[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49411-49412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13976]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 23, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49411]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS 2006-0015C]


Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Correction

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a 
document in the Federal Register on June 23, 2006, concerning 
Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). Correction: In the Federal 
Register of June 23, 2006, Volume 71, Number 121, on page 36056, the 
last paragraph of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section states that 
``Members (of the committee) are required to attend all meetings in-
person as this is necessary for the functioning of the advisory 
committee.'' As a point of clarification, the physical presence of 
members at subcommittee working groups and at plenary sessions is 
critical to the continued success of the work of NACMCF. However, we 
realize that unexpected events or extenuating circumstances (e.g., a 
personal or family emergency) may result in a member's inability to 
attend a meeting in-person, and that attendance through 
teleconferencing may be necessary. Since this has been a less than 
optimal means to contribute to the work of the committee, members 
should make efforts to attend all meetings to the extent that it is 
possible to do so. In-person attendance is expected but is not a 
requirement. The Agency is publishing this corrected notice and is 
accepting nominations 30 calendar days from the date of the publication 
of this corrected notice.
    FSIS is republishing in this notice the entire contents from the 
prior Federal Register notice published on June 23, 2006--Nominations 
for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological 
Criteria for Foods. The only changes in this correction notice are 
about the in-person attendance of NACMCF members at NACMCF meetings and 
the date for accepting nominations.
    This corrected notice announces that the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the 
NACMCF. Nominations for membership are being sought from individuals 
with scientific expertise in the fields of epidemiology, food 
technology, microbiology (food, clinical, and predictive), risk 
assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related 
sciences. Persons from State and Federal governments, industry, 
consumer groups, and academia, as well as all other interested persons, 
are invited to submit nominations. Members who are not federal 
government employees will be appointed to serve as non-compensated 
special government employees (SGEs). SGEs will be subject to 
appropriate conflict of interest statutes and standards of ethical 
conduct.
    The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to 
five one-sided pages and should include educational background, 
expertise, and a select list of publications. For submissions received 
that are more than five one-sided pages in length, only the first five 
pages will be considered.

DATES: The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae must now be 
received by September 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, USDA, FSIS, Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee 
Specialist, at the above address or by telephone at 202-690-6620 or by 
fax at 202-690-6634.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a 
recommendation in a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences 
Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, 
``An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.'' 
The current charter for the NACMCF and other information about the 
Committee are available for viewing on the NACMCF homepage at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
    The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the 
safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, the 
Committee assists in the development of criteria for microorganisms 
that indicate whether food has been processed using good manufacturing 
practices.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to ensure that recommendations made by the Committee take into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department. 
Membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.
    Given the complexity of issues, the full Committee expects to meet 
at least twice yearly, and the meetings will be announced in the 
Federal Register. The subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by 
the chairperson and will be held as working group meetings in an open 
public forum. The subcommittee meetings will not be announced in the 
Federal Register. FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee 
working group meetings through the Constituent Update, available on-
line at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2006_Constituent_Update/index.asp. NACMCF holds subcommittee working group meetings in 
order to accomplish the work of the NACMCF; all work accomplished by 
the subcommittees is reviewed and approved by the full Committee during 
a public meeting of the full Committee, as announced in the Federal 
Register. The subcommittee may invite technical experts to present 
information for consideration by the subcommittee. All data and records

[[Page 49412]]

available to the full Committee are expected to be available to the 
public at the time the full Committee reviews and approves the work of 
the subcommittee.
    Appointment to the Advisory Committee is for a two-year term, 
renewable for a total of three consecutive terms. Members are expected 
to attend all meetings in-person as this is necessary for the 
functioning of this advisory committee. However, we realize that 
unexpected events or extenuating circumstances (e.g., a personal or 
family emergency) may result in a member's inability to attend a 
meeting in-person, and that attendance through teleconferencing may be 
necessary. Since this has been a less than optimal means to contribute 
to the work of the committee, members should make efforts to attend all 
meetings to the extent that this is possible. In-person attendance is 
expected but is not a requirement.
    Members must be prepared to work outside of scheduled Committee and 
subcommittee meetings, and may be required to assist in document 
preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; however, 
travel reimbursement and per diem are available.

Regarding Nominees Who Are Selected

    All nominees who are selected must submit a USDA Advisory Committee 
Membership Background Information form AD-755, available on-line at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISForms/AD-755.pdf.
    As new appointees, SGEs must complete the Office of Government 
Ethics (OGE) 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, before 
rendering any advice, or prior to their first meeting. All members will 
be reviewed for conflict of interest pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208 in 
relation to specific NACMCF work charges. Financial disclosure updates 
will be required annually. Members must report any changes in financial 
holdings requiring additional disclosure. OGE 450 forms are available 
on-line at: http://www.usoge.gov/pages/forms_pubs_otherdocs/fpo_files/forms/fr450fill_04.pdf.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located 
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/. FSIS 
also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available 
through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls and other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to constituents 
and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm 
groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals and other 
individuals who have asked to be included. The update is available on 
the FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to 
provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In 
addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides 
automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and 
information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to 
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers 
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to 
password protect their account.

    Done at Washington, DC on: August 17, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-13976 Filed 8-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P