[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60336-60337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20705]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7984-2]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Scientific and Technological 
Achievement Awards Review Panel (FY2006-FY2009) Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is 
requesting nominations for experts to serve on a SAB Scientific and 
Technological Achievement Awards (STAA) Review Panel (FY2006-FY2009). 
This Panel reviews peer-reviewed publications from EPA scientists and 
makes recommendations for awards.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by November 7, 2005 per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations 
may contact Ms. Vivian Turner, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB 
Staff Office, by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9697; by fax at 
(202) 233-0643 or via e-mail at [email protected]. General 
information concerning the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found at 
the EPA SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established the STAA to honor and 
recognize EPA employees who have made outstanding contributions to 
science and technology through publication in peer-reviewed journals. 
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) has requested the SAB to 
review the nominated scientific publications. Accordingly, the SAB 
Staff Office, under the auspices of the SAB, is forming a new panel to 
review the nominated publications. The SAB is chartered under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App.). The 
Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA and 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 found on the SAB 
Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ecm02003.pdf. The Panel will 
hold a closed meeting to develop award recommendations.

[[Page 60337]]

Request for Nominations

    The SAB is soliciting nominations of nationally recognized 
scientists and engineers to serve on the STAA Panel for a term of three 
years. The Panel will consider nominations in the areas of: Control 
systems and technology; monitoring and measurement methods (all media); 
health effects and human risk assessment; ecological effects and 
ecological risk assessment; ecosystem restoration; chemical fate, 
transport and exposure assessment; risk management; integrated risk 
assessment; social sciences; and environmental futures. These areas are 
described in more detail at the web site identified above.

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 SAB 
STAA Review Panel. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format 
through the SAB Nomination Form which can be accessed through a link on 
the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/panels/paneltopics.html. To be considered, all nominations must 
include the information requested on that form.
    Anyone who is unable to submit nominations using the electronic 
form or questions concerning any aspect of the nomination process may 
contact the DFO, as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should 
be submitted no later than November 7, 2005. Any questions concerning 
either this process or any other aspects of this notice should be 
directed to the DFO. The process for forming a SAB panel is described 
in the Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental 
Protection Agency, Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-COM-02-010), 
which may be accessed on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf.
    Nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register notice 
(termed the ``Widecast'') will be evaluated on the basis of scientific 
expertise and experience in the aforementioned descriptions, as well as 
prior national committee experience. Appropriately profiled candidates 
will be identified and placed on a ``Short List'' for further 
consideration. The ``Short List'' will be posted on the SAB Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/sab and will include the nominee's name and 
biosketch. Public comments on the ``Short List'' will be accepted 
during a public 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 Panel.
    The STAA panelists will be selected from the ``Short List.'' 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 expertise and 
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 on 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.
    Potential panelists will be required to complete and submit 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.

    Dated: October 7, 2005.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Associate Director for Science, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff 
Office.
[FR Doc. 05-20705 Filed 10-14-05; 8:45 am]
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