81 FR 4296 - Notification of a Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board Environmental Economics Advisory Committee

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 16 (January 26, 2016)

Page Range		4296-4297
FR Document		2016-01507

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the SAB Environmental Economics Advisory Committee to review the EPA's proposed methodology for updating its mortality risk valuation estimates for policy analysis.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4296-4297]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01507]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9941-63-OA]


Notification of a Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board 
Environmental Economics Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science 
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the SAB 
Environmental Economics Advisory Committee to review the EPA's proposed 
methodology for updating its mortality risk valuation estimates for 
policy analysis.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on March 7, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and on March 8, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza 
Washington National Airport Hotel, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 
22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wants 
further information concerning this public meeting may contact Dr. 
Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory 
Board Staff Office (1400R) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; by telephone at (202) 
564-2155 or via email at [email protected]. General information 
concerning the EPA SAB can be found at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The SAB was established pursuant to the Environmental 
Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDAA) 
codified at 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 
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 Environmental Economics 
Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting to review the EPA's 
proposed methodology for updating its mortality risk valuation 
estimates for policy analysis. Estimates of the value of mortality risk 
reductions play an important role in the EPA's analysis of the benefits 
of regulatory actions. The committee will provide advice to the 
Administrator through the chartered SAB.
    The EPA's Office of Policy has requested advice on proposed 
improvements to the Agency's methodology for estimating benefits 
associated with reduced risk of mortality. This methodology takes into 
account the amounts that individuals are willing to pay for reductions 
in mortality risk. The resulting values are combined into an estimate 
known as the value of statistical life (VSL) which is used in 
regulatory benefit-cost analysis. The EPA has also requested that the 
SAB review options for accounting for changes in the VSL over time as 
real income grows, known as income elasticity of willingness to pay. 
The EPA has submitted the following documents to the SAB for review: 
(1) Valuing Mortality Risk for Policy: a Meta-analytic Approach, a 
white paper prepared by the EPA Office of Policy to describe the 
Agency's interpretation and application of SAB recommendations received 
in July 2011 regarding updates to the EPA's estimates of mortality risk 
valuation; (2) The Effect of Income on the Value of Mortality and 
Morbidity Risk Reductions, a report prepared for the EPA's Office of 
Air and Radiation on options for updating the Agency's recommended 
estimate for the income elasticity of the value of statistical life; 
and (3) Recommended Income Elasticity and Income Growth Estimates: 
Technical Memorandum, an EPA memorandum providing supplementary 
information to the report. Additional information about this SAB 
advisory activity can be found at the following URL: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/Measuring%20Mortality%20Risk?OpenDocument.
    Technical Contacts: Any technical questions concerning the 
documents to be reviewed by the SAB should be directed to Dr. Nathalie 
Simon in the EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics, by 
telephone at 202-566-2347 or by email at [email protected].
    Availability of the meeting materials: Prior to the meeting, the 
review documents, agenda and other materials will be accessible on the 
meeting page on the SAB Web site at http://www.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. 
Interested members of the public may submit relevant information on the 
topic of this advisory activity, including the charge to the panel and 
the EPA review documents, and/or the group conducting the activity, for 
the SAB to consider during the advisory process. Input from the public 
to the SAB will have the most impact if it consists of comments that 
provide specific scientific or technical information or analysis for 
the SAB panel 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 the meeting will be limited to five minutes per 
speaker. Interested parties should contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, in 
writing (preferably via email), at the contact information noted above, 
by February 29, 2016 to be placed on the list of public speakers for 
the meeting.
    Written Statements: Written statements will be accepted throughout 
the advisory process; however, for timely consideration by Committee 
members, statements should be

[[Page 4297]]

supplied to the DFO (preferably via email) at the contact information 
noted above by February 29, 2016. It is the SAB Staff Office general 
policy to post written comments on the Web page for advisory meetings. 
Submitters are requested to provide an 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 Dr. Armitage at the 
contact information provided above. To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Dr. Armitage preferably at least ten days 
prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process 
your request.

    Dated: January 19, 2016.
Thomas H. Brennan,
 Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2016-01507 Filed 1-25-16; 8:45 am]
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4296 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 26, 2016 / Notices

