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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61748-61749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24982]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Annual Public Meeting of the Interagency Steering Committee on 
Multimedia Environmental Modeling

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The annual public meeting of the Federal Interagency Steering 
Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM) will convene to 
discuss the latest developments in environmental modeling applications, 
tools and frameworks as well as new operational initiatives for FY 2013 
among the participating agencies. The meeting will be hosted by the 
U.S. Geological Survey, one of the participants in the ISCMEM, at its 
headquarters facility in Reston, VA. The meeting is open to the public 
and all interested parties may attend.

DATES: November 7 and 8, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EST and 
November 9, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, EST.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, 
Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pre-registration may be accomplished 
through the ISCMEM public Web site: http://iemhub.org/topics/iscmem. 
Instructions for registration through the Web site may be requested by 
email to Whelan.Gene@epamail.epa.gov. Other inquiries and notice of 
intent to attend the meeting may be faxed or emailed to: Dr. Ming Zhu, 
ISCMEM Chair, U.S.

[[Page 61749]]

Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, Tel 301-903-9240, Fax 301-
903-4307, Ming.Zhu@em.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: In 2001 six Federal agencies began formal cooperation 
under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the research and 
development of multimedia (i.e. air, soil, water) environmental models. 
This MOU established the Federal Interagency Steering Committee on 
Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM). The MOU was revised and 
renewed in 2006 and 2011. The MOU establishes a framework for 
facilitating cooperation and coordination among research organizations 
in the participating agencies. So far, six agencies have signed the 
current renewal of the MOU: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Engineer 
Research and Development Center); the U.S. Department of Energy (Office 
of Environmental Management); the U.S. Department of Interior (U.S. 
Geological Survey); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Office of 
Research and Development); the U.S. National Science Foundation 
(Geosciences Directorate); and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research). Other agencies are still 
reviewing the revised MOU.
    In ISCMEM, agencies work to cooperate and coordinate in the 
research and development of all aspects of multimedia environmental 
modeling. This includes development and enhancements of software, 
databases, and interoperability. It includes applications and 
assessment of site specific, generic, and process-oriented multimedia 
environmental models as they pertain to human and environmental health 
risk assessment. Multimedia environmental model development and 
simulation supports interagency interests in risk assessment, 
uncertainty analyses, and management of geologic, hydrologic, 
atmospheric, terrestrial, and ecological resources. The topics to be 
discussed this year focus on: (1) Development of frameworks and 
platforms; (2) subsurface biogeochemical studies; (3) cyber-water 
research program; and (4) integration modeling for national weather 
services, water resources management, and surface water and ecological 
systems.
    Purpose of the Public Meeting: The annual public meeting provides 
an opportunity for the scientific community, ISCMEM members and other 
Federal and State agencies, and the public to discuss ISCMEM activities 
and their initiatives for the upcoming year, and to discuss 
technological advancements in multimedia environmental modeling.
    Proposed Agenda: The ISCMEM Chair will open the meeting with a 
brief overview of the goals of the MOU and an update on current 
activities and future plans of ISCMEM. This introduction will be 
followed by a series of invited technical presentations for the 
remainder of the first day and for the entire second day, focusing on 
topics of mutual interest to ISCMEM participants. The steering 
committee will hold an open business session on the morning of the 
third day. A detailed agenda with presentation titles and speakers will 
be posted on the ISCMEM public Web site: http://iemhub.org/topics/iscmem. The agenda and instructions for registration will also be 
available through the list of public meetings on the US Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings.html.
    Meeting Access: The meeting facility at the U.S. Geological Survey 
Headquarters is located at 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, near 
the Washington Dulles International Airport. Directions to the U.S. 
Geological Survey Headquarters can be found on its Web site at http://www.usgs.gov/visitors/directions.asp. The most convenient 
transportation to the meeting venue is via automobile. There is free 
visitor parking at the U.S. Geological Survey facility. The meeting 
facility is wheel-chair accessible. Please allow time to register with 
building security and bring two photo ID's. Direct access to the 
meeting facility is available on the same level and near the visitor 
security check-in. Please pre-register through the Web site listed 
above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or via the agency contact 
information. Please follow signs for the ISCMEM public meeting.

Ming Zhu,
Chair, Federal Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia 
Environmental Modeling.
[FR Doc. 2012-24982 Filed 10-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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