Monitoring, Assistance and Media telephone (703) 347–8623 or via email CurrentBOARD/F7A9DB9ABBAC0 Programs Division. at frithsen.jeff@epa.gov. 15785257E540052DD54?Open [FR Doc. 2016–10393 Filed 5–2–16; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Document. BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Background: The SAB was (2) Briefings from representatives of established pursuant to the the EPA and other EPA advisory Environmental Research, Development, Committees on topics of interest for ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION and Demonstration Authorization Act possible future SAB advice. AGENCY (ERDDAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365, If the SAB Staff Office determines that to provide independent scientific and there will be insufficient time during [FRL–9945–99–OA] technical advice to the Administrator on the June 14–15, 2016 meeting to the scientific and technical basis for accommodate the members of the public Notification of a Public Meeting and Agency positions and regulations. The who registered in advance to provide asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Teleconference of the Chartered SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee oral public comments, the Science Advisory Board chartered under the Federal Advisory teleconference will be held on June 8, AGENCY: Environmental Protection Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2016 to provide additional time for oral Agency (EPA). 2. The SAB will comply with the public comments. ACTION: Notice. provisions of FACA and all appropriate Availability of Meeting Materials: A SAB Staff Office procedural policies. meeting agenda and other materials for SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, the meeting will be placed on the SAB Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board notice is hereby given that the SAB will Web site at http://epa.gov/sab. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:53 May 02, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1

26552 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 3, 2016 / Notices Procedures for Providing Public Input: Dated: April 27, 2016. option of the state, tribe or local Public comment for consideration by Thomas H. Brennan, government in place of procedures EPA’s federal advisory committees and Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board available under existing program- panels has a different purpose from Staff Office. specific authorization regulations. An public comment provided to EPA [FR Doc. 2016–10392 Filed 5–2–16; 8:45 am] application submitted under the subpart program offices. Therefore, the process BILLING CODE 6560–50–P D procedures must show that the state, for submitting comments to a federal tribe or local government has sufficient advisory committee is different from the legal authority to implement the process used to submit comments to an ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION electronic reporting components of the EPA program office. AGENCY programs covered by the application and will use electronic document Federal advisory committees and [FRL–9945–94–OEI] receiving systems that meet the panels, including scientific advisory Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: applicable subpart D requirements. committees, provide independent Authorized Program Revision On April 11, 2016, the Connecticut advice to the EPA. Members of the Approval, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) public can submit relevant comments submitted an application titled pertaining to the EPA’s charge, meeting AGENCY: Environmental Protection Compliance Monitoring Data Portal for materials, or the group providing Agency (EPA). revision to its EPA-approved drinking advice. Input from the public to the SAB ACTION: Notice. water program under title 40 CFR to will have the most impact if it provides allow new electronic reporting. EPA specific scientific or technical SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA’s reviewed CT DPH’s request to revise its information or analysis for the SAB to approval of the State of Connecticut’s EPA-authorized program and, based on consider or if it relates to the clarity or request to revise its National Primary this review, EPA determined that the accuracy of the technical information. Drinking Water Regulations application met the standards for Members of the public wishing to Implementation EPA-authorized approval of authorized program revision provide comment should contact the program to allow electronic reporting. set out in 40 CFR part 3, subpart D. In DFO directly. DATES: EPA’s approval is effective June accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(d), this Oral Statements: In general, 2, 2016 for the State of Connecticut’s notice of EPA’s decision to approve individuals or groups requesting an oral National Primary Drinking Water Connecticut’s request to revise its Part presentation at a public meeting will be Regulations Implementation program, if 142—National Primary Drinking Water limited to five minutes. Persons no timely request for a public hearing is Regulations Implementation program to interested in providing oral statements received and accepted by the Agency. allow electronic reporting under 40 CFR at the June 14–15, 2016 meeting should FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: part 141 is being published in the contact Mr. Thomas Carpenter, DFO, in Karen Seeh, U.S. Environmental Federal Register. writing (preferably via email) at the Protection Agency, Office of CT DPH was notified of EPA’s contact information noted above by June Environmental Information, Mail Stop determination to approve its application 1, 2016 to be placed on the list of 2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., with respect to the authorized program registered speakers. Written Statements: Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566–1175, listed above. Written statements for the June 14–15, seeh.karen@epa.gov. Also, in today’s notice, EPA is 2016 meeting should be received in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On informing interested persons that they SAB Staff Office by June 7, 2016 so that October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media may request a public hearing on EPA’s the information can be made available Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) action to approve the State of to the SAB for its consideration prior to was published in the Federal Register Connecticut’s request to revise its the meeting. Written statements should (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of authorized public water system program be supplied to the DFO at the contact title 40 of the CFR. CROMERR under 40 CFR part 142, in accordance information above via email (preferred) establishes electronic reporting as an with 40 CFR 3.1000(f). Requests for a or in hard copy with original signature. acceptable regulatory alternative to hearing must be submitted to EPA Submitters are requested to provide a paper reporting and establishes within 30 days of publication of today’s signed and unsigned version of each requirements to assure that electronic Federal Register notice. Such requests document because the SAB Staff Office documents are as legally dependable as should include the following their paper counterparts. Subpart D of information: does not publish documents with CROMERR requires that state, tribal or (1) The name, address and telephone signatures on its Web sites. Members of local government agencies that receive, number of the individual, organization the public should be aware that their or wish to begin receiving, electronic or other entity requesting a hearing; personal contact information, if reports under their EPA-authorized (2) A brief statement of the requesting included in any written comments, may programs must apply to EPA for a person’s interest in EPA’s be posted to the SAB Web site. revision or modification of those determination, a brief explanation as to Copyrighted material will not be posted programs and obtain EPA approval. why EPA should hold a hearing, and without explicit permission of the Subpart D provides standards for such any other information that the copyright holder. requesting person wants EPA to approvals based on consideration of the asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Accessibility: For information on electronic document receiving systems consider when determining whether to access or services for individuals with that the state, tribe, or local government grant the request; disabilities, please contact Mr. will use to implement the electronic (3) The signature of the individual Carpenter at the phone number or email reporting. Additionally, § 3.1000(b) making the request, or, if the request is address noted above, preferably at least through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, subpart D made on behalf of an organization or ten days prior to the meeting, to give the provides special procedures for program other entity, the signature of a EPA as much time as possible to process revisions and modifications to allow responsible official of the organization your request. electronic reporting, to be used at the or other entity. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:53 May 02, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1


Document Created: 2016-05-03 00:30:46
Document Modified: 2016-05-03 00:30:46
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThe public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 15, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The teleconference, if needed to accommodate registered public speakers, will be held on June 8, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
ContactAny 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 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
FR Citation81 FR 26551 
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