15720 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 2003 / Notices 

of exempt and prohibited off-the-record 

communications. 

Order No. 607 (64 FR 51222, 

September 22, 1999) requires 

Commission decisional employees, who 

make or receive an exempt or a 

prohibited off-the-record 

communication relevant to the merits of 

a contested on-the-record proceeding, to 

deliver a copy of the communication, if 

written, or a summary of the substance 

of any oral communication, to the 

Secretary. 

Prohibited communications will be 

included in a public, non-decisional file 

associated with, but not part of, the 

decisional record of the proceeding. 

Unless the Commission determines that 

the prohibited communication and any 

responses thereto should become part of 

the decisional record, the prohibited offthe-record communication will not be 

considered by the Commission in 

reaching its decision. Parties to a 

proceeding may seek the opportunity to 

respond to any facts or contentions 

made in a prohibited off-the-record 

communication, and may request that 

the Commission place the prohibited 

communication and responses thereto 

in the decisional record. The 

Commission will grant such requests 

only when it determines that fairness so 

requires. Any person identified below as 

having made a prohibited off-the-record 

communication should serve the 

document on all parties listed on the 

official service list for the applicable 

proceeding in accordance with rule 

2010, 18 CFR 385.2010. 

Exempt off-the-record 

communications will be included in the 

decisional record of the proceeding, 

unless the communication was with a 

cooperating agency as described by 40 

CFR 1501.6, made under 18 CFR 

385.2201(e)(1)(v). 

The following is a list of exempt and 

prohibited off-the-record 

communications recently received in 

the Office of the Secretary. The 

communications listed are grouped by 

docket numbers. These filings are 

available for review at the Commission 

in the Public Reference Room or may be 

viewed on the Commission’s Web site at 

http://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘FERRIS’’

link. Enter the docket number excluding 

the last three digits in the docket 

number field to access the document. 

For assistance, please contact FERC 

Online Support at 

FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or tollfree at (866)208–3676, or for TTY, 

contact (202)502–8659. 

Prohibited 

Docket No., Date Filed, Presenter/

Requester 

1. Project No. 1354–000, 3–11–03 Hon. 

Ron W. Goode 

Exempt 

Docket No., Date Filed, Presenter, or 

Requester 

1. Project No. 719–000, 3–10–03, Reid 

Brown 

2. Project No. 184–000, 3–10–03, Sharon 

Waechter 

3. Project No. 2090–000, 3–10–03, Janet 

Hutzel 

5. CP02–434–000, 3–10–03, Peter Nauth 

6. CP02–434–000, 3–18–03, David 

Swearingen 

7. CP02–90–000, 3–11–03, James Martin 

8. Project No. 516–000, 3–13–03, Patti 

Leppert 

9. Project No. 2042–013, 3–19–03, Jeff 

Selle

Magalie R. Salas, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 03–7773 Filed 3–31–03; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[CA090–NOA; FRL–7475–6] 

Official Release of EMFAC2002 Motor 

Vehicle Emission Factor Model for Use 

in the State of California

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: EPA is approving and 

announcing the availability of the latest 

version of the California EMFAC model 

for use in state implementation plan 

(SIP) development in California. 

EMFAC2002 is the latest update to the 

EMFAC model for use by California 

state and local governments to meet 

Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements. 

EMFAC2002 calculates air pollution 

emission factors for passenger cars, 

trucks and buses. The new model is 

based on new and improved data and is 

also a more user-friendly version of the 

model, allowing agencies to update 

assumptions and run multiple scenarios 

for emissions analyses. Today’s notice 

also starts a time period before 

EMFAC2002 is required to be used 

statewide in all new transportation 

conformity analyses in California. Since 

the EMFAC model is only used in 

California, EPA’s approval of the model 

does not affect MOBILE model users in 

other states.

DATES: This determination is effective 

April 1, 2003. See below for further 

information regarding how today’s 

approval starts a time period after which 

EMFAC2002 is required in new 

transportation conformity analyses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karina O’Connor, 

oconnor.karina@epa.gov, (775) 833–

1276, Air Planning Office (AIR–2), Air 

Division, U.S. EPA, Region 9, 75 

Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, 

California 94105–3901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of 

the official version of the EMFAC2002 

model are available on the California 

Air Resources Board (CARB) Web site: 

http://www.arb.ca.gov/planning/

emfac2002/emfac2002.htm (transmittal 

and links to support documents) and 

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/on-road/

latest_version.htm (model, technical 

support documents, etc.). 

