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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50277-50278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20511]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9932-71-OA]

Request for Public Comments on the List of Candidates for EPA's 
Science Advisory Board (SAB) Agricultural Science Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites public 
comments on the list of candidates being considered for appointment to 
the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Agricultural Science Committee 
to provide advice to the chartered SAB regarding matters referred to 
the SAB that will have a significant direct impact on farming and 
agriculture-related industries.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than 
September 9, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public wishing to 
obtain further information may contact Ms. Stephanie Sanzone, 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the committee, by email at 
sanzone.stephanie@epa.gov or by telephone at 202-564-2067.
    Background: The chartered SAB (the Board) was established in 1978 
by the Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration 
Authorization Act (42 U.S.C. 4365) to provide independent advice to the 
Administrator on general scientific and technical matters underlying 
the Agency's policies and actions. Members of the SAB and its 
subcommittees constitute a distinguished body of non-EPA scientists, 
engineers, economists, and social scientists that are nationally and 
internationally recognized experts in their respective fields. Members 
are appointed by the EPA Administrator, generally for a period of three 
years. The SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and

[[Page 50278]]

related regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced in the 
Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide opportunities 
for public input during deliberations. All the work of the SAB 
subcommittees is performed under the direction of the Board. The 
chartered Board provides strategic advice to the EPA Administrator on a 
variety of EPA science and research programs and reviews and approves 
all SAB subcommittee and panel reports. Additional information about 
the SAB may be found at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
    The SAB Staff Office previously announced (79 FR 73304-73305, 
December 10, 2014) that pursuant to section 12307 of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (P.L. 133-79), the EPA is establishing a new agriculture-
related standing committee of the SAB. On January 26, 2015, the SAB 
Staff Office announced (80 FR 2965-3966) an extension to the nomination 
period through March 30, 2015. The SAB Agricultural Science Committee 
will provide advice to the chartered SAB on matters referred to the 
Board that EPA and the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, determine will have a significant direct impact on farming 
and agriculture-related industries. The SAB Staff Office sought public 
nominations of experts with demonstrated expertise in agriculture-
related sciences, including: Agricultural economics, including 
valuation of ecosystem goods and services; agricultural chemistry; 
agricultural engineering; agronomy, including soil science; aquaculture 
science; biofuels engineering; biotechnology; crop and animal science; 
environmental chemistry; forestry; and hydrology. The SAB Staff Office 
hereby invites public comments on the list of candidates under 
consideration for the SAB Agricultural Science Committee, available at 
http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/WebAll/nominationcommittee?OpenDocument.
    How To Submit Comments: Any interested person or organization may 
submit comments to Ms. Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer, at the 
contact information provided above no later than September 9, 2015. 
Email is the preferred mode of receipt. Please be advised that public 
comments are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

    Dated: August 7, 2015.
 Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-20511 Filed 8-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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