above the reporting thresholds specified telephone at (202) 564–2155 or via and Income Growth Estimates:
in the regulations at 40 CFR part 370. email at armitage.thomas@epa.gov. Technical Memorandum, an EPA
Respondent’s obligation to respond: General information concerning the EPA memorandum providing supplementary
Mandatory (Section 312 of EPCRA). SAB can be found at http://www.epa. information to the report. Additional
Estimated number of respondents: gov/sab. information about this SAB advisory
400,000 (total). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: activity can be found at the following
Frequency of response: Annual. Background: The SAB was URL: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sab
Total estimated burden: 100,000 established pursuant to the product.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/
hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 Environmental Research, Development, Measuring%20Mortality%20Risk
CFR 1320.03(b). and Demonstration Authorization Act ?OpenDocument.
Total estimated cost: $3,760,400 (per Technical Contacts: Any technical
(ERDAA) codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365, to
year), includes $0 annualized capital or questions concerning the documents to
provide independent scientific and
operation & maintenance costs. be reviewed by the SAB should be
Changes in the Estimates: There is a technical advice to the Administrator on
the technical basis for Agency positions directed to Dr. Nathalie Simon in the
decrease of 62,500 hours in the total EPA’s National Center for
estimated respondent burden compared and regulations. The SAB is a Federal
Advisory Committee chartered under Environmental Economics, by telephone
with the ICR currently approved by at 202–566–2347 or by email at
OMB. This decrease is because the the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The SAB will Simon.nathalie@epa.gov.
burden of reading the rule and Availability of the meeting materials:
modifying their software was only comply with the provisions of FACA
Prior to the meeting, the review
necessary at the onset of the rule. and all appropriate SAB Staff Office
documents, agenda and other materials
procedural policies. Pursuant to FACA will be accessible on the meeting page
Courtney Kerwin, and EPA policy, notice is hereby given on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.
Acting Director, Collection Strategies that the SAB Environmental Economics gov/sab.
Division. Advisory Committee will hold a public Procedures for Providing Public Input:
[FR Doc. 2016–01482 Filed 1–25–16; 8:45 am] meeting to review the EPA’s proposed Public comment for consideration by
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P methodology for updating its mortality EPA’s federal advisory committees and
risk valuation estimates for policy panels has a different purpose from
analysis. Estimates of the value of public comment provided to EPA
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION mortality risk reductions play an program offices. Therefore, the process
AGENCY important role in the EPA’s analysis of for submitting comments to a federal
[FRL–9941–63–OA]
the benefits of regulatory actions. The advisory committee is different from the
committee will provide advice to the process used to submit comments to an
Notification of a Public Meeting of the Administrator through the chartered EPA program office. Federal advisory
Science Advisory Board SAB. committees and panels, including
Environmental Economics Advisory The EPA’s Office of Policy has scientific advisory committees, provide
Committee requested advice on proposed independent advice to the EPA.
improvements to the Agency’s Interested members of the public may
AGENCY: Environmental Protection methodology for estimating benefits submit relevant information on the topic
Agency (EPA). associated with reduced risk of of this advisory activity, including the
ACTION: Notice. mortality. This methodology takes into charge to the panel and the EPA review
account the amounts that individuals documents, and/or the group
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection are willing to pay for reductions in
Agency (EPA or Agency) Science conducting the activity, for the SAB to
mortality risk. The resulting values are consider during the advisory process.
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office combined into an estimate known as the
announces a public meeting of the SAB Input from the public to the SAB will
value of statistical life (VSL) which is have the most impact if it consists of
Environmental Economics Advisory used in regulatory benefit-cost analysis.
Committee to review the EPA’s comments that provide specific
The EPA has also requested that the scientific or technical information or
proposed methodology for updating its SAB review options for accounting for
mortality risk valuation estimates for analysis for the SAB panel to consider
changes in the VSL over time as real or if it relates to the clarity or accuracy
policy analysis. income grows, known as income of the technical information. Members
DATES: The public meeting will be held elasticity of willingness to pay. The EPA of the public wishing to provide
on March 7, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 has submitted the following documents comment should contact the DFO
p.m. (Eastern Time) and on March 8, to the SAB for review: (1) Valuing directly.
2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mortality Risk for Policy: a Meta- Oral Statements: In general,
(Eastern Time). analytic Approach, a white paper individuals or groups requesting an oral
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be prepared by the EPA Office of Policy to presentation at the meeting will be
held at the Crowne Plaza Washington describe the Agency’s interpretation and limited to five minutes per speaker.
National Airport Hotel, 1480 Crystal application of SAB recommendations Interested parties should contact Dr.
Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. received in July 2011 regarding updates Thomas Armitage, DFO, in writing
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any to the EPA’s estimates of mortality risk (preferably via email), at the contact
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

member of the public who wants further valuation; (2) The Effect of Income on information noted above, by February
information concerning this public the Value of Mortality and Morbidity 29, 2016 to be placed on the list of
meeting may contact Dr. Thomas Risk Reductions, a report prepared for public speakers for the meeting.
Armitage, Designated Federal Officer the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation on Written Statements: Written
(DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board options for updating the Agency’s statements will be accepted throughout
Staff Office (1400R) U.S. Environmental recommended estimate for the income the advisory process; however, for
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania elasticity of the value of statistical life; timely consideration by Committee
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; by and (3) Recommended Income Elasticity members, statements should be

