Notice2022-16369
Notice of Public Comment Period on Additional Candidates Added to the Peer Reviewer Pool for the Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress
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Published
August 1, 2022
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 15-day public comment period on two (2) additional peer review candidates for the external peer review of the Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (RtC3). EPA previously invited public comment on an initial pool of twenty (20) candidates announced in a Federal Register Notice (FRN) published on May 9, 2022. After considering public comments and the balance and collective expertise of the reviewers, EPA asked ERG, the independent contractor organizing the peer review, to identify additional candidates to strengthen expertise gaps and allow a more balanced panel. EPA is seeking public comment on additional peer review candidates in order to strengthen underrepresented areas of expertise, specifically economics, water quality, and ecology disciplines. You may also comment on the initial twenty (20) candidates if you have not yet done so. If you already commented on those initial candidates in response to the May 9, 2022, FRN, you do not need to resubmit those comments. After considering all public comments on the initial pool of 20 candidates and the additional candidates announced in this FRN, ERG will select up to nine (9) peer reviewers. ERG will ensure the peer reviewers' combined expertise best spans the following disciplines: economics, engineering, agronomics, land use change, remote sensing, air quality, biogeochemistry, water quality, hydrology, conservation biology, limnology, and ecology. The peer review will be conducted under the framework of EPA's Scientific Integrity Policy (https://www.epa.gov/ sites/default/files/2014-02/documents/ scientific_integrity_policy_2012.pdf) and follow procedures established in EPA's Peer Review Handbook 4th Edition, 2015 (EPA/100/B-15/001).
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46958-46960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16369]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-ORD-2020-0682; FRL-10090-01-ORD]
Notice of Public Comment Period on Additional Candidates Added to
the Peer Reviewer Pool for the Biofuels and the Environment: Third
Triennial Report to Congress
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a
15-day public comment period on two (2) additional peer review
candidates for the external peer review of the Biofuels and the
Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (RtC3). EPA previously
invited public comment on an initial pool of twenty (20) candidates
announced in a Federal Register Notice (FRN) published on May 9, 2022.
After considering public comments and the balance and collective
expertise of the reviewers, EPA asked ERG, the independent contractor
organizing the peer review, to identify additional candidates to
strengthen expertise gaps and allow a more balanced panel. EPA is
seeking public comment on additional peer review candidates in order to
strengthen underrepresented areas of expertise, specifically economics,
water quality, and ecology disciplines. You may also comment on the
initial twenty (20) candidates if you have not yet done so. If you
already commented on those initial candidates in response to the May 9,
2022, FRN, you do not need to resubmit those comments. After
considering all public comments on the initial pool of 20 candidates
and the additional candidates announced in this FRN, ERG will select up
to nine (9) peer reviewers. ERG will ensure the peer reviewers'
combined expertise best spans the following disciplines: economics,
engineering, agronomics, land use change, remote sensing, air quality,
biogeochemistry, water quality, hydrology, conservation biology,
limnology, and ecology. The peer review will be conducted under the
framework of EPA's Scientific Integrity Policy (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-02/documents/scientific_integrity_policy_2012.pdf">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-02/documents/scientific_integrity_policy_2012.pdf</a>) and follow procedures established
in EPA's Peer Review Handbook 4th Edition, 2015 (EPA/100/B-15/001).
DATES: The 15-day public comment period on the additional list of
proposed peer review candidates begins August 1, 2022 and ends August
16, 2022. Comments must be received on or before August 16, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please follow the instructions as provided in the section of
this notice entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the process for
forming the peer review panel should be directed to EPA's contractor,
ERG, by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3c3d6d6c1c1d6c5dad6c4f3d6c1d49dd0dcde"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e8988d8d9a9a8d9e818d9fa88d9a8fc68b8785">[email protected]</span></a> (subject line: RtC3 Peer Review).
For information on the period of submission, contact the
[[Page 46959]]
ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; phone: 202-566-1752;
fax: 202-566-9744; or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f29d8096dc969d91999786b2978293dc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d223f296329222e2628390d283d2c632a223b">[email protected]</span></a>. For technical
information, contact Christopher Clark; phone: 202-564-4183; or email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c487a8a5b6afea87acb6adb7b0abb4aca1b684a1b4a5eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c6f404d5e47026f445e455f58435c44495e6c495c4d024b435a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Information About the Document
In 2007, Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act
(EISA) with the stated goals of ``mov[ing] the United States toward
greater energy independence and security [and] to increase the
production of clean renewable fuels.'' In accordance with these goals,
EISA revised the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program, which was
created under the 2005 Energy Policy Act and is administered by the
EPA, to increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended
into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022.
Section 204 of EISA directs the EPA, in consultation with the U.S.
Departments of Agriculture and Energy, to assess and report triennially
to Congress on the environmental and resource conservation impacts of
the RFS Program.
The first report to Congress (RtC1) was completed in 2011 and
provided an assessment of the environmental and resource conservation
impacts associated with increased biofuel production and use (EPA/600/
R-10/183F). The overarching conclusions of this first report were: (1)
the environmental impacts of increased biofuel production and use were
likely negative but limited in impact; (2) there was a potential for
both positive and negative impacts in the future; and (3) EISA goals
for biofuels production could be achieved with minimal environmental
impacts if best practices were used and if technologies advanced to
facilitate the use of second-generation biofuel feedstocks (corn
stover, perennial grasses, woody biomass, algae, and waste).
