[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 86 (Friday, May 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24285-24286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9738]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8561-6]


EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations 
To Augment Expertise on the Ecological Processes and Effects Committee 
(EPEC)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) 
Science Advisory Board (SAB or the Board) Staff Office is requesting 
nominations of experts in the area of aquatic toxicology of endocrine 
disrupting chemicals to augment expertise on the SAB's Ecological 
Processes and Effects Committee. Nominees will be considered for 
service on the augmented EPEC to provide advice on a methodology for 
deriving water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life 
based on chemical mode of action.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by May 16, 2008 per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Request 
for Nominations please contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office, at: 
[email protected] or (202) 343-9995. General information 
concerning the SAB can be found on the EPA Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a 
chartered Federal Advisory Committee that provides independent 
scientific and technical peer review, advice, consultation, and 
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for EPA 
actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 
App. C) and related regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced 
in the Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide 
opportunities for public input during deliberations. Additional 
information about the SAB and its committees can be obtained on the SAB 
Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.
    The EPA has asked the SAB for advice concerning technical 
challenges and recommendations for deriving aquatic life water quality 
criteria for emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal 
care products exhibiting endocrine disrupting activity. This advice 
will be provided by the SAB EPEC augmented with experts in field of 
aquatic toxicology who have specialized knowledge of the effects of 
endocrine disrupting chemicals.
    Expertise Sought: The SAB Staff Office requests nominations of 
recognized experts in the field of aquatic toxicology with specific 
knowledge of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
    How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization 
may nominate qualified individuals to be considered for appointment on 
this SAB panel. Candidates may also nominate themselves. Nominations 
should be submitted in electronic format (which is preferred over hard 
copy) following the instructions for ``Nominating Experts to Advisory 
Panels and Ad Hoc Committees Being Formed'' provided on the SAB Web 
site. The form can be accessed through the ``Public Involvement in 
Advisory Committee'' link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web 
site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab. To receive full consideration, 
nominations should include all of the information requested.
    The nominating form requests contact information about: The person 
making the nomination; contact information about the nominee; the 
disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the 
nominee's curriculum vita; sources of recent grant and/or contract 
support; 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.
    Persons having questions about the nomination procedures, or who 
are unable to submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should 
contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, DFO, at the contact information provided 
above in this notice. Non-electronic submissions must follow the same 
format and contain the same information as the electronic.
    The SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of the nomination and 
inform nominees of the panel for which they have been nominated. From 
the nominees identified by respondents to this Federal Register notice 
(termed the ``Widecast'') and other sources, the SAB Staff Office will 
develop a smaller subset (known as the ``Short List'') for more 
detailed consideration. The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web 
site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab and will include, for each candidate, 
the nominee's name and biosketch. Public comments on the Short List 
will be accepted for 7 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 Committee.
    For the SAB, a balanced panel is characterized by inclusion of 
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. Public responses to the 
Short List candidates will be considered in the selection of the 
panels, along with information

[[Page 24286]]

provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB Staff 
independently of the background of each candidate (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 evaluation of an individual Panel member 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 in committees.
    Short List candidates will be required to fillout 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://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/
sabproduct.nsf/Web/Form3110-48/$File/epaform3110-48.pdf.

    Dated: April 28, 2008.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E8-9738 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P