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 26, 2016 / Notices 4297

supplied to the DFO (preferably via Security; Safe and Sustainable Water February 4, 2016, and will be included
email) at the contact information noted Resources; and Sustainable and Healthy in the materials distributed to the BOSC
above by February 29, 2016. It is the Communities. The report also provides Executive Committee prior to the
SAB Staff Office general policy to post advice on two ORD Cross-Cutting meeting. Written comments should be
written comments on the Web page for Research Roadmaps: Environmental sent to Tom Tracy, Environmental
advisory meetings. Submitters are Justice and Climate Change. There will Protection Agency, via email at
requested to provide an unsigned be a public comment period from 1:15 tracy.tom@epa.gov or by mail to 1200
version of each document because the pm to 1:30 pm Eastern Time on Pennsylvania Avenue NW., (MC 8104
SAB Staff Office does not publish February 8, 2016. For information on R), Washington, DC 20460, or submitted
documents with signatures on its Web registering to participate on the through regulations.gov, Docket ID No.
sites. Members of the public should be teleconference or to provide public EPA–HQ–ORD–2015–0765. Members of
aware that their personal contact comment, please see the DATES and the public should be aware that their
information, if included in any written SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections personal contact information, if
comments, may be posted to the SAB below. Due to a limited number of included in any written comments, may
Web site. Copyrighted material will not telephone lines, attendance will be on a be posted online at regulations.gov.
be posted without explicit permission of first-come, first-served basis. Advance Information about Services for
the copyright holder. registration is required. Registration for Individuals with Disabilities: For
Accessibility: For information on participating via teleconference closes information about access or services for
access or services for individuals with February 4, 2016. The deadline to sign individuals with disabilities, please
disabilities, please contact Dr. Armitage up to speak during the public comment contact Tom Tracy, at 202–564–6518 or
at the contact information provided period or to submit written public via email at tracy.tom@epa.gov. To
above. To request accommodation of a comment is February 4, 2016. request special accommodations, please
disability, please contact Dr. Armitage DATES: The BOSC Executive Committee contact Tom Tracy no later than
preferably at least ten days prior to the meeting will be held on February 8, February 4, 2016, to give the
meeting, to give EPA as much time as 2016. All times noted are Eastern Time Environmental Protection Agency
possible to process your request. and are approximate. In order to sufficient time to process your request.
Dated: January 19, 2016. participate on the teleconference you All requests should be sent to the
Thomas H. Brennan,
must register at the following site: address, email, or phone number listed
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa- in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board
Staff Office.
bosc-executive-committee- CONTACT section above.
teleconference-registration- Dated: January 14, 2016.
[FR Doc. 2016–01507 Filed 1–25–16; 8:45 am]
20730008012. Once you have completed Fred S. Hauchman,
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
the online registration, you will be
Director, Office of Science Policy.
contacted and provided with the
[FR Doc. 2016–01506 Filed 1–25–16; 8:45 am]
teleconference instructions.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
AGENCY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions or correspondence
[EPA–HQ–ORD–2015–0765; FRL–9941–62– concerning the meeting should be
ORD] directed to Tom Tracy, Designated FEDERAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Federal Officer, Environmental ADVISORY BOARD
Board of Scientific Counselors Protection Agency, by mail at 1200
Executive Committee; Notification of Notice of Issuance of Statement of
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., MC 8104 R,
Public Teleconference and Public Federal Financial Accounting
Washington, DC 20460; by telephone at
Comment Technical Release 16
202–564–6518; fax at 202–565– 2911; or
AGENCY: Environmental Protection via email at tracy.tom@epa.gov. AGENCY: Federal Accounting Standards
Agency (EPA). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Board.
ACTION: Notification of public Charter of the BOSC states that the ACTION: Notice.
teleconference and public comment. advisory committee shall provide
independent advice to the Board Action: Pursuant to 31 U.S.C.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Administrator on technical and 3511(d), the Federal Advisory
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law management aspects of the ORD’s Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), as
92–463, the U.S. Environmental research program. Additional amended, and the FASAB Rules of
Protection Agency (EPA) hereby information about the BOSC is available Procedure, as amended in October 2010,
provides notice that the Board of at: http://www2.epa.gov/bosc. Oral notice is hereby given that the Federal
Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Executive Statements: Members of the public who Accounting Standards Advisory Board
Committee will host a public wish to provide oral comment during (FASAB) has issued a technical release,
teleconference convening on February 8, the meeting must preregister. Implementation Guidance for Internal
2016, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm Eastern Individuals or groups making remarks Use Software.
Time. The primary discussion will focus during the public comment period will The technical release is available on
on the consolidated report incorporating be limited to five (5) minutes. To the FASAB Web site at http://www.
fasab.gov/about/aapc/technical-
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

the five subcommittee reports, which accommodate the number of people
addresses the research and future who want to address the BOSC releases/. Copies can be obtained by
direction of the Office of Research and Executive Committee, only one contacting FASAB at (202) 512–7350.
Development’s (ORD) National Research representative of a particular FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Programs. The five subcommittees are: community, organization, or group will Wendy M. Payne, executive director,
Air, Climate and Energy; Chemical be allowed to speak. Written 441 G Street NW., Mailstop 6H19,
Safety for Sustainability and Human Statements: Written comments for the Washington, DC 20548, or call (202)
Health Risk Assessment; Homeland public meeting must be received by 512–7350.

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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:38:20
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:38:20

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		The public meeting will be held on March 7, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and on March 8, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Contact		Any member of the public who wants further information concerning this public meeting may contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office (1400R) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; by telephone at (202) 564-2155 or via email at [email protected] General information concerning the EPA SAB can be found at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
FR Citation		81 FR 4296