I. Background 

A. What Is the EMFAC Model? 

The EMFAC model (short for 

EMission FACtor) is a computer model 

that can estimate emission rates for 

motor vehicles for calendar years from 

1970 to 2040 operating in California. 

Pollutant emissions for hydrocarbons, 

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, 

particulate matter, lead, sulfur oxides, 

and carbon dioxide are output from the 

model. Emissions are calculated for 

passenger cars, eight different classes of 

trucks, motorcycles, urban diesel and 

school busses and motor homes. The 

EMFAC2002 model is operated with a 

user-friendly graphical user interface 

(GUI) which facilitates data input and 

allows the development of alternative 

emissions scenarios through a What If 

Scenarios (WIS) generator. The WIS 

interface can be used to incorporate 

updated vehicle data, adjust ambient 

conditions or make changes to potential 

emission control programs in a specific 

area.

EMFAC is used to calculate current 

and future inventories of motor vehicle 

emissions at the state, county, air 

district, air basin, or air basin within 

county level. EMFAC contains default 

vehicle activity data, and the option of 

modifying that data, so it can be used to 

estimate a motor vehicle emission 

inventory in tons/day for a specific day, 

month, or season, and as a function of 

ambient temperature, relative humidity, 

vehicle population, mileage accrual, 

miles of travel and speeds. Thus the 

model can be used to make decisions 

about air pollution policies and 

programs at the local or state level. 

Inventories based on EMFAC are also 

used to meet the federal CAA’s state 

Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 2003 / Notices 15721

1 Vehicle population includes vehicle type (class) 

and age distribution.

implementation plan (SIP) and 

transportation conformity requirements. 

B. What Versions of EMFAC Are 

Currently in Use in California? 

Most SIPs in California were 

developed using the vehicle emission 

models EMFAC7F (released by CARB 

September 1993) or EMFAC7G (released 

by CARB July 1997). EPA approved use 

of EMFAC7F in May 1994 and then 

EMFAC7G in April 1998. EMFAC7G 

was considered a minor update to 

EMFAC (similar to MOBILE5b as a 

minor update to MOBILE5a), thus areas 

with SIP motor vehicle emissions 

budgets developed using EMFAC7F 

were allowed to continue to use 

EMFAC7F for conformity. EMFAC7G 

included updated data on control 

measures (e.g. inspection and 

maintenance and truck standards), 

updated vehicle information (e.g.

vehicle population and starts/vehicle/

day) and vehicle activity data (e.g.

vehicle miles per day and vehicle miles 

per speed distribution). Areas with SIP 

budgets developed using EMFAC7G 

were required to use EMFAC7G for 

regional conformity analyses. 

Since the release of EMFAC7G, CARB 

has made several interim updates to 

EMFAC, EMFAC2000 and EMFAC2001. 

Of these models, only EMFAC2000 was 

submitted to EPA for approval and used 

in development of a SIP. Like 

EMFAC7G, EMFAC2000 included 

updated data on control measures (e.g., 

cleaner fuels, new vehicle standards for 

motorcycles, buses, and heavy-duty 

trucks), updated vehicle information 

(e.g., vehicle population, starts/vehicle/

day) and updated vehicle activity data 

(e.g., vehicle miles per day, vehicle 

miles per speed distribution, and 

mileage accrual rates). In January 2002, 

EPA approved EMFAC2000 (67 FR 

1464, January 11, 2002) for use only in 

the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area), 

for estimation of ozone precursor 

emission factors. EPA’s approval of 

EMFAC2000 was limited because: (1) 

EMFAC2000 was an improvement on 

existing available models despite certain 

technical limitations; and (2) CARB has 

committed to revise the Bay Area ozone 

attainment SIP’s motor vehicle 

emissions budgets with EMFAC2001 or 

a successor model as part of its midcourse review SIP revision in April 

2004. 

C. Why Have Transportation Agencies 

Stopped Using EMFAC7F and 

EMFAC7G for Regional Conformity 

Emissions Analyses? 

