Notice2023-11130
Request for Nominations of Experts to Peer-Review Draft Guidance on Valuing Ecosystem Services in Federal Benefit-Cost Analyses
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 25, 2023
Issuing agencies
Management and Budget Office
Abstract
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will propose draft guidance called Guidance for Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-Cost Analysis. This notice requests public nominations of experts to participate in an independent scientific peer review of this forthcoming proposed Guidance.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33918-33919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11130]
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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Request for Nominations of Experts to Peer-Review Draft Guidance
on Valuing Ecosystem Services in Federal Benefit-Cost Analyses
AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will propose draft
guidance called Guidance for Assessing Changes in Environmental and
Ecosystem Services in Benefit-Cost Analysis. This notice requests
public nominations of experts to participate in an independent
scientific peer review of this forthcoming proposed Guidance.
DATES: The 21-day public comment period to provide nominations begins
May 25, 2023, and ends June 15, 2023. Nominations must be received on
or before June 15, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations by emailing them to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdf0ffe593f2f0ff93f2f4effc93f8eefac8d4d9dcd3ded8edd8d8cfefd8cbd4d8cafdd2d0df93d8d2cd93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2568677d0b6a68670b6a6c77640b607662504c41444b4640754040577740534c4052654a48470b404a550b424a53">[email protected]</span></a> (subject line: Peer
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance) no later than June
15, 2023. To receive full consideration, nominations should include all
of the information requested below. Please be advised that public
comments, including communications on these nominations, are subject to
release under the Freedom of Information Act.
Privacy Act Statement: Submission of nominations is voluntary.
Solicitation of this information is authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1111. The
information furnished will be used to select independent peer reviewers
to evaluate forthcoming proposed guidance entitled Guidance for
Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-
Cost Analysis. While the information solicited by this notice is
intended to be used for internal purposes, in certain circumstances it
may be necessary to disclose this information externally, for example
to contractors, as necessary to perform their duties for the Federal
government; to a congressional office in response to an inquiry from
that congressional office made at the request of the individual to whom
the record pertains; or to other agencies, courts, and persons as
necessary and relevant in the course of litigation, and as necessary
and in accordance with requirements for law enforcement. A complete
list of the routine uses can be found in the system of records notice
associated with this collection of information, OMB Public Input System
of Records, OMB/INPUT/01.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b26293345242629452422392a452e382c1e020f0a05080e3b0e0e19390e1d020e1c2b040609450e041b450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a77786214757778147573687b147f697d4f535e5b54595f6a5f5f48685f4c535f4d7a555758145f554a145d554c">[email protected]</span></a> (subject line: Peer
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Two OMB circulars provide guidance to Federal agencies on benefit-
cost analyses. Circular A-4: Regulatory Analysis \1\ discusses analyses
of regulations' impacts, as required under section 6(a)(3) of Executive
Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review),\2\ the Regulatory
Right-to-Know Act,\3\ and a variety of related authorities. Circular A-
94: Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal
Programs \4\ discusses analyses of Federal programs or policies,
decisions whether to lease or purchase, and asset valuation and sale.
In April 2023, OMB proposed draft updates to both circulars.\5\ These
draft updates both note the importance of analyses accounting for
effects on environmental and ecosystem services, as feasible and
appropriate, and reference forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem
services for more discussion on how to conduct such analyses.\6\ E.O.
14072 section 4(b) also calls for guidance related to the valuation of
ecosystem and environmental services and natural assets in Federal
regulatory decision-making.\7\
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\1\ OMB, Circular A-4, Regulatory Analysis (Sept. 17, 2003),
available at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A4/a-4.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A4/a-4.pdf</a>.
\2\ Exec. Order No. 12866, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993).
\3\ Public Law 106-554, 624, 114 Stat. 2763A-161 (codified at 31
U.S.C. 1105 note).
\4\ OMB, Circular A-94, Guidelines and Discount Rates for
Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs (Oct. 29, 1992), available
at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A94/a094.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A94/a094.pdf</a>.
