[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20551-20552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7849]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    Meeting Date and Time: May 3, 2007, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. EDT.
    Place: Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, 777 Aten Road, Coraopolis, PA 
15108, telephone (412) 788-8800, fax (412) 788-6299.

SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the following public meeting and request for information:
    NIOSH Availability of Opportunity to Provide Input regarding the 
National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for the Mining Sector.
    Status: Meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space 
available. Participation is encouraged through the Web for those who 
cannot attend in person.
    Background: A large part of our lives is shaped by the work we do. 
NORA is a framework to guide occupational safety and health research 
for the nation. It is an ongoing endeavor to focus research to reduce 
work-related injury and illness. As the program entered its second 
decade, it was structured according to eight industry sector groups in 
order to encourage widespread adoption of effective practices developed 
through research. Each sector will have a NORA Sector Council 
consisting of NIOSH and stakeholder representatives. The initial task 
of the NORA Mining Council will be to draft a strategic plan for the 
nation addressing high priority needs in the sector. Following 
revisions based on

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public comment, the ongoing task of the Council will then be to 
encourage implementation of the plan by research and industry 
organizations in order to reduce occupational illnesses, injuries and 
fatalities in the sector.
    Given that NORA represents a broad-based partnership involving 
government, business, the worker community, academia, and others, 
public input is essential for planning future directions for the 
initiative. Some of the considerations for the Mining Sector are that 
NIOSH as the federal organization charged with conducting occupational 
safety and health research has established strategic goals in mining 
research. They are available for viewing: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/mining/goals.html. Since development of these goals, the NIOSH 
research program has been enhanced according to the requirements of the 
MINER Act of 2006: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/mineract/mineract.htm. Unlike other sectors, NIOSH can request advice from an 
Advisory Committee for mining: Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory 
Committee (MSHRAC). Besides these ongoing NIOSH activities, NORA 
provides the opportunity for NIOSH to work with partners and for 
partners to work with each other to effectively conduct additional 
research in mining safety and health and to move those research results 
into more effective workplace practice.
    The first meeting of the NORA Mining Sector Council will be held 
May 3, 2007, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. From 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m., the meeting will 
be structured to hear stakeholder comments on important occupational 
safety and health issues in the industry, especially those not 
adequately covered by NIOSH or other ongoing research; organizations 
that should participate in the research or in NORA activities; 
individuals who are willing to participate in NORA Mining Sector 
Council activities; and efficient ways to accomplish the NORA 
activities in light of ongoing organizational activities in the sector. 
Participants wishing to provide comments may do so via E-mail or may 
request an opportunity to make a five minute presentation. All 
participants are requested to register for the free meeting by sending 
an E-mail to [email protected] with their name, affiliation, whether they 
wish to attend in person or through the Web, whether they are 
requesting time to speak briefly, and, if so, the general topic(s) on 
which they wish to speak. Participants wishing to speak are encouraged 
to register early. The public meetings are open to everyone, including 
all workers, professional societies, organized labor, employers, 
researchers, health professionals, government officials and elected 
officials. Broad participation is desired.
    Summary: The NORA Mining Sector Council will accept public comments 
on the range of occupational safety and health issues that should be 
considered and the individuals and organizations who should be involved 
for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the Council.
    Types of occupational safety and health issues might include 
diseases, injuries, exposures, populations at risk, and needs of 
occupational safety and health systems. For example, occupational 
musculoskeletal disorders in workers at small operations might be seen 
as important for a segment of the mining sector. If possible, please 
include as much information as necessary for understanding the safety 
or health research priority you identify. Such information could 
include characterization of the frequency and severity with which the 
injury, illness, or hazardous exposure is occurring and of the factors 
you believe might be causing the health or safety issue. Input is also 
requested on the types of research that you believe might make a 
difference and the partners (e.g., specific industry associations, 
labor organizations, research organizations, governmental agencies) who 
should be involved in forming research efforts and in solving the 
problem.
    All presentation text and other comments provided by e-mail will be 
entered into the searchable database of NORA comments, which will be 
publicly available and will be consulted by the NORA Mining Sector 
Council when drafting the strategic plan for the nation. The current 
version of the searchable database of NORA comments is available at: 
http://www2a.cdc.gov/niosh-comments/nora-comments/commentsrch.asp. 
    For Technical Information Contact: Dr. Michael A. Werner, Senior 
Scientist--Mining, NIOSH, telephone 509-354-8014, Co-Chair, NORA Mining 
Sector Council.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting registrations may also be e-mailed to 
[email protected], or sent via postal mail to: Dr. Michael A. Werner, 
Spokane Research Lab, NIOSH, 315 E Montgomery Avenue, Spokane, 
Washington 99207.

    Dated: April 18, 2007.
James D. Seligman,
Chief Information Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E7-7849 Filed 4-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P