### 445 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2009 / Notices

underway, however, that reach beyond the scope of this Assessment Report. For information regarding EPA efforts relating to the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, visit EPA’s Web site at http://www.epa.gov.ppcp.

In a separate effort, EPA developed a Clean Water Act (CWA) general permit that addresses a range of discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels, including some of the additional wastes identified by the preceding comment. By virtue of a court decision, which vacated the EPA regulation that had excluded these discharges from NPDES permitting, these discharges will become subject to CWA permitting requirements as of February 6, 2009. Except for ballast water, subsequent legislation (Pub. L. 110–299) exempts commercial vessels shorter than 79 feet and commercial fishing vessels (regardless of their size) from NPDES permitting requirements for these discharges for a period of two years (during which time EPA has been directed to conduct further study and analysis).

One commenter urged EPA and other federal agencies to work at the international level on issues directly associated with discharges from cruise ships and other ocean-going vessels. Numerous federal agencies are presently working cooperatively through forums, such as the International Maritime Organization, to enhance international environmental protection standards. At present, the U.S. government is simultaneously supporting efforts to enhance international standards related to discharges of machinery space wastes, sewage, and garbage. In addition, among other efforts, the U.S. government is also working diligently to enhance and implement international standards relating to air emissions from ships, including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This work is ongoing and extensive.

Dated: December 30, 2008. Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water. [FR Doc. E8–31453 Filed 1–5–09; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY** 

**[FRL–8759–1]**

**Good Neighbor Environmental Board; Notification of Public Advisory**  **Committee Teleconference**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). **ACTION :**  Notification of Public Advisory Committee Teleconference.

**SUMMARY :**  Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, notice is hereby given that the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB) will hold a public teleconference on January 16, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The meeting is open to the public. For further information regarding the teleconference and background materials, please contact Mark Joyce at the number listed below.

Background: GNEB is a Federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463. UNEB provides advice and recommendations to the President and Congress on environmental and infrastructure issues along the U.S. border with Mexico.

Purpose of Meeting: The purpose of this teleconference is to discuss and approve the Good Neighbor Environmental Board’s Twelfth Report: Innovative Approaches to Addressing Environmental Problems along the US/ Mexico Border.

Supplementary Information: If you wish to make oral comments or submit written comments to the Board, please contact Mark Joyce at least five days prior to the meeting.

General Information: Additional information concerning the GNEB can be found on its Web site at http:// www.epa.gov/ocem/gneb.

Meeting Access: For information on access or services for individual with disabilities, please contact Mark Joyce at (202)564–2130 or e-mail him at joyce.mark@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Mark Joyce at least 10 days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

Dated: December 19, 2008. Mark Joyce, Designated Federal Officer. [FR Doc. E8–31152 Filed 1–5–09; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–M**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY** 

**[FRL–8759–2]**

**Good Neighbor Environmental Board; Request for Nominations to the Good**  **Neighbor Environmental Board**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice of request for nominations. **SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to fill vacancies on the Good Neighbor Environmental Board. Vacancies are expected to be filled by late spring 2009.

Additional sources may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Good Neighbor Environmental Board was created by the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative Act of 1992. Under Executive Order 12916, implementation authority is delegated to the Administrator of the EPA. The Board is responsible for providing advice to the President and Congress on environmental and infrastructure issues and needs within the states contiguous to Mexico. The statute calls for the Board to have representatives from U.S. government agencies; the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas; local government; tribes; and a variety of non-governmental officials including the private sector; academic officials; environmental group representatives; health groups; ranching and grazing interests; and other relevant sectors. U.S. government agency representatives are nominated by the heads of their agencies. Non-federal members are appointed by the Administrator of the EPA. The Board meets three times annually, twice at various locations along the U.S.-Mexico border and once in Washington, DC. The average workload for members is approximately 10 to 15 hours per month. Members serve on the Board in a voluntary capacity.

However, EPA provides reimbursement for travel expenses associated with official government business. Nominees will be considered according to the mandates of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which requires committees to maintain diversity across a broad range of constituencies, sectors, and groups. The following criteria will be used to evaluate nominees:

• Resident of a U.S.-Mexico border state, ideally within the border region itself.

• Extensive professional knowledge of the unique environmental and infrastructure issues that are found in the region, including the bi-national dimension of these issues.

• Representative of a sector or group that helps to shape border-region environmental policy.

• Senior-level experience that fills a current need on the Board for a representative with that particular type of knowledge.