[Federal Register: May 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 24285-24286]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my08-80]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8561-6]
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations
To Augment Expertise on the Ecological Processes and Effects Committee
(EPEC)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency)
Science Advisory Board (SAB or the Board) Staff Office is requesting
nominations of experts in the area of aquatic toxicology of endocrine
disrupting chemicals to augment expertise on the SAB's Ecological
Processes and Effects Committee. Nominees will be considered for
service on the augmented EPEC to provide advice on a methodology for
deriving water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life
based on chemical mode of action.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by May 16, 2008 per the
instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Request
for Nominations please contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office, at:
armitage.thomas@epa.gov or (202) 343-9995. General information
concerning the SAB can be found on the EPA Web site at: http://
www.epa.gov/sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a
chartered Federal Advisory Committee that provides independent
scientific and technical peer review, advice, consultation, and
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for EPA
actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business in
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C.
App. C) and related regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced
in the Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide
opportunities for public input during deliberations. Additional
information about the SAB and its committees can be obtained on the SAB
Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.
The EPA has asked the SAB for advice concerning technical
challenges and recommendations for deriving aquatic life water quality
criteria for emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal
care products exhibiting endocrine disrupting activity. This advice
will be provided by the SAB EPEC augmented with experts in field of
aquatic toxicology who have specialized knowledge of the effects of
endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Expertise Sought: The SAB Staff Office requests nominations of
recognized experts in the field of aquatic toxicology with specific
knowledge of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization
may nominate qualified individuals to be considered for appointment on
this SAB panel. Candidates may also nominate themselves. Nominations
should be submitted in electronic format (which is preferred over hard
copy) following the instructions for ``Nominating Experts to Advisory
Panels and Ad Hoc Committees Being Formed'' provided on the SAB Web
site. The form can be accessed through the ``Public Involvement in
Advisory Committee'' link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web
site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab. To receive full consideration,
nominations should include all of the information requested.
The nominating form requests contact information about: The person
making the nomination; contact information about the nominee; the
disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the
nominee's curriculum vita; sources of recent grant and/or contract
support; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current
position, educational background; research activities; and recent
service on other national advisory committees or national professional
organizations.
Persons having questions about the nomination procedures, or who
are unable to submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should
contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, at the contact information provided
above in this notice. Non-electronic submissions must follow the same
format and contain the same information as the electronic.
The SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of the nomination and
inform nominees of the panel for which they have been nominated. From
the nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register notice
(termed the ``Widecast'') and other sources, the SAB Staff Office will
develop a smaller subset (known as the ``Short List'') for more
detailed consideration. The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web
site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab and will include, for each candidate,
the nominee's name and biosketch. Public comments on the Short List
will be accepted for 7 calendar days. During this comment period, the
public will be requested to provide information, analysis or other
documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in
evaluating candidates for the Committee.
For the SAB, a balanced panel is characterized by inclusion of
candidates who possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant
scientific perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced
by work history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of
experience to adequately address the charge. Public responses to the
Short List candidates will be considered in the selection of the
panels, along with information
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provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB Staff
independently of the background of each candidate (e.g., financial
disclosure information and computer searches to evaluate a nominee's
prior involvement with the topic under review). Specific criteria to be
used in evaluation of an individual Panel member include: (a)
Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience
(primary factors); (b) absence of financial conflicts of interest; (c)
scientific credibility and impartiality; (d) availability and
willingness to serve; and (e) ability to work constructively and
effectively in committees.
Short List candidates will be required to fillout the
``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government
Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential
form allows Government officials to determine whether there is a
statutory conflict between that person's public responsibilities (which
includes membership on an EPA Federal advisory committee) and private
interests and activities, or the appearance of a lack of impartiality,
as defined by Federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded
from the following URL address: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/
sabproduct.nsf/Web/Form3110-48/$File/epaform3110-48.pdf.
Dated: April 28, 2008.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E8-9738 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
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