[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 76 (Friday, April 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21129-21130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8400]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8555-8]


Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations to 
Augment Expertise on the Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is 
requesting nominations of experts in the area of radiogenic cancer risk 
to augment expertise to the SAB's Radiation Advisory Committee (RAC). 
Nominees with appropriate expertise will be considered for service on 
the augmented RAC to review the EPA draft document under development 
entitled EPA Radiation Risk Estimates Based on BEIR VII, dated 2008.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by May 9, 2008 per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public wishing further 
information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact Dr. K. 
Jack Kooyoomjian, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/voice 
mail at (202) 343-9984; via e-mail at [email protected], or at 
the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB as well as 
any update concerning this request for nominations may be found on the 
SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.
    Technical Contact: For information concerning the draft technical 
document currently under development and any background information 
contact Dr. Mary E. Clark at (202) 343-9348 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1994, the EPA published a report, 
entitled ``Estimating Radiogenic Cancer Risks,'' (often referred to as 
the ``Blue Book'') which lays out the EPA's methodology for 
quantitatively estimating radiogenic cancer risks http://epa.gov/radiation/docs/assessment/402-r-93-076.pdf. That document revised 
methodology for EPA's estimation of cancer risks due to low-Linear-
Energy-Transfer (LET) radiation exposures developed in light of new 
information on the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. In 1999, a follow-on 
report made minor adjustments to the previous estimates and presented a 
partial analysis of the uncertainties in the numerical estimates http://epa.gov/radiation/docs/assessment/402-r-99-003.pdf. Also in 1999 the 
Agency published Federal Guidance Report 13 http://epa.gov/radiation/docs/federal/402-r-99-001.pdf which utilized the previously published 
cancer risk models, in conjunction with International Commission on 
Radiological Protection (ICRP) dosimetric models and the U.S.A. usage 
patterns, to obtain cancer risk estimates for over 800 radionuclides, 
and for several exposure pathways. These were later updated at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/federal/techdocs.html#cd_supplement.
    In 2006, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences/National Research 
Council (NAS/NRC) released Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of 
Ionizing Radiation BEIR VII Phase 2 which primarily addresses cancer 
and genetic risks from low doses of low-LET radiation (available at 
http://newton.nap.edu/catalog/11340.html#toc. Also available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11340#toc). In August, 2006 EPA 
prepared the draft White Paper: Modifying EPA Radiation Risk Models 
Based on BEIR VII, (available at http://epa.gov/radiation/docs/assessment/white-paper8106.pdf), where the Agency proposed changes to 
the EPA's methodology for estimating radiogenic cancers, based on the 
contents of BEIR VII. The Agency expects to adopt the models and 
methodology recommended in BEIR VII, but believes that certain 
modifications and expansions are desirable or necessary for the EPA's 
purposes. EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) requested the 
SAB to review the Agency's draft White Paper and provide advice 
regarding the proposed approach to dose-response assessment of 
radionuclides. The EPA SAB/RAC prepared an advisory entitled ``Advisory 
on Agency Draft White Paper entitled Modifying EPA Radiation Risk 
Models Based on BEIR VII'' (EPA-SAB-08-006) dated January 31, 2008 (see 
http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/
FD9963E56C66E4FF852573E200493359/$File/EPA-SAB-08-006-unsigned.pdf).
    The EPA has asked the SAB to review the draft document currently 
under development entitled EPA Radiation Risk Estimates Based on BEIR 
VII, dated 2008. This document under preparation utilizes the advice 
contained in the

[[Page 21130]]

NAS/NRC BEIR VII, Phase 2 report, as well as the SAB's recently 
completed advisory (EPA-SAB-08-006) described above.
    The SAB was established by 42 U.S.C. 4365 to provide independent 
scientific and technical advice to the EPA Administrator on the 
technical basis for Agency positions and regulations. The SAB is a 
Federal Advisory Committee chartered under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. The SAB will comply 
with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office 
procedural policies in conducting advisory activities. The SAB RAC 
provides scientific and technical advice to the EPA Administrator 
through the chartered SAB on scientific matters pertaining to EPA's 
mission in protecting public health and the environment.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB RAC augmented with experts in 
radiogenic cancer risk will review the Agency's draft document 
currently under preparation and to be entitled EPA Radiation Risk 
Estimates Based on BEIR VII. Accordingly, the SAB is seeking 
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized experts with 
specialized expertise and experience in radiogenic cancer risk in one 
or more of the following areas: radiobiology, radiation biophysics, 
cancer epidemiology related to radiation, radiation exposure and 
uptake, and high-to-low dose extrapolation for LET radiation. The 
augmented RAC will provide advice through the chartered SAB, and will 
comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 
and all appropriate SAB procedural policies.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas 
of radiogenic cancer risk described above. Self-nominations are also 
requested. Nominations may be submitted in electronic format through a 
link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web Site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab. Please follow the instructions for submitting 
nominations carefully, and include all of the information requested. 
The SAB Staff Office requests contact information of the person making 
the nomination; contact information for the nominee; the disciplinary 
and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the nominee's 
curriculum vita; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating 
current position, educational background, research activities, and 
recent service on other national advisory committees or national 
professional organizations. Anyone unable to submit nominations using 
the electronic form, or who may have questions concerning the 
nomination process or any other aspect of this notice may contact Dr. 
K. Jack Kooyoomjian, DFO, at the contact information above. Nominations 
should be submitted in time to arrive no later than May 9, 2008. The 
SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.
    The selection process used by the SAB Staff office in selecting 
nominees for service on SAB Committees and Panels is described in 
Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-COM-02-010), on the SAB Web 
Site. Nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register 
notice and other sources, will be included in an initial list termed 
the ``Widecast''. The credentials submitted by nominees will be 
evaluated by the SAB Staff Office, and all technically qualified 
candidates will be included in a smaller subset of nominees termed the 
``Short List'' for additional 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 biographical sketch. Public comments on the 
Short List will be accepted for 21 calendar days. During this 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. For the SAB, a 
balanced panel is characterized by inclusion of nominees 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. Public responses to the Short List will 
be considered in the selection of the panel members, along with 
information provided by nominees and information independently gathered 
by SAB Staff (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 evaluating Short List nominees 
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 on committees.

    Dated: April 11, 2008.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
 [FR Doc. E8-8400 Filed 4-17-08; 8:45 am]
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