[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 25612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11819]



[[Page 25612]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Emergency Public Information and Communications Advisory 
Committee; Notice of Meetings

    Pursuant to section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is given of series of three 
meetings of the Emergency Public Information and Communications 
Advisory Committee.
    The purpose of these public meetings is to convene the Committee to 
discuss issues related to the appropriate ways to communicate public 
health information regarding bioterrorism and other public health 
emergencies to the nation. Major areas to be considered by the 
Committee at these meetings may include the following: an assessment of 
current practices within the public health community for communicating 
with the public regarding threats posed by bioterrorism and other 
public health emergencies, identification of those particular practices 
that warrant broad use and how such use might best be encouraged within 
the nation's public health community, and determination of where new or 
improved communication strategies and methods are needed and how they 
might best be developed.

    Name of Committee: Emergency Public Information and 
Communications Advisory Committee.
    Dates: June 2-3, 6 and 9.
    Times:

    June 2--10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. EDT
    June 3--9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT
    June 6--1 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT
    June 10--1 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT

    Place: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20201.
    Conference Call Number: June 6 and 10, dial 888-942-8131, 
password: EPIC.
    Contact Person: Shellie Abramson, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Public Emergency Preparedness, 200 Independence Ave. 
Room 625G, Washington, DC 20201, 202-205-4729.

Supplementary Information: Emergency Public Information and 
Communications Advisory Committee was established on March 26, 2003 by 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the authorization of 
Public Law 107-188 section 104(a) dated June 12, 2002, which amended 
section 319F of the Public Health Services Act. The purpose of the 
Emergency Public Information and Communications Advisory Committee will 
be to advise the Secretary on the appropriate ways to communicate 
public health information regarding bioterrorism and other public 
health emergencies to the nation. The function of the Committee is to 
advise the Secretary regarding steps the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services can take to improve communications with the public 
regarding threats posed by bioterrorism and other public health 
emergencies.

Public Participation

    The meetings are open to the public with attendance limited by the 
availability of space on a first come, first served basis. Members of 
the public who wish to attend the meeting may register by emailing 
[email protected] no later than close of business, day, May 23, 2003.
    Opportunities for oral statements by the public will be provided on 
June 2, 2003, from 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (Time approximate). Oral comments 
will be limited to 5 minutes, three minutes to make a statement and two 
minutes to respond to questions from Council members. Due to time 
constraints, only one representative from each organization will be 
allotted time for oral testimony. The number of speakers and the time 
allotment may also be limited by the number of registrants. Members of 
the public who wish to present oral comments at the meeting may 
register by emailing [email protected] no later than close of business, day, 
May 23, 2003. All requests to present oral comments should include the 
name, address, telephone number, and business or professional 
affiliation of the interested party, and should indicate the areas of 
interest or issue to be addressed.
    Any person attending the meeting who has not registered to speak in 
advance of the meeting will be allowed to make a brief oral statement 
during the time set aside for public comment if time permits and at the 
Chairperson's discretion. Individuals unable to attend the meeting, or 
any interested parties, may send written comments by e-mail to 
[email protected] for inclusion in the public record no later than close of 
business, day, May 23, 2003.
    When mailing written comments, please provide your comments, if 
possible, as an electronic version or on a diskette. Persons needing 
special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other 
special accommodations, should contact staff at the address and 
telephone number listed above no later than close of business, day, May 
23, 2003.
    The public can gain access to the conference call meetings by 
dialing toll-free, 888-942-8131 and using the conference call password 
EPIC. At the end of the committee conference calls, the line will be 
opened 30 minutes to take questions or brief comments from the public.

Jerome M. Hauer,
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (Acting).
[FR Doc. 03-11819 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
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