[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26420]



[[Page 53903]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Environment, Safety and Health; Continuation of 
Solicitation for Epidemiology and Other Health Studies Financial 
Assistance Program (Notice 96-01)

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Annual notice of continuation of potential availability of 
grants and cooperative agreements.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Health Studies within the Office of Environment, 
Safety, and Health of the Department of Energy (DOE) announces its 
continuing interest in applications for grants and cooperative 
agreements for occupational and environmental health studies of DOE 
employees and DOE contractors, as well as related DOE international 
health programs, concerning nuclear weapons research, development, 
production, use, storage, and dismantling.

DATES: Deadlines for applications or pre-applications will be contained 
in separate Notices of Availability to be published at a later time in 
the Federal Register that will address specific program areas to be 
funded by the Office of Health Studies in fiscal year 1997. All 
applications accepted under these subsequent notices must be received 
by the Office of Health Studies on or before September 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: After the issuance of a Notice of Availability, applicants 
may obtain additional information from Dr. Paul Seligman, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Office of Health Studies (EH-6), U.S. Department 
of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290; facsimile: 
301-903-3445; telephone: 301-903-5926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final program rule, which specifies the 
policies and procedures governing the purpose and scope, program areas, 
eligibility, application requirements, evaluation criteria, and 
selection procedures for the Office of Health Studies Financial 
Assistance Program, was published in the Federal Register (60 FR 5838) 
on January 31, 1995, effective March 2, 1995. Proposed research 
applications and pre-applications shall also comply with 10 CFR Part 
602.
    The three offices within the Office of Health Studies: The Office 
of International Health Programs, the Office of Occupational Medicine 
and Medical Surveillance, and the Office of Epidemiologic Studies, 
promote studies to identify and assess the health risks associated with 
occupational or environmental exposures to ionizing radiation or toxic 
chemicals in the following populations: employees of DOE and DOE 
contractors (particularly those at high risk for exposure to ionizing 
radiation or toxic chemicals), residents of communities near DOE 
facilities, and populations throughout the world at high risk for 
exposure to ionizing radiation or toxic chemicals resulting from 
accidental exposures or proximity to nuclear or other energy-related 
facilities. Deliberate exposure of human subjects in ongoing radiation 
experiments is outside the scope of this announcement. Access and use 
of information for conducting studies under this notice will comply 
with the Amendment to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 regarding 
Existing Systems of Records, published June 28, 1995, effective August 
7, 1995 (60 FR 33510).
    For fiscal year 1997, the Office of Health Studies estimates that 
approximately $4.3 million will be available for grants or cooperative 
agreements in occupational and environmental health studies. The number 
of awards made will depend on the number of applications received for 
which the results of competitive merit review are favorable. Of this 
total, the Office of International Health Programs anticipates that up 
to $500,000 will be available to support research to improve 
understanding of the health effects and health risks resulting from 
exposure to elevated levels of ionizing radiation in both occupational 
settings and the general populations. The Office of Occupational 
Medicine and Medical Surveillance anticipates that approximately $3.7 
million will be available for new cooperative agreements and to 
continue, as necessary, funding for the six cooperative agreements 
already awarded late in fiscal year 1996 for evaluating the health 
effects of former DOE workers who may be at significant risk due to 
exposures to hazardous and/or radioactive substances.
    The Office of Epidemiologic Studies does not have funds available 
to support either new cooperative agreements or new grants during 
fiscal year 1997 for epidemiologic studies of the DOE workforce or 
communities near DOE facilities.
    Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between DOE and the 
Department of Health and Human Services (56 FR 9701), published March 
7, 1991 (and extended through fiscal year 2000), additional funds to 
study: (1) Occupational health and safety issues arising from exposures 
to radiation and toxic chemicals at nuclear and other energy-related 
facilities, and (2) methodology for risk assessment and epidemiologic 
research may be available through the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC); see Federal Register Announcement 521 (60 
FR 4916), published January 25, 1995, or contact the Associate Director 
for Energy-Related Health Research, NIOSH, Mail Stop R-44, 4676 
Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226; telephone: 513-841-4400.
    The National Center for Environmental Health of CDC previously 
awarded funds for radiation-related research, including dose 
reconstruction studies, but does not anticipate any additional funds 
for fiscal year 1997. (For current information contact Dr. James Smith, 
Chief, Radiation Studies Branch, NCEH, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., 
Atlanta, GA 30341; telephone: 404-488-7040.)
    DOE is under no obligation to pay for any cost associated with the 
preparation or submission of any application. DOE reserves the right to 
fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications 
submitted in response to this notice. Results of studies carried out as 
grants or cooperative agreements with the Office of Health Studies will 
be made available to DOE workers, to the public, and to managers 
responsible for protecting worker health and safety. Data will be made 
available through DOE's Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 4, 1996.
Paul J. Seligman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Studies.
[FR Doc. 96-26420 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P