Public Involvement in Advisory Activities
Formation of panels and ad hoc committees; nomination of experts
Much initial advisory work is conducted by panels and ad hoc committees before the chartered SAB, CASAC, and Council review and approve reports for the EPA Administrator.
- The SAB Staff announces new advisory projects in the Federal Register and provides ways for the public to:
- Nominate experts through the Web to new panels and ad hoc committees being formed
- Be informed about the candidates being considered for new panels or ad hoc committees being formed and
- Provide information, analysis, or documentation that SAB Staff should consider before it finalizes membership on panels and ad hoc committees.
The SAB Staff has developed a general overview of the panel formation process (PDF, 10 pp., 113 kb, About PDF Files) and a more detailed description of the formation of advisory panels and ad hoc committees in the 2004 SAB Implementation Plan (PDF, 30 pp., 347 kb, About PDF Files).
Advisory committee meetings and report development
EPA policy and the law governing Federal Advisory Committees allow and encourage public involvement.
- The Federal Advisory Committee Act provides for public involvement in committee activities primarily by open access to meetings and records and by providing the public opportunity to submit comments to the committee.
- To participate in advisory activities of the SAB, CASAC, and Council, members of the public can:
- Contact the appropriate Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or the SAB Staff Office to obtain information on or provide comments about committee activities.
- Attend and observe public meetings and teleconferences.
- Review materials used by committee members in their deliberations
- Provide written comments for consideration by committee members
- Present oral statements for consideration by committee members at public meetings during time periods set aside for that purpose.
- Review minutes of committee meeting and deliberations
The SAB Staff has developed a detailed description of how SAB, CASAC, and Council committees work and how the public can participate through the steps outlined above.