April 21, 1995
EPA-SAB-EPEC-CON-95-002

Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street,  S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20460

            Subject:     Notification of a Consultation on a Proposal for an Ecosystem
                        Index Site Network under the Environmental Monitoring and
                        Assessment Program

Dear Ms. Browner:

      The Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) of the Science Advisory
Board (SAB) met on April 13, 1995, in part to conduct a consultation with staff from the
Office of Research and Development on a proposal to establish an ecosystem index site
network under the  Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). The SAB
has developed the consultation as a mechanism to advise the Agency on technical issues
that should be considered in the development of regulations, guidelines, or technical
guidance before the Agency has taken a position. A consultation is conducted under the
normal requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which include advance notice
of the public meeting in the Federal Register.

      As is our customary practice, there will be no formal report from the SAB as a result
of this consultation, nor do we expect any formal response from the Agency.  However,
individual members of the panel may provide comments, or the Committee may provide
more guidance at a later date in a Commentary  or through a formal review.

                                    Sincerely,
Dr. Genevieve M. Matanoski, Chair                  Dr. Mark A. Harwell, Chair
Executive Committee                              Ecological Processes and
                                                  Effects Committee

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