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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13539-13540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05925]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0056; FRL-9923-96-OW]

National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and 
Technology; Request for Nominations to NACEPT Subcommittee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites 
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates for serving on 
a new subcommittee under the National Advisory Council for 
Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT) to provide advice and 
recommendations on how the EPA can best clarify assumable waters for 
dredge and fill permit programs pursuant to the Clean Water Act section 
404(g)(1). The EPA is undertaking this effort to support states and 
tribes that wish to assume the program. Members are anticipated to be 
selected by June 15, 2015. Sources in addition to this Federal Register 
document may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

DATES: Nominations must be emailed or postmarked no later than May 15, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be emailed or submitted in writing to 
Laura Bachle at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mail: Laura Bachle, Designated Federal 
Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, 
Oceans and Watersheds (MC 4502T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-2468; email: 
assumablewaters@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action apply to me?

    This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of 
particular interest to persons who work in Clean Water Act and wetland 
programs. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not 
limited to: Environmental groups; state, local, and tribal governments; 
private sector entities who frequently seek Clean Water Act section 404 
permits; academia; and the public. If you have questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    The docket for this action, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0056, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Water Regulatory Public Docket 
in the Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), WJC West 
Building, Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004. 
The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744. Please review the visitor 
instructions and additional information about the docket available at 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets/.

II. Background

    The NACEPT is a federal advisory committee chartered under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463. The EPA 
established the NACEPT in 1988 to provide advice to the EPA 
Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, management and 
technology issues. The EPA is now seeking to form a subcommittee under 
the NACEPT, to be known as the ``Assumable Waters Subcommittee'' to 
provide advice on how the EPA can best clarify the waters that a state 
or tribe may assume permitting responsibility for under an approved 
Clean Water Act dredge and fill permit program. Subcommittee members, 
like the parent NACEPT committee, serve as representatives from 
academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local, 
and tribal governments. It is important to note that other federal 
agencies have specific interest in this matter and thus will also be 
solicited for their participation on this subcommittee.
    The subcommittee is being formed to provide advice concerning a 
focused but critical aspect of implementing the Clean Water Act's 
permit program for the discharge of dredge and fill materials. The U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers currently evaluates permit applications for 
construction activities in the majority of the nation's waters subject 
to the Clean Water Act. Although states and tribes may assume the 
dredge and fill permit responsibilities pursuant to section 404(g) of 
the Clean Water Act, only two states (Michigan and New Jersey) and no 
tribes have assumed the program to date. If a state or tribe is 
considering assuming such responsibilities, among the first questions 
that need to be answered is for which waters will the state or tribe 
assume permitting responsibility and for which waters the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers will retain permitting authority. States have raised 
concerns to the EPA that section 404 of the Clean Water Act and its 
implementing regulations lack sufficient clarity to enable states and 
tribes to estimate the extent of permit program responsibilities they 
would assume and associated program implementation costs (Stoner letter 
from the Environmental Council of States, the Association of Clean 
Water Administrators, and the Association of State Wetland Managers 
April 30, 2014. Letter in the docket.). The lack of clarity on these 
questions could discourage states and tribes from pursuing assumption 
as envisioned under the Clean Water Act.
    The Assumable Waters Subcommittee will have a limited duration and 
narrow focus. Other aspects of state or tribal assumption will not be 
in scope for the deliberations of this advisory committee. For example, 
the subcommittee will not be deliberating on the merits of assumption. 
It will focus on how the EPA can clarify the waters for which a state 
or tribe may assume Clean Water Act section 404