On May 2, 2002, the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) and the Federal 

Transit Administration (FTA) sent a 

letter to CARB indicating that, after 

December 31, 2002, they would not 

continue to make conformity 

determinations that require a new 

regional emissions analysis, unless the 

analysis incorporates more recent 

vehicle data. The letter indicated that 

vehicle data embedded in the EMFAC7F 

and EMFAC7G versions of the EMFAC 

emission factor model were about ten 

years old. Consistent with the U.S. 

DOT/EPA January 18, 2001, guidance on 

latest planning assumptions, new 

vehicle registration data must be used 

when it is available for conformity 

purposes. Since newer vehicle data was 

available but was not included in the 

older versions of EMFAC, EMFAC7F 

and EMFAC7G have not been used in 

any new regional emissions analyses 

since December 31, 2002. 

D. Why Is EPA Announcing Its Approval 

of the EMFAC Model? 

CAA section 172(c)(3) and 40 CFR 

51.112(a)(1) require that SIP inventories 

be based on the most current and 

applicable models that are available at 

the time the SIP is developed. CAA 

section 176(c)(1) requires that the latest 

emissions estimates be used in 

conformity analyses. EPA approves 

models that fulfill these requirements. 

Under 40 CFR 93.111(a), EPA must 

approve new versions of EMFAC for SIP 

purposes before they can be used in 

conformity analyses. In a December 20, 

2002 letter, CARB requested that EPA 

approve EMFAC2002 for use in 

developing SIPs and in determining 

conformity of transportation plans in 

California. EMFAC2002 is a significant 

change from previous EMFAC models 

and is capable of calculating motor 

vehicle emissions for all California 

areas. EMFAC2002 is being approved as 

the latest emissions model for statewide 

use in SIP development (rather than as 

an interim update to the EMFAC model 

as EMFAC7G was an interim update to 

EMFAC7F). Since the EMFAC model is 

only used in California, EPA’s statewide 

approval of the model does not affect 

MOBILE emissions factor model users 

in other states.

II. EPA Action 

A. What Version of EMFAC Is EPA 

Approving? 

In this notice, EPA is approving and 

announcing that EMFAC2002 is 

available to use in statewide California 

SIP development. EMFAC2002 was 

developed by CARB and transmitted for 

approval to EPA on December 20, 2002. 

On January 28, 2003, CARB also 

transmitted a methodology to adjust 

vehicle activity data used by 

EMFAC2002 when updated data is 

available. Since the transportation 

conformity rule (40 CFR 93.110) 

requires areas to use the latest 

information for estimating vehicle 

activity, we are also approving the 

CARB methodology for updating vehicle 

activity data in EMFAC2002. 

CARB’s methodology, 

‘‘Recommended Methods for Use of 

EMFAC2002 to Develop Motor Vehicle 

Emission Budgets and Assess 

Conformity,’’ explains how vehicle 

activity data should be updated. The 

methodology explains how each 

parameter associated with vehicle 

activity was originally developed in 

EMFAC, how each parameter is related, 

and how each can be updated when 

new data becomes available. These 

relationships are important when 

adjusting vehicle trips or VMT. For 

example, VMT in EMFAC2002 is 

directly related to vehicle population 1

and mileage accrual rate. Similarly, start 

and evaporative vehicle emissions are 

also related to vehicle population levels. 

If new VMT data is available, CARB 

suggests modifying the input vehicle 

population levels, instead of directly 

inputting new VMT data so that start 

and evaporative emissions are revised 

appropriately. Updated vehicle activity 

data (vehicle miles traveled) can also be 

input to EMFAC using the WIS 

interface. As CARB states, local 

circumstances may alternatively support 

adjustment of mileage accrual rates, 

subject to the interagency consultation 

process. In addition, CARB intends to 

periodically update vehicle population 

information, including vehicle classes 

by model year, in EMFAC2002.

B. What Pollutants Can EMFAC2002 

Estimate? 

EPA is approving the model to 

estimate regional emissions of 

hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide 

(CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate 

matter (PM), lead, sulfur oxides and 

carbon dioxide. However, EMFAC2002 

will only be used in transportation 

conformity for pollutants and precursors 

that affect transportation emissions and 

are identified in air quality plans as 

significant. Transportation-related 

pollutants and precursors that are 

currently covered by the conformity rule 

are HC, NOX, CO, and PM–10. EPA is 

also approving EMFAC2002 to estimate 

hotspot emissions for carbon monoxide. 

15722 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 2003 / Notices 

C. Why Does EPA Consider EMFAC2002 

as a Major Update to EMFAC? 

