September 1, 1994
EPA-SAB-EPEC-CON-94-006

Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
40 1M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Subject:
                           Notification of a Consultation on the Conceptual Plan for an
                           Integrated Ecosystem Protection Research Program
Dear Ms. Browner:
       The Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) of the Science Advisory Board
(SAB) met on July 20, 1994, to conduct a consultation with staff from the Office of Research and
Development on the Agency's conceptual plan for an Integrated Ecosystem Protection Research
Program. 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, the
Committee is extremely interested in assisting the Agency to develop the necessary research base
for ecosystem management and we look forward to conducting a formal review of the proposed
Integrated Ecosystem Protection Research Program in Fiscal Year 1995.

                                        Sincerely,
Dr. Genevieve Matanoski, Chair
 Executive Committee	
                                 Dr. Kenneth L. Dickson, Chair
                                  Ecological Processes and
                                  Effects Committee	

-------