[[Page 13540]]

permitting responsibility and the waters for which the U.S. Corps of 
Engineers retains this authority.
    The subcommittee would meet approximately four to six times 
following initiation of the group for twelve months to sixteen months 
face-to-face or via video/teleconference. Additionally, members may be 
asked to participate in ad hoc workgroups to develop potential policy 
recommendations and reports to address specific issues. Members would 
serve on the subcommittee in a voluntary capacity. The workload for the 
members would average approximately ten to twenty hours per month. The 
EPA may provide reimbursement for travel and incidental expenses 
associated with such official government business on an as-needed 
basis.
    The EPA is seeking nominations from candidates representing state, 
tribal, and local governments/communities, as well as other 
stakeholders who are familiar with federalism, intergovernmental 
operations and the state, tribal and federal dredge and fill permit 
provisions of the Clean Water Act.
    Member nominations: Any interested person and/or organization may 
nominate qualified individuals for membership. The EPA values and 
welcomes diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse 
candidates, the Agency encourages nominations of women and men of all 
racial and ethnic groups. All nominations will be fully considered, but 
applicants need to be aware of the balance in representation needed to 
consider the issue at hand: state and tribal governments who have or 
are interested in assuming the Clean Water Act section 404 program; 
national associations who represent state and tribal interests in 
wetlands and/or water quality; local governments; environmental 
organizations; or industry sectors that require Clean water Act section 
404 permits. Unless otherwise prescribed by statute, members generally 
are appointed to two-year terms or until the charge is addressed, 
whichever is first. Nominees will be considered according to the 
mandates of FACA, which requires committees to maintain diversity 
across a broad range of constituencies, sectors, and groups.
    Other criteria used to evaluate nominees will include:
     Professional knowledge of environmental policy, 
management, and organizational development, particularly in the area of 
co-regulation by states and tribes under federalism;
     Demonstrated experience with Clean Water Act section 404; 
Clean Water Act section 404(g); or state or tribal wetland programs at 
the state or local level;
     Ability to assess and analyze environmental and 
institutional challenges with objectivity and integrity;
     Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, 
and consensus-building skills;
     Willingness to commit time to the Committee and 
demonstrated ability to work constructively on committees including 
participation on video/teleconference meetings and preparation of text 
for subcommittee reports and advice letters;
     Absence of personal financial conflicts of interest;
     Background and experiences that would help members 
contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the Council, e.g., 
geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, 
professional affiliations; and background and experiences that would 
help members contribute to the diversity in perspective critical to 
this issue.
    If you know a qualified person who might be, or if you yourself are 
interested in serving on the subcommittee, follow the instructions 
under How to Submit Nominations. Nomination (application) packages 
should be submitted before the deadline of May 15, 2015.

III. How To Submit Nominations

    Any interested person and/or organization may nominate qualified 
individuals to be considered for appointment to this advisory 
subcommittee. Individuals may self-nominate.
    Nominations may be submitted in electronic format (preferred) or 
mailed to Laura Bachle at the address listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT, using the subject line ``NACEPT Subcommittee 
Membership Recruitment 2014'' to assumablewaters@epa.gov. The 
Designated Federal Official will acknowledge receipt of nominations.
    To be considered, all 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 telephone number.
     Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in 
serving on the NACEPT subcommittee. In preparing the statement of 
interest, please describe how the nominee's background, knowledge, and 
experience will bring value to the work of the subcommittee, and how 
these qualifications would contribute to the overall diversity of the 
subcommittee. Also, be sure to describe any previous involvement of the 
nominee with the Agency through employment, grant funding and/or 
contracting sources.
     R[eacute]sum[eacute] 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 advisory committees.
     A letter authorizing the nominee to represent the point(s) 
of view of a specific entity or group (such as an industry association, 
state or local government, environmental group, etc.) that has an 
interest in the subject matter under the subcommittee's charge.
     A recommendation letter from a third party or individual 
supporting the nominee--this letter is separate and in addition to the 
authorization letter. This letter should describe how the nominee's 
background and skills would support the subcommittee's task.
    Other sources, in addition to this Federal Register document, may 
also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. To help the Agency in 
evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please tell us 
how you learned of this opportunity.

    Dated: March 10, 2015.
Benita Best-Wong,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 2015-05925 Filed 3-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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