EMFAC2002 includes significant 

changes to its model interface, new data 

and methodologies regarding 

calculation of vehicle emissions, 

revisions to implementation data for 

control measures, and corrections to 

technical errors mentioned in our prior 

approval of EMFAC2000. The new WIS 

interface makes EMFAC2002 both more 

user friendly and allows users to change 

input data updated for factors that had 

previously been embedded within the 

model (e.g. fleet vehicle data). 

EMFAC2002 includes updated data 

estimating idle emissions from heavy 

duty trucks and school buses. Base 

emission rates for light-duty vehicles are 

now drawn from the real-world unified 

drive cycle. EMFAC2002 accounts for 

gross evaporative emissions (i.e., ‘‘liquid 

leakers’’) and updates particulate 

emissions to account for smoking 

vehicles. The model also accounts for 

recent amendments to California’s low 

emissions vehicle and fuels regulations, 

as well as updated heavy-duty truck 

standards. Full chassis dynamometer 

tests, rather than engine dynamometer 

tests, are now the source of heavy-duty 

truck emissions factors. CARB’s web site 

describes these and other model 

changes at http://www.arb.ca.gov/

planning/emfac2002/encl_a.pdf.

D. How Were Stakeholders and the 

Public Involved in the EMFAC 

Development Process? 

Since 1999, CARB has held a series of 

public workshops to discuss proposed 

model updates and receive comments 

on interim versions of the new model. 

In the most recent workshops, held June 

11 and 13, 2002, CARB described the 

latest EMFAC changes under 

consideration and sought public input. 

Those changes are reflected in the final 

EMFAC2002 model released in October 

2002. Two additional public 

information briefings were held on 

November 6 and 7, 2002, to share the 

emissions estimates resulting from use 

of the final model with updated travel 

activity, as well as plans for transmittal 

of EMFAC2002 to U.S. EPA. CARB has 

also discussed both the model and the 

activity update methodology with 

affected transportation and air agencies 

as part of the interagency consultation 

process.

CARB also released a series of 

technical memos, that describe each 

update to the model, and a public 

information document that summarizes 

the changes from earlier versions of the 

model. The technical memos are 

available on CARB’s Web site at: http:/

/www.arb.ca.gov/msei/on-road/

latest_revisions.htm. Each memo 

describes the model update, the reason 

for the change, how the change was 

incorporated into the EMFAC model, 

and the resulting emissions impact. The 

public information document is also 

available on the CARB Web site at: 

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/on-road/

briefs/2002.pdf. This document 

summarizes the major changes to the 

EMFAC model and contains tables 

showing the impacts of the changes both 

statewide and by county for VOC, CO, 

NOX and PM. The detailed description 

of all major model updates since 

EMFAC7F is an enclosure to the 

transmittal package and available on the 

CARB Web site at: http://

www.arb.ca.gov/planning/emfac2002/

encl_a.pdf.

E. Will a Transportation Conformity 

Grace Period Be Set by This Approval? 

Yes. The transportation conformity 

rule (40 CFR 93.111) requires that 

conformity analyses be based on the 

latest motor vehicle emissions model 

approved by EPA for SIP purposes for 

a state or area. Section 176(c)(1) of the 

CAA states that ‘‘* * * [t]he 

determination of conformity shall be 

based on the most recent estimates of 

emissions, and such estimates shall be 

determined from the most recent 

population, employment, travel, and 

congestion estimates* * *.’’ When we 

approve a new emissions model such as 

EMFAC2002, a grace period is 

established before the model is required 

for conformity analyses. However, areas 

have the option of using the new model 

prior to the end of the grace period. The 

conformity rule provides for a grace 

period for new emissions models of 

between 3 to 24 months. 

In consultation with the DOT, EPA 

considers many factors in establishing 

the length of the grace period, including 

the degree of change in emissions 

models and the effects of the new model 

on the transportation planning process 

(40 CFR 93.111). 

Upon consideration of all of these 

factors, EPA is establishing a 3-month 

grace period before EMFAC2002 is 

required for new conformity analyses. 

