[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 60 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14804-14805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5810]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8293-3]


EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations 
of Experts for the Acrylamide Review Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Requesting the nomination of experts for the Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Acrylamide Review Panel.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by April 19, 2007, per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact 
Dr. Suhair Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, 
by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9977; by fax at (202) 233-0643; or 
via e-mail at [email protected]. General information concerning 
the EPA Science Advisory Board can be found on the EPA SAB Web Site at: 
http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Acrylamide polymer is primarily used in waste water 
treatment, paper and pulp processing, and mineral processing. Other 
uses include as a water soluble polymer in crude oil production, as a 
cosmetic additive, for soil and sand stabilization, grouting agents for 
sewer line sealing and manhole sealing, and in electrophoresis gels 
used in research. Acrylamide has been detected in a wide range of baked 
and fried foods. The detection of acrylamide in food prompted intense 
international interest and on-going research to better characterize its 
hazard effects, and to modify cooking practices to minimize levels in 
processed foods. EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment, 
within the Office of Research and Development, has been updating the 
human health hazard and dose-response assessment for Acrylamide. EPA 
previously developed an oral reference dose (RfD) for non-cancer 
effects and a cancer oral slope factor for Acrylamide which are 
described in EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment 
(1988). An inhalation reference concentration (RfC) was added to IRIS 
in 1990. The current EPA draft assessment incorporates more recent 
studies and methods to derive an oral RfD and inhalation RfC for non-
cancer effects, and an oral slope factor and inhalation unit risk for 
carcinogenic effects. ORD has requested that the Science Advisory Board 
(SAB) review its draft assessment entitled ``Toxicological Review of 
Acrylamide''.
    The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by 42 U.S.C. 
4365 to provide independent scientific and technical advice, 
consultation and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the 
technical basis for Agency positions and regulations. The SAB 
Acrylamide Review Panel, conducting the review of the Agency's draft 
assessment of acrylamide, will consist of members of the chartered SAB, 
SAB Committee members and additional external experts. This panel will 
comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 
and all appropriate SAB procedural policies. Upon completion, the 
panel's report will be submitted to the chartered SAB for final 
approval for transmittal to the EPA Administrator. The SAB Acrylamide 
Review Panel is being asked to comment on the scientific soundness of 
this draft assessment.
    Availability of the Review Materials: The EPA draft document to be 
reviewed by the SAB Panel will be made available by the Office of 
Research and Development. For questions and information concerning the 
review materials, please contact Dr. Rob Dewoskin, at (919) 541-1089, 
or [email protected].
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting 
nominations of nationally recognized experts with expertise in one or 
more of the following areas, especially with respect to the health 
effects of Acrylamide: neurotoxicology; epidemiology; toxicology, 
including reproductive/developmental toxicology, genetic toxicology and 
mechanisms of action for carcinogenicity; metabolism; pharmacokinetics 
and modeling; dose-response assessment; and exposure and risk 
assessment.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible 
service on the Acrylamide Review Panel in the areas of expertise 
described above. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format 
through the SAB Web site at the following URL: http://www.epa.gov/sab; 
or directly via the Form for Nominating Individuals to Panels of the 
EPA Science Advisory Board link found at URL: http://www.epa.gov/sab/panels/paneltopics.html. Please follow the instructions for submitting 
nominations carefully. To be considered, nominations should include all 
of the information required on the associated forms. Anyone unable to 
submit nominations using the electronic form and who has any questions 
concerning the nomination process may contact Dr. Suhair Shallal, DFO, 
as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should be submitted in 
time to arrive no later than April 19, 2007.
    For nominees to be considered, please include: contact information; 
a curriculum vitae; a biosketch of no more than two paragraphs 
(containing information on the nominee's current position, educational 
background, areas of expertise and research activities, service on 
other advisory committees and professional societies; the candidate's 
special expertise related to the panel being formed; and sources of 
recent grant and/or contract support).
    The EPA SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.

[[Page 14805]]

The names and biosketchs of qualified nominees identified by 
respondents to the Federal Register notice and additional experts 
identified by the SAB Staff will be posted on the SAB Web Site at: 
http://www.epa.gov/sab. Public comments on this ``Short List'' of 
candidates will be accepted for 21 calendar days. The public will be 
requested to provide relevant information or other documentation on 
nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating 
candidates.
    For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced subcommittee or review 
panel includes 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. In 
establishing the final Acrylamide Review Panel (ARP), the SAB Staff 
Office will consider public comments on the ``Short List'' of 
candidates, information provided by the candidates themselves, and 
background information independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. 
Selection criteria to be used for Panel membership include: (a) 
Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience 
(primary factors); (b) availability and willingness to serve; (c) 
absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an 
appearance of a lack of impartiality; and (e) skills working in 
committees, subcommittees and advisory panels; and, for the Panel as a 
whole, (f) diversity of, and balance among, scientific expertise, 
viewpoints, etc.
    The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial 
conflicts of interest will include a review of 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.
    The approved policy under which the EPA SAB Office selects 
subcommittees and review panels is described in the following document: 
Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection 
Agency Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), which is posted on 
the SAB Web Site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec02010.pdf.

    Dated: March 21, 2007
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
 [FR Doc. E7-5810 Filed 3-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P