[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71196-71197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20864]


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NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE


Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Subcommittee, 
National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Technology; 
Research Needs and Priorities Related to the Environmental, Health, and 
Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanoscale Materials: Public Meeting

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on 
behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) 
Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC), will hold a public meeting on January 4, 
2007, to receive input on research needs related to the environmental, 
health, and safety aspects of engineered nanoscale materials (hereafter 
referred to as nanomaterials). Specifically, the NSET Subcommittee is 
seeking comment on the research needs and prioritization criteria for 
the research identified in the NSET Subcommittee document 
Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered 
Nanoscale Materials, which was released on September 15, 2006.
    Date and Address: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, 
January 4, 2007, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the FDIC Training Center, 
3501 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22226. A schedule will be 
published prior to the meeting. Directions to the facility are 
available on the registration web page (see below).
    Registration: Persons interested in attending the meeting may 
register at http://www.nano.gov/public_ehs.html prior to the meeting. 
Due to space limitations, early registration is suggested. On-site 
registration will be available on a first-come basis, space permitting.
    Persons interested in presenting comments at the meeting also 
should register at http://www.nano.gov/public_ehs.html and should do 
so no later than Wednesday, December 20, 2006.
    Written or electronic comments may be submitted on the same web 
page until January 31, 2007.
    Information on this meeting also will be posted on http://www.nano.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: For information regarding this 
Notice, please contact Cate Alexander Brennan, National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office. Telephone: (703) 292-4399. E-mail: 
[email protected].

[[Page 71197]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and 
Technology (NSET) Subcommittee coordinates planning, budgeting, and 
program implementation and review to ensure a balanced and 
comprehensive National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). The NSET 
Subcommittee is composed of representatives from agencies participating 
in the NNI. The NNCO provides technical and administrative support to 
the NSET Subcommittee in its work.
    On September 15, 2006, the NSET Subcommittee released a document 
identifying environmental, health, and safety research and information 
needs related to understanding and management of potential risks of 
nanomaterials. The document was created by the Nanotechnology 
Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group of the NSET 
Subcommittee, which is composed of scientists and other agency 
representatives. The document also reflects expert input from industry 
liaison groups and other research needs-identification efforts.
    This foundational document will be used by the NSET Subcommittee 
and the Federal agencies participating in the NNI as they set research 
priorities for Government-funded research programs.
    The meeting is an opportunity for public participation in the 
prioritization of research related to environmental, health, and safety 
aspects of nanomaterials. Specific comment on research needs and 
prioritization criteria in the Environmental, Health, and Safety 
Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials document and input 
regarding the criteria for evaluating research priorities is welcome. 
(To read the document, see http://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_research_needs.pdf.)
    The public meeting will be chaired by leadership of the NEHI 
Working Group, the NSET Subcommittee, and the NNCO.
    For more information on the National Nanotechnology Initiative and 
its various working entities, please visit www.nano.gov.

How Can You Participate?

    You can participate through oral presentation at the meeting or 
through written electronic material submitted to the NNCO at http://www.nano.gov/public_ehs.html. The meeting is open to the public, up to 
the limit set by facility fire codes. Pre-registration is required for 
participation (see above).

How Will the Meeting Day Be Structured?

    Due to significant interest in and the breadth of this subject, our 
plan is to organize the public meeting around subject areas, including 
research prioritization criteria and the five research areas identified 
in the Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered 
Nanoscale Materials document: Instrumentation, Metrology, and 
Analytical Methods; Nanomaterials and Human Health; Nanomaterials and 
the Environment; Health and Environmental Surveillance; and Risk 
Management Methods. Speakers are requested to indicate which research 
area you wish to speak to; if you will direct your comments to topics 
outside of those identified above, please indicate that as well, so 
that you can be scheduled accordingly.
    In addition to indicating the topical area of your presentation, 
please also provide a short description of the content you intend to 
cover. The final organization of the meeting may change depending on 
the nature of the requests for presentations that are received. The 
speaker schedule will be distributed before the meeting.

How Will Public Input Be Used?

    All comments and recommendations made at the meeting or in written 
submissions will be considered by the NEHI Working Group as it proceeds 
with prioritizing the research needs. Input from multiple stakeholders 
with various interests will be valuable to the NNI, especially with 
regard to strategic and interim goals for filling the EHS information 
needs gaps for nanomaterials. The NSET Subcommittee and NNI member 
agencies plan to make the priority-setting process a dynamic, open, and 
transparent process.

Mihail Roco,
Senior Advisor, Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology 
Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council Committee 
on Technology.
[FR Doc. E6-20864 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
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