The grace period begins today and ends 

on June 30, 2003. As discussed earlier 

in the notice, several prior versions of 

EMFAC (EMFAC7F, EMFAC7G) are no 

longer used in California for new 

regional emissions analyses for 

transportation plan and transportation 

improvement program (TIP) conformity 

determinations. Therefore it is 

appropriate to set a short grace period 

since all areas in California will need to 

use EMFAC2002 to begin any new 

regional conformity analyses. A longer 

grace period would provide no practical 

benefit for transportation plan and TIP 

conformity determinations, since older 

EMFAC models cannot be used in new 

regional analyses.

When the grace period ends on June 

30, 2003, EMFAC2002 will become the 

only approved motor vehicle emissions 

model for new regional and hot-spot 

transportation conformity analyses 

across California. In general, this means 

that all new VOC, NOX, PM–10, and CO 

regional conformity analyses and CO 

hot-spot analyses started after the end of 

the 3-month grace period must be based 

on EMFAC2002, even if the SIP is based 

on an earlier version of the EMFAC 

model. 

F. Can Areas Use Any Other Models 

During the Grace Period? 

Yes, in limited cases. The only area in 

California with motor vehicle emission 

budgets developed with EMFAC2000 

and approved to use EMFAC2000 is the 

Bay Area. During the grace period, the 

Bay Area can continue to use 

EMFAC2000 for regional analyses for 

ozone precursors or choose to use 

EMFAC2002 on a shorter time frame. 

DOT’s May 2, 2002 memo did not 

preclude the continuing use of 

EMFAC2000 for use in new regional 

conformity determinations. In addition, 

the Bay Area could proceed with 

transportation plan and TIP conformity 

analyses for ozone precursors based on 

EMFAC2000 if the analysis was begun 

before or during the grace period. (40 

CFR 93.111(c)) 

Conformity determinations for 

transportation projects can also be based 

on EMFAC7F if the analysis was begun 

before the end of the grace period, and 

if the final environmental document for 

the project is issued no more than three 

years after the issuance of the draft 

environmental document (see 40 CFR 

93.111(c)). The interagency consultation 

process should be used if it is unclear 

whether an EMFAC7F or EMFAC7G 

based analysis was begun before the end 

of the grace period. 

G. Related SIP Development Actions 

The Bay Area 2001 ozone SIP 

included a commitment from CARB to 

revise the SIP with the latest technical 

information as part of its mid-course 

review in April 2004. This commitment 

was referenced in EPA’s approval of 

EMFAC2000 (67 FR 1464, January 11, 

2002), with the understanding that 

CARB would submit revisions to the 

EMFAC model (e.g., EMFAC2002) in 

early 2003, so that the Bay Area SIP 

revision would occur within one year of 

EPA’s approval of EMFAC2002. This is 

Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 2003 / Notices 15723

consistent with EPA’s past practice 

where an older version of the MOBILE 

model has been used prior to the release 

of a newer version that includes 

technical corrections in emission 

estimates. We understand that the Bay 

Area has begun work on the plan 

revision, that the EMFAC2002 model 

will be used in development of the 

motor vehicle emission inventories in 

the plan and that the SIP should be 

submitted to EPA by the April 2004 

deadline. 

In addition, on June 14, 2002, CARB 

submitted a letter indicating the State’s 

intention to submit comprehensive 

revisions to the progress, attainment, 

and maintenance SIPs and the budgets 

for most areas in California. These SIP 

revisions, would reflect, among other 

new information, the State’s revised 

motor vehicle emissions factors using 

EMFAC2002 and updated information 

on vehicle fleet, age distribution, and 

activity levels (letter from Michael P. 

Kenny, CARB, to Wayne Nastri, EPA). In 

this letter, CARB acknowledged that the 

previously approved budgets had 

become outdated and made clear its 

intention to update these budgets as part 

of a comprehensive update to the plans. 

CARB also requested that EPA limit the 

duration of its prior approvals of the 

emission budgets. 

In response, on July 16, 2002 (67 FR 

46618), EPA proposed to limit our 

approvals of the existing SIP budgets to 

last only until the effective date of our 

adequacy finding for new budgets that 

replace the existing approved budgets 

for the same pollutant, CAA 

requirement, and year. That proposal 

was finalized on November 15, 2002 (67 

FR 69139), limiting our prior approvals 

of the emission budgets. Normally, new 

budgets that replace existing budgets in 

approved plans cannot be used until the 

corresponding plans have been fully 

approved as part of the SIP (see 40 CFR 

93.118(e)). However, since approval of 

the existing budgets now expires when 

we determine that the new budgets are 

adequate, the updated budgets can be 

employed in transportation conformity 

determinations within a few months of 

their submission, rather than only when 

the SIP is finally approved, which could 

take as long as 18 months. 

