[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45314-45315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17309]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7794-2]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations for 
the Science Advisory Board Metals Risk Assessment Framework Review 
Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces 
the formation of a new SAB review panel known as the Metals Risk 
Assessment Framework Review Panel, and is soliciting nominations for 
members of the Panel.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by August 19, 2004, per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact 
Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/
voice mail at (202) 343-9995; via e-mail at [email protected]; or 
at the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB can be 
found in the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: A basic input to the decision-
making process for many EPA programs is an assessment of potential 
risks posed by environmental contaminants including metal or metal 
compounds. As such, EPA has been undertaking an effort to develop 
cross-agency guidance for assessing the human health and ecological 
hazards and risks of metals and metal compounds. As recommended in 
EPA's Metals Action Plan, the Agency developed the draft guidance 
document, Framework for Metals Risk Assessment, to supplement previous 
EPA guidance for use in site-specific risk assessments, criteria 
derivation, and other similar Agency activities related to metals.
    The Framework for Metals Risk Assessment is organized around the 
risk assessment paradigm. The document provides a conceptual model that 
highlights areas where consideration of metal-specific information is 
necessary and advantageous when conducting risk assessments. It 
outlines recommendations for conducting risk assessment for metals and 
metal compounds, based on the unique attributes of these compounds. The 
guidance document also discusses metal-specific issues, methods, and 
tools to be considered when conducting hazard and risk assessments. 
Specific sections of the guidance address metal-specific issues related 
to environmental chemistry, exposure, bioaccumulation and 
bioavailability, ecological effects, and human health effects. In 
addition, the guidance discusses research underway, planned, and needed 
to reduce uncertainty in metals risk assessment.
    The EPA SAB Staff Office is announcing the formation of a new panel 
to conduct a peer review of EPA's Framework for Metals Risk Assessment. 
As part of the SAB's mission, established by 42 U.S.C. 4365, to provide 
independent scientific and technical advice, consultation, and 
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical bases for EPA 
policies and regulations, the work of this panel is expected to 
continue until the review is complete.
    The SAB is a chartered Federal advisory committee, that reports 
directly to the EPA Administrator. The Metals Risk Assessment Framework 
Review Panel will provide advice through the chartered SAB. The Metals 
Risk Assessment Framework Review Panel will comply with the openness 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all 
appropriate SAB procedural policies, including the SAB process for 
panel formation described in the Overview of the Panel Formation 
Process at the Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, 
which can be found on the SAB's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec0210.pdf.
    Tentative Charge to the Panel: The specific details of the charge 
remain to be finalized. However, in general, the Panel will assess the 
scientific and technical adequacy of the document in providing guidance 
to assess potential risks posed by metals or metal compounds to human 
health and the environment. The Panel will assess the scientific 
validity and completeness of the technical content in various sections 
of the document, and the appropriateness of tools, approaches, and 
recommendations provided.
    EPA Technical Contact: For technical inquiries concerning the draft 
Framework for Metals Risk Assessment, please contact Dr. William Wood, 
U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Risk Assessment Forum 
(8601-D), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
(202) 564-3361; facsimile (202) 564-0062; e-mail: [email protected].
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting 
nominations of recognized experts in one or more of the following 
areas: (a) Environmental chemistry of metals, (b) environmental fate 
and transport of metals, (c) bioavailability of metals, (d) routes of 
exposure of aquatic and terrestrial species to metals, (e) routes of 
human exposure to metals, (f) human health effects of exposure to 
metals, and (g) ecological effects of exposure to metals.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas 
of expertise described above to serve on the Panel. Nominations should 
be submitted in electronic format through the Form for Nominating 
Individuals to Panels of the EPA Science Advisory Board provided on the 
SAB Web site, http://www.epa.gov/sab. The form can be accessed through 
a link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site, http://www.epa.gov/sab. To be considered, all nominations must include the 
information required on that form.
    Anyone who is unable to submit nominations using this form, and any 
questions concerning any aspects of the nomination process may contact 
the DFO, as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should be 
submitted in time to arrive no later than August 19,

[[Page 45315]]

2004. Any questions concerning either this process or any other aspects 
of this notice should be directed to the DFO.
    The SAB will acknowledge receipt of the nomination and inform 
nominators of the panel selected. From the nominees identified by 
respondents to this Federal Register notice (termed the ``Widecast''), 
SAB Staff will develop a smaller subset (known as the ``Short List'') 
for more detailed consideration. Criteria used by the SAB Staff in 
developing this Short List are given at the end of the following 
paragraph. 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 21 calendar days. During this comment period, the public will be 
requested to provide information, analysis or other documentation on 
nominees that the SAB Staff should consider in evaluating candidates 
for the Panel.
    For the SAB, a balanced review panel (i.e., committee, 
subcommittee, or 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 panel, along with 
information 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 subcommittee 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 also be required to fill-out 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.
    In addition to reviewing background material, Panel members will be 
asked to attend one public face-to-face meeting over the anticipated 
course of the advisory activity.

    Dated: July 23, 2004.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 04-17309 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P