EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule changing the name of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to the Office of Land and emergency Management (OLEM) to better reflect the nature of the work the office conducts. [Tuesday, December 15, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 240)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board will hold two public teleconferences and a face-to-face meeting on their Economy-Wide Modeling Panel to discuss its draft responses to charge questions from EPA’s National Center for Environmental Economics and the Office of Air and Radiation on the role of economy-wide modeling in generating estimates from the social costs and benefits of air regulations at EPA. The two teleconferences will be on March 10, 2016 and May 19, 2016. The face-to-face meeting will be on July 19-20, 2016. [Tuesday, December 15, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 240)]

FEMA - The President declared a major disaster for the State of Texas on November 25, 2015. The President determined that severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of October 22-31, 2015 was a sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. [Tuesday, December 15, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 240)]

NPS - The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a request for comments on its regulations on Mining and Mining Claims (36 CFR Part 9, Subpart A) and on Non-Federal Oil and Gas Operations in the National Park System (36 CFR Part 9, Subpart B). The regulations require operators to submit specific technical information to evaluate proposed operations, ensure that all necessary mitigation measures are employed to protect park resources and values, and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Deadline for comments is February 16, 2016. [Wednesday, December 16, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 241)]

DOE - The State Energy Advisory Board will hold a public teleconference on Thursday, January 21 from 3:30 - 4:00pm EDT. The teleconference will make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy regarding goals and objectives, programmatic and administrative policies, and to otherwise carry out the Board’s responsibilities. [Thursday, December 17, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 242)]

USGS - The U.S. Geological Survey is accepting nominations for the Doug D. Nebert National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Champion of the Year Award. The award honors a respected colleague, technical visionary, and recognized U.S. national leader in the establishment of spatial data infrastructure that significantly enhance the understanding of our physical and cultural world. Nominations are due by January 19, 2016. [Thursday, December 17, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 242)]

BOEM - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is accepting comments on renewable energy and alternate uses of existing facilities on the outer continental shelf (OCS). BOEM currently issues leases, easements, or rights-of-way on the OCS for activities that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas (renewable energy). Comments are due by February 16, 2016. [Thursday, December 17, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 242)]

NIST - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will hold an open meeting for its Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) on Wednesday, February 3 from 8:30am to 3:15pm EDT and on Thursday, February 4 from 8:30am to 11:00am EDT. VCAT will review and make recommendations on NIST’s organization, budget, and programs. [Tuesday, December 22, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 245)]

DOE - The Department of Energy is implementing a consent-based siting process to establish an integrated waste management system to transport, store, and dispose of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high level defense radioactive waste. DOE is seeking comments from communities, states, Tribes, and other interested stakeholders on how to design a consent-based siting process. Deadline for written comments is june 15, 2016, and a series of public meetings will be held. [Wednesday, December 23, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 246)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation (NSF) is holding a meeting of its Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering. The meeting will provide advice and recommendations concerning support for research, education, and related activities involving U.S. science and engineering community working in a global context. is open to the public and will be held on January 21, 2016 from 8:00am to 5:15pm and on January 22, 2016 from 9:00am to 12:30pm EDT. [Wednesday, December 23, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 246)]

PCAST - The President’s Council of Adivsors on Science and Technology (PCAST) will hold a partially open and partially closed meeting to discuss technology and the future of cities among other things on January 15, 2016 from 8:30am to 12:00pm. The meeting will be held at the National Academy of Sciences, 2101 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC. [Thursday, December 24, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 247)]

NPS - In honor of their 100th anniversary, the National Park Service (NPS) is inviting comments from the public on how they envision a second century of national parks and to assess the quality of services available at national parks. The NPS is inviting comments on how to better create this survey. Deadline for comments is February 22, 2016. [Thursday, December 24, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 247)]

USGS - The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) will hold its next meeting in the Utah Department of Natural Resources Auditorium at the Utah Department of Natural Resources on February 4, 2016. the Committee will advise the Director of the USGS on matters relating to their participation in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). [Monday, December 28, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 248)]

DOE - The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy gives notice of the availability of two studies examining the cumulative impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. [Tuesday, December 29, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 249)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel will have a series of public teleconferences as a part of peer review of the EPA draft report, Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources. The teleconferences will be held on February 1, February 2, March 7, and March 10. [Tuesday, December 29, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 249)]