Notice2024-13694
Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board BenSPLASH Review Panel
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
June 24, 2024
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific experts to form a Panel to review the Benefits Spatial Platform for Aggregating Socioeconomics and H2O Quality (BenSPLASH). BenSPLASH serves as one component in an integrated assessment model designed to quantify the economic benefits of changes in water quality. The Panel will evaluate the underlying valuation approaches and endpoints, benefits transfer applications and methodology, and default assumptions within BenSPLASH.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52463-52464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13694]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-12029-01-OA]
Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board BenSPLASH
Review Panel
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory
Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific
experts to form a Panel to review the Benefits Spatial Platform for
Aggregating Socioeconomics and H2O Quality (BenSPLASH). BenSPLASH
serves as one component in an integrated assessment model designed to
quantify the economic benefits of changes in water quality. The Panel
will evaluate the underlying valuation approaches and endpoints,
benefits transfer applications and methodology, and default assumptions
within BenSPLASH.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by July 15, 2024 per the
instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations
may contact Dr. Shaunta Hill-Hammond, Designated Federal Officer (DFO),
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office by telephone/voice mail (202)
564-3343, or email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adc5c4c1c180c5ccc0c0c2c3c983dec5ccd8c3d9ccedc8ddcc83cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0860616464256069656567666c267b60697d667c69486d7869266f677e">[email protected]</span></a>. General information
concerning the EPA SAB can be found at the EPA SAB website at <a href="https://sab.epa.gov">https://sab.epa.gov</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a chartered
Federal Advisory Committee that provides independent scientific and
technical peer review, advice, and recommendations to the EPA
Administrator on the technical basis for EPA actions. As a Federal
Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S. Code 10) and related
regulations. The SAB Staff Office is forming an expert panel, the
BenSPLASH Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered SAB. The
BenSPLASH Review Panel will provide advice through the SAB. The SAB and
the BenSPLASH Review Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA and
all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
EPA regularly estimates the benefits of surface water quality
improvements associated with Clean Water Act regulations. EPA has
developed BenSPLASH, as one component in an integrated assessment model
designed to quantify the economic benefits of changes in water quality
(Corona, et al. 2020).\1\ BenSPLASH can map water quality parameters to
a water quality index (WQI). The main valuation approach can then
estimate willingness to pay for changes in the WQI from a meta-analysis
of surface water quality stated preference studies. The BenSPLASH
Review Panel will conduct a review of the underlying valuation
approaches and endpoints, benefits transfer applications and
methodology, and default assumptions within BenSPLASH.
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\1\ Corona, J.; Doley, T.; Griffiths, C.; Massey, M.; Moore, C.;
Muela, S.; Rashleigh, B.; Wheeler, W.; Whitlock, S.D.; and Hewitt,
J. 2020. ``An Integrated Assessment Model for Valuing Water Quality
Changes in the United States,'' Land Economics 96 (4): 478-492.
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Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists
with demonstrated expertise in the following disciplines: Aquatic
Ecology, including aquatic environmental assessment, hydrology, and
nutrient pollution; Computer Science including geographic information
systems, programming (C# and R), and user interfaces; Environmental
Economics, including benefits transfer, distributional impacts and
environmental justice, national and subnational regional level
analyses, meta-analysis, nonmarket valuation, and water quality
benefits; Human Health Assessment, including risk assessment for
waterborne pollutants and pathogens; Human Health Valuation specific to
water quality and pollution impacts; Integrated Assessment Modeling;
and Uncertainty Analysis.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals in the areas
of expertise described above for possible service on the SAB Panel.
Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should be submitted in
electronic format (preferred) using the online nomination form on the
SAB website at <a href="https://sab.epa.gov">https://sab.epa.gov</a> (see the ``Public Input on
Membership'' list under ``Committees,
[[Page 52464]]
Panels, and Membership'' following the instructions for ``Nominating
Experts to Advisory Panels and Ad Hoc Committees Being Formed,''
provided on the SAB website (see the ``Nomination of Experts'' link
under ``Current Activities'' at <a href="https://sab.epa.gov">https://sab.epa.gov</a>). To be considered,
nominations should include the information requested below. EPA values
and welcomes diversity. All qualified candidates are encouraged to
apply regardless of sex, race, disability, or ethnicity. Nominations
should be submitted in time to arrive no later than July 15, 2024.
The following information should be provided on the nomination
form: contact information for the person making the nomination; contact
information for the nominee; and the disciplinary and specific areas of
expertise of the nominee. Nominees will be contacted by the SAB Staff
Office and will be asked to provide a recent curriculum vitae and a
narrative biographical summary that includes current position,
educational background; research activities; sources of research
funding for the last two years; and recent service on other national
advisory committees or national professional organizations. Persons
having questions about the nomination procedures, or who are unable to
submit nominations through the SAB website, should contact the DFO at
the contact information noted above. The names and biosketches of
qualified nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register
Notice, and additional experts identified by the SAB Staff Office, will
be posted in a List of Candidates for the Panel on the SAB website at
<a href="https://sab.epa.gov">https://sab.epa.gov</a>. Public comments on the List of Candidates will be
accepted for 21 days. The public will be requested to provide relevant
information or other documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff
Office should consider in evaluating candidates.
For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced review panel includes
candidates who possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant
scientific perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced
by work history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of
experience to adequately address the charge. In forming the expert
panel, the SAB Staff Office will consider public comments on the Lists
of Candidates, information provided by the candidates themselves, and
background information independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office.
Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include: (a)
scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience
(primary factors); (b) availability and willingness to serve; (c)
absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an
appearance of a loss of impartiality; (e) skills working in committees,
subcommittees, and advisory panels; and (f) for the panel as a whole,
diversity of expertise and scientific points of view.
Candidates may be asked to submit the ``Confidential Financial
Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal
Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'' (EPA
Form 3110-48). This confidential form is required for Special
Government Employees (SGEs) and allows EPA to determine whether there
is a statutory conflict between a person's public responsibilities
(which includes membership on an EPA federal advisory committee) and
private interests and activities, or the appearance of a loss of
impartiality, as defined by federal regulation. The form may be viewed
and downloaded through the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors'' link on
the SAB website at <a href="https://sab.epa.gov">https://sab.epa.gov</a>. This form should not be
submitted as part of a nomination.
V Khanna Johnston,
Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-13694 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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