Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment on EPA's Draft Algae Guidance for the Preparation of TSCA Biotechnology Submissions

October 27, 2016
Old Main Building at Arizona State University
400 East Tyler Mall
Tempe, AZ
8:00 am – 12:00 noon MST

Oral Comments

• If you will be attending the October 27 meeting and wish to make oral comments, please be sure to sign up to do so when you register for the meeting. We encourage all attendees to focus on science-based aspects directly relevant to the meeting's objective and to address specific scientific points in their oral comments.
• Note that there are three comment sessions:
• Session 1: Public comments/discussion on Ecological Effects of GE Algae Charge Questions
• Session 2: Public comments/discussion on General Charge Questions
• Session 3: Public comments on the Draft Algae Guidance for the Preparation of TSCA Biotechnology Submissions document
• See the "Charge & Supporting Documents" page to view the individual charge questions. Your comments should be relevant to one or more charge questions and/or the draft document. When you register for the meeting, you will be asked indicate which session and question your comments apply to, in order of preference. You may sign up to comment in up to two sessions.
• Oral comments are limited to no more than three minutes per person per session.
• Visual aids or written materials will not be accepted during the oral comment session, however, you may submit supporting materials electronically to the docket at any time on or before November 30, 2016 (see below).

Written Comments

Written comment deadline: November 30, 2016.
Registration is only required if you wish to participate in the meeting. You do not need to register for the meeting if you plan to only submit written comments.

For additional information please read the complete Federal Register Notice.

Please submit your written comments to the Docket.

How to submit written comments:

The meeting docket identification (ID) number is: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0508, and comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
2. Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001.
3. Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), William Jefferson Clinton East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. ATTN: Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0508. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is (202) 564–8930. Such deliveries are only accepted during the DCO’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.

EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov Web site is an "anonymous access" system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and on any material submitted. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.

Tips for Preparing Your Oral or Written Comments.

When submitting comments, remember to:

1. Address specific charge questions/topics directly and succinctly.
2. Make it clear which specific charge question(s) you are addressing.
3. Provide reasons for your answers to specific charge questions.
4. Provide specific examples, when possible, that illustrate potential issues or solutions.
5. Explain why you agree or disagree with any of the charge questions or specific points presented; suggest alternatives and substitute language if possible.
6. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats.
7. Limit oral comments to no more than three minutes per comment session in which you will participate.
8. Make sure to submit your written comments no later than November 30, 2016.