[Federal Register: March 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 39)]
[Notices]
[Page 9091-9092]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02mr09-30]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8778-2]
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations
of Experts To Augment the Science Advisory Board Exposure and Human
Health Committee
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The SAB Staff Office is requesting the nomination of experts
to augment the Science Advisory Board (SAB) Exposure and Human Health
Committee (EHHC) to review updated values for EPA's Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS).
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by March 23, 2009 per
instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact
Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by
telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9977; by fax at (202) 233-0643; or
via e-mail at shallal.suhair@epa.gov. General information concerning
the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on the EPA SAB Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: EPA's Office of Research and Development has initiated
a process for updating the values currently found in the Integrated
Risk Information System (IRIS) database. The intent of the IRIS Update
Project is to review all dose-response assessment values (oral
reference doses [RfDs], inhalation reference concentrations [RfCs],
cancer slope factors, and inhalation unit risks) in IRIS that have a
posting date more than 10-years old. Further information on the IRIS
Update process can be found at the following URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/
ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=204063. ORD has requested that the
Science Advisory Board (SAB) conduct a pilot review of draft
assessments for several chemicals.
The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent
scientific and technical advice, consultation and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and
regulations. In response to ORD's request, the SAB Staff Office will
augment the SAB Exposure and Human Health Committee (EHHC) with
additional experts to review EPA's draft assessments of several IRIS
chemicals. The augmented EHHC will comply with the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all appropriate SAB
procedural policies. Upon completion, the panel's report will be
submitted to the chartered SAB for final approval for transmittal to
the EPA Administrator. The augmented EHHC is being asked to comment on
the scientific soundness of nine draft assessments.
Availability of the Review Materials: The EPA draft assessments to
be reviewed by the augmented EHHC will be made available by the Office
of Research and Development at the following URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/
ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=204063. For questions and information
concerning the review materials, please contact Dr. Chon Shoaf, at
(919) 541-4155, or shoaf.chon@epa.gov.
Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting
nominations of nationally recognized experts with
[[Page 9092]]
expertise in one or more of the following areas: chemical toxicology
and risk assessment, including reproductive/developmental toxicology,
neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity; and dose-response assessment.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible
service on the augmented EHHC in the areas of expertise described
above. 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
``Nomination of Experts'' 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.
EPA's SAB Staff Office 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. Sue Shallal, DFO, as indicated above in this notice.
Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than March
23, 2009.
The EPA SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.
The names and biosketches of qualified nominees identified by
respondents to the Federal Register notice and additional experts
identified by the SAB Staff will be posted on the SAB Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/sab. Public comments on this ``Short List'' of
candidates will be accepted for 21 calendar days. The public will be
requested to provide relevant information or other documentation on
nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating
candidates.
For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced subcommittee or review
panel includes 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. In
establishing the augmented EHHC, the SAB Staff Office will consider
public comments on the ``Short List'' of candidates, information
provided by the candidates themselves, and background information
independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. Selection criteria to
be used for Panel membership include: (a) Scientific and/or technical
expertise, knowledge, and experience (primary factors); (b)
availability and willingness to serve; (c) absence of financial
conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an appearance of a lack of
impartiality; and (e) skills working in committees, subcommittees and
advisory panels; and, for the Panel as a whole, (f) diversity of, and
balance among, scientific expertise, viewpoints, etc.
The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial
conflicts of interest will include a review of 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://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-48.pdf.
The approved policy under which the EPA SAB Office selects
subcommittees and review panels is described in the following document:
Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection
Agency Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), which is posted on
the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf.
Dated: February 23, 2009.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E9-4348 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]
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