[Federal Register: April 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 72)] [Notices] [Page 18408] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15ap98-85] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5996-1] Open Meeting of the Environmental Financial Advisory Board on May 5, 1998 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will hold an open meeting on a proposed Environmental Bond Guaranty program for the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). This program would create a $100 million fund to enhance the credit of municipal bonds issued in the NIS by guarantying financial obligations undertaken by NIS regional or local governments (or those formally acting on behalf of such governments) for capital projects providing environmental infrastructure that serve the general public. Types of environmental infrastructure projects covered may include, but not be limited to, drinking water purification or distribution, wastewater collection or treatment, solid or hazardous disposal waste, the efficient generation or use of energy, and air pollution abatement. The meeting is scheduled for May 5, 1998 in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club Building, 526 14th St., NW., 13th Floor, Washington, DC. The meeting will run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. EFAB is a federally chartered advisory board that provides analysis and advice to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on environmental finance issues. EFAB has been asked by the EPA's Office of International Activities to review and comment on the guaranty fund concept. As part of EFAB's review, this meeting will solicit public comment and facilitate discussion of the best approaches to encourage the financing of environmental projects in the NIS. A draft feasibility study on the Environmental Bond Guaranty program is available on EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/efinpage/ partcont.htm. Summaries of the study in hard copy form are available by contacting the numbers listed below. Written comments are welcome at United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Finance Program, 401 M St. SW., Mail Code 2731R, Washington, DC 20460. Several invited speakers will make presentations and the public is welcome, but seating is limited. Parties who wish to provide remarks should contact Michael Segal at (202) 564-2211 or Tim McProuty at (202) 564-4996 of the Environmental Finance Program. Dated: April 9, 1998. Michael Ryan, Comptroller. [FR Doc. 98-10003 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-M