NPS - The National Park Service (NPS) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Nonfederal Oil and Gas Regulations Revisions to the public for review. Hard copies are available in limited number upon request. [Volume 81, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]

NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced newly appointed members of the NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). These members will serve on the board for a period of two years, beginning September 30, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given notice of a two-day virtual public meeting for the Assumable Waters Subcommittee under the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT) on September 28-29, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (EST). The meeting will address the Clean Water Act. [Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]

USGS - The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has announced a meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) on September 27-28, 2016. AMong other programs, the meeting will address the 2017 Presidential Campaign transition and Landsat. The meeting will include a public comment session on September 28, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation (NSF), along with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are requesting public comments on the creation of a National Broadband Research Agenda. The agenda will address opportunities for data collection, and research and analysis that utilizes widespread digital sphere data. Comments are to be submitted in writing or digitally by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on October 11, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)]

DOE - The fall 2016 National Coal Council (NCC) meeting will take place on October 5, 2016. The NCC advises the Department of Energy (DOE), Secretary of Energy, on policies affecting the coal industry. The meeting is open to the public. Oral statements should be submitted in writing at least 5 days in advance of the meeting. [Volume 81, Number 176 (Monday, September 12, 2016)]

DOD - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced a Federal advisory committee meeting for the Chief of Engineers and Environmental Advisory Board (EAB). The meeting will address environmental policy and the discussion of environmental challenges and opportunities to provide environmentally conscious improvement. The meeting will be open to the public between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EST) on October 18, 2016. Verbal and written public comments are also encouraged.  [Volume 81, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation (NSF) will hold a meeting for the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering. The meeting will address opportunities to broaden race and gender equality in participation in the science and engineering fields. The meeting is October 13-14, 2016 and will be open to the public. [Volume 81, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]

SBA - The Small Business Administration (SBA) published an interim final rule amendment to the disaster loan program regulations affecting the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force recommendations. Among other changes, the amendment increased the amount of disaster assistance funds that can be dispersed immediately to applicants by raising the unsecured threshold for economic injury loan for all disasters and for loans for physical damage resulting from major disasters.  [Volume 8`, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]

DOI - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is welcoming comments on an information collection regarding oil and gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf. The information regards Sensitive Reservoir Information, and a Bottomhole Pressure Survey Report. Written comments are to be submitted by November 15, 2016 to BOEM’s Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, and to BOEM’s office in Sterling, VA. [Volume 81, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2016)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given notice of a public meeting of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). This meeting was organized to discuss the Council’s draft report detailing actions that EPA is recommended to take in response to “technological and sociological developments in the area of citizen science.” The NACEPT will hold a public teleconference on October 17, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EST). [Volume 81, Number 181 (Monday, September 19, 2016)]

NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) has announced a public meeting on November 17, 2016 from 9:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. (EST) and on November 18, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (EST). The meeting will discuss a report on the Review of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, and discussion on the Ecosystem Services Valuation report, the GOES-R report, and on the RESTORE Act Metrics and Communication report. There will be a 15 minute period for public comment November 17, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made data publicly available regarding its proposed rule; ‘Updates to Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands Regulations to Implement Executive Order 13690 and the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard’. This notice serves to make available to the public a draft report of ‘2016 Evaluation of the Benefits of Freeboard for Public and Nonresidential Buildings in Coastal Areas’. The report is open for public comments to be submitted no later than October 21, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) has announced a public meeting on October 12-13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST). The meeting will focus on a review of the preceding eight years of environmental justice work at the EPA. A public comment period will occur October 12, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. (EST). Pre-registration for this comment period ends at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on October 5, 2016. The meeting will be held at EPA Headquarters. [Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes Advisory Board (the Board) has announced a public teleconference to discuss the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and other matters. The teleconference will be held October 18, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CST). The teleconference will feature a period for public comment. [Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]

U.S. Presidential Proclamation - President Barack Obama has proclaimed the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts as the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean.The proclamation announces the following activities as prohibited within the bounds of the monument: 1. The exploration for, development of, or production of oil and gas or minerals or other energy exploration. 2. Use or attempted use of poisons, electrical charges, or explosives. 3. Introducing or releasing an introduced species from within or into the environment. 4. Removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging, or  attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, possess,  injure, disturb, or damage, any living or nonliving monument resource, except as provided under regulated activities below. 5. Drilling into, anchoring, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on the submerged lands, except for scientific  instruments and constructing or maintaining submarine cables. 6. Commercial fishing regulations exempt the red crab fishery and the American lobster fishery as regulated in the Federal Register posting: [Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]

DOE/NSF - The Department of Energy (DOE) and National Science Foundation’s (NSF), Nuclear Science Committee (NSAC), has announced a meeting to discuss advice and guidance to DOE and NSF regarding priorities within the nuclear science research field. The agenda will also include a presentation of the Nuclear Physics SBIR-STTR Program. The meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Gaithersburg, Maryland. [Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]

DOE - The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a meeting of the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee. The meeting will occur at DOE’s Washington D.C. office on October 19, 2016; 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (EDT), and is open to the public.  The meeting will include remarks by the Designated Federal Officer; election of a new Committee Chair; review of Secretary's Energy Advisory Board Report on the Methane Hydrate Program; update on review of Methane Hydrate Program activities and plans; review the Methane Hydrate Program Budget; review the Methane Hydrate Program Strategic Direction; and will include a public comment period. [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]

NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has given notice of information collection regarding evaluation of applicants to the NASA Astronaut Selection Office (ASO) located at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). Comments are requested on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of NASA, including whether the information collected has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of NASA's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology. [Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]

DOE -The Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed an expenditure of funding for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of ‘Project Icebreaker’, a new offshore wind renewable energy installation to be located in Lake Erie, around 8 miles from Cleveland, Ohio. The DOE is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify potential impacts to the environment that could result from the project, and are requesting public input. There will be a public scoping meeting on September 28, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Lakewood, Ohio. Comments regarding scoping must be received by October 21, 2016. [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting comment on proposed changes to the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, which are available online in docket ID FEMA-2016-0022. FEMA may revise the proposed policy changes depending on the content of the public comments received. Comments must be received by October 24, 2016, and may be submitted via writing or online.  [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]

DOI - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a final rule to update fees set forth in mineral resources regulations for the processing of certain minerals and adjusts filing fees for mineral-related documents. The final rule will become effective October 1, 2016. For more information on how to submit inquiries or questions, please visit the Federal Register posting - [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation’s (NSF), National Science Board, has given notice of a teleconference for discussion of the NSF 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. The meeting will be held via teleconference. [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation (NSF) has given notice of an open meeting of the Advisory Committee for Engineering. The meeting will discuss advice, recommendations, and counsel on major goals and policies pertaining to engineering programs and activities and will occur on October 19-20, 2016, at the National Science Foundation. [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]

DOE - The Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting comments on a data collection proposition. This entails collecting data from industry members in order to find new research techniques and capabilities that would be valuable to the solar industry. Comments must be submitted by October 26, 2016. [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]

NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has given notice of a meeting of the International Space Station (ISS) Advisory Committee to review aspects of safety and personal readiness of the ISS and to explore possibilities of using the ISS for future space exploration. The meeting will be open to the public, until filled and is otherwise accessible via teleconference. The meeting will take place on Monday, October 31, 2016. [Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]

DOC - The Department of Commerce (DOC) Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction has given notice of an open meeting on November 9, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (MDT) and November 10, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (MDT). The meeting will address the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)’s future activities and gather information for the 2017 report on the effectiveness of NEHRP.  [Volume 81, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued their final flood hazard determinations. The resulting Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and other boundaries will be effective on February 3, 2017. [Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]

NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) advisory council Heliophysics Subcommittee has announced a meeting to obtain information from the scientific community related to program planning. The agenda includes programs: Living With a Star (LWS) Vision, and LWS Focus Topics for Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2017. The meeting will occur on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 10:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. (EST). The meeting will be open to the public telephonically and via WebEx. [Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]

NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced a meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee in Seattle, WA and La Push, WA. The committee will discuss administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the system, expansion and modernization of components of the system, identification of end-user communities and information dissemination, and any other purpose identified by the committee. The meeting will be held on October 11-13, 2016, in Seattle and La Push, WA and will be open to public participation with 15-minute public comment periods each day.  Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. [Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency has provided notice that it has clarified its July 29, 2016 reponse to petitions to reconsider its 2012 final rule entitled ‘Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews.’ The EPA clarified that its denial of the petitions only referred to new source performance standards (NSPS) and did not include their 2012 action on national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (2012 NESHAP). [Volume 81, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2016)]

DOI - The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting comments on an information collection which includes surveys of students to assess confidence in the ability to participate in environmental monitoring and citizen science activities/discussions, Interest in pursuing or participating in classes, activities or discussions related to general STEM and/or environmental science, Recognition of the relevance of STEM and environmental science to students' lives and communities, and Interest in environmental science and/or in pursuing additional STEM-related classes, activities and/or careers. Comments are to be submitted on or before December 5, 2016. Comments should be sent to adonna L. Baucum, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive (MS-242), Reston, VA 20192 (mail); or madonna_baucum@nps.gov (email). Reference ``1024-New STEM Survey'' in the subject line of your comments. For more information, contact Lynne Murdock, Natural Resources Interpretive Specialist, 1201 Eye Street NW., 8th Floor, #39, Washington, DC 20005 (mail); lynne_murdock@nps.gov (email), or at (202) 513-7195 (phone). [Volume 81, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)]

NSF -  The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advisory Committee for Mathematical and Physical Sciences has given notice of an open meeting to provide advice, recommendation, and counsel regarding mathematical and physical sciences programs and activities. The meeting will occur on November 17, 2016; 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.and November 18, 2016; 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. Board Room (room 1235). For more information, contact John Gillaspy, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1005, Arlington, Virginia 22230; Telephone: 703/292-8300 [Volume 81, Number 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2016)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a meeting of its Committee on Honorary Awards. The meeting will discuss candidates for the 2017 National Science Board Honorary Awards, including the Vannevar Bush award and the NSB Public Service Award. The meeting will be closed and held by teleconference at the National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. The point of contact for the meeting is Kim Silverman, 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-7000. [Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]