[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71654-71655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28013]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Public Consultation Meeting of the Trans-Federal Task Force on 
Optimizing Biosafety and Biocontainment Oversight

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby 
giving notice that the Trans-Federal Task Force on Biosafety and 
Biocontainment Oversight will be holding a public consultation meeting. 
The meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The Trans-Federal Task Force on Biosafety and Biocontainment 
Oversight will hold a public consultation meeting on December 8, 2008 
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST and December 9, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 
2:45 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 
5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Phone: 301-822-9200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Theresa Lawrence, Ph.D., Office 
of Medicine, Science and Public Health, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, 330 C Street, SW., Room 5008C, Washington, DC 20447; 
phone: 202-401-5879; fax: 202-205-8494; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal government established the 
Trans-Federal Task Force on Optimizing Biosafety and Biocontainment 
Oversight to undertake an intensive analysis of the current framework 
of biosafety and biocontainment oversight of research activities 
involving infectious agents and toxins in high- and maximum-containment 
research facilities. The Task Force envisions effective comprehensive 
local and Federal oversight that protects laboratory workers, public 
health, agriculture, and the environment while fostering progress in 
life sciences research. The Task Force is chaired by officials from the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and is comprised of representatives from a broad range of 
Federal departments and agencies that have responsibility for, and 
oversight of, the management of biohazard risks.
    Background: The Task Force's purpose is to ``explore methods to 
improve biosafety oversight in the United States to include a review of 
mechanisms by which the Federal Government can ensure safe working 
conditions in laboratories handling infectious agents.'' This public 
consultation meeting will allow the Task Force to obtain individual 
input from members of the public on several aspects of biosafety and 
biocontainment oversight in the U.S. The meeting's dialogue will focus 
on a series of questions on which the U.S. Government would 
specifically like to solicit comment. These questions concern such 
matters as the identification of gaps in the current oversight 
framework and options for improvement, including how to optimize 
biosafety and biocontainment oversight while simultaneously protecting 
laboratory workers, public health, agriculture, and the environment. 
The agenda and questions for discussion will be available prior to the 
meeting at the Web site http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/omsph/biosafetytaskforce/index.html. All public comments and recommendations 
will be considered by the Task Force.
    Availability of Materials: The agenda and other materials will be 
posted on the Task Force's Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/omsph/biosafetytaskforce/index.html prior to the meeting.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public participation in this 
meeting of the Task Force is encouraged. Interested members of the 
public may attend the meeting in person or participate by public 
teleconference. Any member of the public wishing to obtain information 
regarding participation by teleconference should consult the Web site: 
http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/omsph/biosafetytaskforce/index.html or contact 
CAPT Theresa Lawrence (preferably by e-mail) for more information. 
Interested members of the public may submit relevant written or oral 
information for the Task Force to consider. Oral and written 
information that is submitted may be made be available to the public; 
therefore, we request that statements do not include private or 
proprietary information. Oral Statements: Thirty minutes will be 
available each day of the meeting for public comment. In general, each 
speaker (or group of speakers) requesting an oral

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presentation will be limited to three minutes. To be placed on the 
public speaker list, interested parties should contact CAPT Theresa 
Lawrence in writing (preferably via e-mail), by November 28, 2008. 
Written Statements: In general, individuals or groups may file written 
comments with the Task Force. All written comments must be received 
prior to December 12, 2008 and should be sent to CAPT Theresa Lawrence 
(preferably by e-mail with ``Task Force Public Comment'' as the subject 
line). Individuals needing special assistance should notify CAPT 
Theresa Lawrence (preferably by e-mail) by November 28, 2008.

    Dated:November 18, 2008.
RADM William C. Vanderwagen,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. E8-28013 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
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