Consistent with the June 2002 letter, 

CARB has already begun submitting 

revised SIPs. Ozone maintenance plans, 

new and revised, have already been 

submitted for San Diego and Santa 

Barbara. A revised statewide CO 

maintenance plan and revised regional 

air quality plans for San Joaquin Valley, 

South Coast, Coachella Valley, and 

Ventura County are also expected 

within the next year. Motor vehicle 

emission budgets from all of these plans 

would go into effect upon determination 

of a positive adequacy finding, rather 

than after a full plan approval and be 

available for conformity analyses using 

EMFAC2002. 

H. Summary of EPA Actions 

EPA is approving EMFAC2002 as 

submitted by CARB on December 20, 

2002 with the following limitations and 

conditions. 

(1) The approval is limited to 

California. 

(2) The approval is Statewide and 

applies to estimation of hydrocarbon, 

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and 

particulate matter emissions, lead, 

sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide. 

However, EMFAC2002 will only be 

used in transportation conformity for 

pollutants and precursors that affect 

transportation emissions and are 

identified in air quality plans as 

significant. EPA is also approving 

EMFAC2002 to estimate hotspot 

emissions for carbon monoxide. 

(3) A 3-month statewide conformity 

grace period will be established 

beginning April 1, 2003 and ends June 

30, 2003.

Dated: March 20, 2003. 

Wayne Nastri, 

Regional Administrator, EPA Region IX.

[FR Doc. 03–7815 Filed 3–31–03; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–7475–3] 

EPA National Advisory Council for 

Environmental Policy and Technology; 

Notification of Public Advisory 

Committee Teleconference Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) .

ACTION: Notice; notification of Public 

Advisory Committee teleconference 

meeting. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 

92–463, notice is hereby given that the 

National Advisory Council for 

Environmental Policy and Technology 

(NACEPT) will meet in a public 

teleconference on Thursday, April 17, 

2003, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern 

Time. The meeting will be hosted out of 

the main conference room, U.S. EPA, 

655 15th Street, NW., Suite 800, 

Washington, DC 20005. The meeting is 

open to the public, however, due to 

limited space, seating will be on a 

registration-only basis. For further 

information regarding the 

teleconference meeting, or how to 

register and obtain the phone number, 

please contact the individuals listed 

below. 

Background 

NACEPT is a federal advisory 

committee under the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, Public Law 92463. 

NACEPT provides advice and 

recommendations to the Administrator 

and other EPA officials on a broad range 

of domestic and international 

environmental policy issues. NACEPT 

consists of a representative cross-section 

of EPA’s partners and principle 

constituents who provide advice and 

recommendations on policy issues and 

serves as a sounding board for new 

strategies that the Agency is developing. 

Purpose of Meeting 

The NACEPT Council will review and 

discuss the EPA’s draft FY 2003–2008 

Strategic Plan. The draft Strategic Plan 

is built around five goals, centered on 

the themes of air, water, land, 

communities and ecosystems, and 

compliance and environmental 

stewardship. EPA is currently soliciting 

public comments on the draft strategic 

plan. This meeting will provide the full 

NACEPT Council the opportunity to 

make recommendations on EPA’s draft 

strategic plan. 

Availability of Review Materials 

EPA’s Draft FY 2003–2008 Draft 

Strategic Plan is available electronically 

from EPA’s Office of Chief Financial 

Officer, at http://epa.gov/ocfo/plan/

plan.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Members of the public wishing to gain 

access to the conference room on the 

day of the meeting must contact Ms. 

Gwen Whitt, Designated Federal Officer 

for NACEPT, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (1601E), Office of 

Cooperative Environmental 

Management, 655 15th Street, NW., 

Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005; 

telephone/voice mail at (202) 233–0090 

or via email at whitt.gwen@epa.gov. You 

may also contact Sonia Altieri at (202) 

233–0090 if you have any questions. 

The agenda will be available to the 

public upon request. General comments 

from the public on the draft strategic 

plan should be sent to http://epa.gov/

ocfo/plan/plan.htm. Specific comments 

for NACEPT’s consideration should be 

submitted no later than Monday April 

21, 2003. 

General Information 

Additional information concerning 

the National Advisory Council for