SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background: The GLAB was established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C. 10) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(d). The board will provide advice and recommendations on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The board will also advise on domestic matters related to implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada.

The major objectives will be to provide advice and recommendations on:

a. Great Lakes protection and restoration activities;

b. Long term goals, objectives, and priorities for Great Lakes protection and restoration; and

c. Other issues identified by the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force/Regional Working Group.

The GLAB is expected to meet in person or by electronic means ( e.g., telephone, videoconference, webcast, etc.) approximately two (2) times per year, or as otherwise needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer. In-person meetings will be held in the Great Lakes region.

Nominations: The GLAB will be composed of approximately fifteen (15) members who will serve as representative members of non-Federal interests. In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates representing a broad range of Great Lakes stakeholders, including, but not limited to: Environmental groups; agricultural groups; industry and/or business groups; citizen groups; foundations; academia; and State, local and Tribal governments. In selecting members, EPA will consider the differing perspectives and breadth of collective experience needed to address the GLAB's charter. Other criteria used to evaluate nominees will include:

• Experience with Great Lakes issues;
• Leadership and consensus-building experience in Great Lakes organizations, businesses, and workgroups;
• Membership in professional societies involved with Great Lakes issues;
• Academic leadership and expertise;
• Community leadership; and
• Representation of multiple constituencies within the Great Lakes basin.

How To Submit Nominations

Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to the GLAB. Individuals may self-nominate. For appointment consideration, interested nominees should submit the application materials electronically via email to davicino.alana@epa.gov with the subject line “GLAB Nominations 2027”.

To be considered, nominations should include:

• Current contact information for the nominee, including the nominee's name, organization (and position within that organization), current business address, email address and daytime phone number; ( printed page 68138)
• A brief statement describing the nominee's interest in serving on the GLAB;
• A resume and a short biography (no more than two paragraphs) describing the professional and educational qualifications of the nominee, including a list of relevant activities and any current or previous service on Federal advisory committees; and
• A description of the nominee's EPA grant funding history including current EPA grant activities if applicable. If this does not apply to the nominee, please provide a brief statement indicating so.
• Optional: Letter(s) of recommendation from a third party supporting the nomination. Letter(s) should describe how the nominee's experience and knowledge will bring value to the work of the GLAB.

To help the Agency evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, nominees are requested to use their submission packages to identify how they became aware of this request for nominations.

Public Interest Determination

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.65, this notice, announcing that the GLAB is being renewed, must include the written public interest determination (PID) approved by the head of the agency described in 41 CFR 102-3.60(a) and any assessment provided by the General Services Administration's Committee Management Secretariat (the Secretariat). The PID included in this Unit has been provided to the Secretariat. The Secretariat has approved this PID without comment or assessment.

Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.60(a), to establish, renew, reestablish, or merge a discretionary (agency discretion) advisory committee, an agency must first consult with the Secretariat and, as part of the consultation, provide a written public interest determination approved by the head of the agency to the Secretariat with a copy to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.35, an agency shall follow the same consultation process and document in writing the same determination of need before creating a subcommittee under a discretionary committee that is not made up entirely of members of a parent advisory committee. Information on the following factors for the committee was provided to the Secretariat to demonstrate that reestablishing the committee is in public interest:

1. Annual budget: The estimated Annual Budget for the GLAB is $129,389. The estimated annual federal personnel on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis is 0.5 FTE. The estimate for other Federal internal costs is $32,139. The GLAB will be composed of approximately 15 representative members who will not be paid.

2. If applicable, the total dollar value of grants expected to be recommended during the fiscal year is: N/A.

3. Criteria for selecting members to ensure the committee has the necessary expertise and fairly balanced membership: In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates from a broad range of interests relating to the Great Lakes, including but not limited to, state, Tribal, and local governments, environmental groups, industry, business groups, agricultural groups, foundations, and academia.

4. List of all other Federal advisory committees of the agency:

Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals

National Environmental Education Advisory Council

National Drinking Water Advisory Council

Local Government Advisory Committee

Human Studies Review Board

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Advisory Board

Good Neighbor Environmental Board

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel

Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee

EPA Science Advisory Board

Environmental Financial Advisory Board

Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee

Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee

Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee

5. Justification that the information or advice provided by the Federal advisory committee or subcommittee is not available from another Federal advisory committee, another Federal Government source, or any other more cost-effective and less burdensome source: The GLAB provides EPA with the collective recommendations of state and local governments, Tribes and other Great Lakes interests to more effectively carry out Great Lakes restoration. There are no other existing EPA advisory committees that have a mission to advise on protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. Likewise, existing committees do not have the breadth of experience that is needed to inform the Agency on Great Lakes environmental issues from various viewpoints. Bringing together a cross-section of individuals with the needed range of experience and perspectives facilitates a more effective discussion of the technical issues and policy options that will support adequate evaluation of, and input into, EPA positions and actions.

6. If the consultation is a committee renewal, a summary of the previous accomplishments of the committee and the reasons it needs to continue: The GLAB did not convene in the previous Fiscal Year, but will be refocused and updated for FY27 and upcoming FYs. Accomplishments from previous GLABs include reports with specific, actionable near-term and long-term recommendations for EPA regarding pressing Great Lakes issues.

7. Explanation of why the committee/subcommittee is essential to the conduct of agency business: The Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB) supports the EPA in achieving the restoration and protection goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) as outlined in Section 118 of the Clean Water Act. The Great Lakes is a vast, shared resource and protecting and restoring them requires the collective ideas and experience of the Great Lakes community. The GLAB provides a forum where EPA can have the full benefit of the ideas and experience of both government and non-governmental partners.

In conclusion, this public interest determination documents that renewing the committee is in the public interest, essential to the conduct of agency business, and that the information to be obtained is not already available through another advisory committee or source within the Federal Government.

91 FR 68137