\5\ See OMB, Draft for Public Review: Circular A-4, Regulatory
Analysis (Apr. 6, 2023), available at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DraftCircularA-4.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DraftCircularA-4.pdf</a> (hereinafter Draft
Circular A-4 Update); OMB, Draft for Public Review: Circular A-94,
Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal
Programs (Apr. 6, 2023), available at <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CircularA94.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CircularA94.pdf</a> (hereinafter Draft Circular
A-94 Update).
\6\ See Draft Circular A-4 Update 51-52 (``Many regulations will
influence environmental or ecosystem services that directly impact
the welfare of relevant populations. . . . Where you identify
relevant ecosystem services, you should seek to monetize their
impacts when feasible, quantify impacts when monetization is not
feasible, and describe qualitatively impacts that are not monetized
or quantified. See . . . forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem
services for additional information and guidance.''); Draft Circular
A-94 Update 8 (``Projects may directly affect or alter access to the
natural environment and the benefits it provides. Analyses should
account for relevant effects on ecosystem and environmental services
when feasible. See forthcoming OMB guidance on ecosystem services
for additional discussion on how to capture the welfare effects of
ecosystem and environmental services.'').
\7\ Executive Order No. 14072, Strengthening the Nation's
Forests, Communities, and Local Economies Sec. 4(b), 87 FR 24851,
24854 (Apr. 27, 2022).
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OMB is currently drafting this guidance, entitled Guidance for
Assessing Changes in Environmental and Ecosystem Services in Benefit-
Cost Analysis. OMB will solicit public comments on the proposed
guidance. In addition, the proposed guidance will be peer reviewed. The
independent, external scientific peer review will be managed by an OMB
contractor. This notice requests public nominations of experts to
participate in the independent scientific peer review of the
forthcoming guidance on valuing ecosystem services in benefit-cost
analyses consistent with Circulars A-4 and A-94.
[[Page 33919]]
II. Information About This Peer Review
OMB is seeking nominations of individuals with demonstrated and
nationally recognized expertise in ecosystem services and natural
assets. OMB seeks diverse perspectives, including relevant natural
science (e.g., ecology, biology, marine sciences, or hydrology),
systems science (e.g., ecosystem ecology or biogeochemistry), applied
science (e.g., civil or environmental engineering), and environmental
and resource economics disciplines. Nominations of individuals with
expertise in multiple disciplines and perspectives are encouraged. A
balanced review panel should include experts who together possess the
necessary domains of knowledge and a breadth of economic and scientific
perspectives to provide rigorous peer review. All nominations will be
evaluated for real or perceived conflicts of interest and independence.
To form the list of candidate external reviewers, nominations
submitted in response to this notice will be considered along with
candidates identified using traditional techniques (e.g., a literature
search) to identify additional qualified candidates in the disciplines
listed above. After consideration of public nominations, a final multi-
disciplinary panel of four to six peer reviewers will be selected from
the pool. Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include:
(a) distinguished and nationally recognized technical expertise, as
well as experience; (b) availability and willingness to serve; and (c)
real or perceived conflicts of interest and independence.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any person or
organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas described
above. Self-nominations are permitted. Submit your nominations by email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d606f750362606f0362647f6c03687e6a5844494c434e487d48485f7f485b44485a6d42404f0348425d034a425b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e6aba4bec8a9aba4c8a9afb4a7c8a3b5a1938f8287888583b6838394b483908f8391a6898b84c8838996c8818990">[email protected]</span></a> (subject line: Peer
Review Nomination for Ecosystem Services Guidance). To receive full
consideration, nominations should include all of the following
information: contact information for the person making the nomination;
the nominee's contact information and institutional affiliation; the
nominee's disciplinary and specific areas of expertise; and the
nominee's r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae or equivalent
information about their current position, educational background,
expertise, and experience. To assess conflicts of interest and
independence for nominees being considered for the peer review, OMB
will seek to identify, among other factors, professional affiliation
with the Executive Office of the President within the last 3 years,
current contracts with the Federal government to conduct regulatory
impact analysis or other decision support analyses, and regular
business streams to advocate for or critique regulatory impact analyses
on behalf of non-federal entities.
Richard L. Revesz,
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-11130 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P
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