The second report to Congress (RtC2) was completed in 2018 and
reaffirmed the overarching conclusions of the RtC1 (EPA/600/R-18/195).
The RtC2 noted that the biofuel production and use conditions that led
to the conclusions of the RtC1 had not materially changed, and that the
production of biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks anticipated by both
the EISA and the RtC1 had not materialized. Noting observed increases
in acreage for corn and soybean production in the period prior to, and
following, implementation of the RFS2 Program, the RtC2 concluded that
the environmental and resource conservation impacts associated with
land use change were likely due, at least in part, to the RFS Program
and associated production of biofuel feedstocks but that further
research was needed.
This RtC3 builds on the previous two reports and provides an update
on the impacts to date of the RFS Program on the environment. This
report assesses air, water, and soil quality; ecosystem health and
biodiversity; and other effects. This third report also includes new
analyses not previously included in the first and second reports.
II. Information About This Peer Review
EPA's contractor, ERG, is considering a list of candidates from
which to select the independent, external, peer review panel for the
RtC3. On May 9, 2022, EPA announced through an FRN (87 FR 27634) that
it was seeking public comment on a pool of twenty (20) candidates
identified through a previous FRN seeking nomination of experts (87 FR
5479, February 1, 2022). Candidates combined expertise spanned the
following disciplines: economics, engineering, agronomics, land use
change, remote sensing, air quality, biogeochemistry, water quality,
hydrology, conservation biology, limnology, and ecology. After
considering public comment, and the balance and collective expertise of
the reviewers, ERG identified two (2) additional candidates to
strengthen expertise gaps and allow a more balanced panel. The updated
List of Candidates with additional candidates in bold font has been
posted to the docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (EPA-HQ-ORD-2020-
0682) and is included below.
After considering public comments received on the candidates
submitted in response to this FRN, FRL-10090-01-ORD, and the previous
FRN (87 FR 27634, May 9, 2022), ERG will select up to nine (9) peer
reviewers from this pool in a manner consistent with EPA's Peer Review
Handbook 4th Edition, 2015 (EPA/100/B-15/001) based on the following
factors: (1) demonstrated expertise in the areas listed above through
relevant peer-reviewed publications; (2) professional accomplishments
and recognition by professional societies; (3) demonstrated ability to
work constructively and effectively in a committee setting; (4) absence
of conflicts of interest; (5) no appearance of a lack of impartiality;
(6) willingness to commit adequate time for a thorough review of the
draft report, including preparation of individual written comments that
will be made publicly available; and (7) availability to participate
virtually in a public two-day or three-day peer review meeting and to
provide subsequent revised individual comments. ERG will independently
conduct a conflict of interest (COI) screening of candidates to ensure
that the selected experts have no COI in conducting this review. EPA
will announce the final peer review panel, peer review meeting
information, and public comment period on the RtC3 External Review
Draft in a subsequent FRN. Comments on the peer review candidates must
be submitted to the docket by August 16, 2022.
Revised Pool of Peer Reviewer Candidates (with New Candidates
Listed in Bold Font)
1. Jacob N. Barney, Virginia Tech
2. Steven T. Berry, Yale University
3. Sarah C. Davis, Ohio University
4. Harry de Gorter, Cornell University
5. Bernard A. Engel, Purdue University
6. Jason D. Hill, University of Minnesota
7. S. Kent Hoekman, Desert Research Institute
8. Atul K. Jain, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
9. Stephen R. Kaffka, University of California, Davis
10. Mary Kombolias, Agrafa Solutions LLC
11. Lyubov A. Kurkalova, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical
State University
12. Doug A. Landis, Michigan State University
13. Tyler J. Lark, University of Wisconsin-Madison
14. Ruopi Li, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
15. Chris Malins, Cerulogy Consulting, UK
16. Nathan Parker, Arizona State University
17. John M. Reilly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
18. Timothy D. Searchinger, Princeton University
19. Aaron Smith, University of California, Davis
20. Yang Song, University of Arizona
21. Farzad Taheripour, Purdue University
22. Bin Yang, Washington State University, Tri-Cities
III. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at
www.regulations.gov
We encourage the public to submit comments to Docket ID No. [EPA-
HQ-ORD-2020-0682] via web at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a> or via email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec839e88c288838f878998ac899c8dc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6998492d89299959d9382b6938697d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>, as there may be a delay in processing mail and
faxes. Hand deliveries and couriers may be received at the EPA Docket
Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301
[[Page 46960]]
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays. For further
information on EPA Docket Center services and the current status,
please visit us online at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. [EPA-HQ-ORD-
2020-0682]. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the
specified comment period. It is EPA's policy to include all materials
it receives in the public docket without change and to make the
materials available online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, including any
personal information provided, unless materials include information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or email. The <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> website is an
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an email directly to EPA without going
through <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, your email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the materials that are placed in the
public docket and made available on the internet. If you submit
electronic materials, EPA recommends that you include your name and
other contact information in the body of your materials and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your materials due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider the materials you submit. Electronic files
should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and
be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about
EPA's public docket visit EPA's Docket Center homepage at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm">www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm</a>.
Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials,
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or in hard copy at the ORD Docket in EPA's
Headquarters Docket Center.
Dated: July 26, 2022.
Wayne Cascio,
Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office
of Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-16369 Filed 7-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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