[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 39 (Monday, March 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9091-9092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4348]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8778-2]


EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations 
of Experts To Augment the Science Advisory Board Exposure and Human 
Health Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The SAB Staff Office is requesting the nomination of experts 
to augment the Science Advisory Board (SAB) Exposure and Human Health 
Committee (EHHC) to review updated values for EPA's Integrated Risk 
Information System (IRIS).

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by March 23, 2009 per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact 
Dr. Sue 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: EPA's Office of Research and Development has initiated 
a process for updating the values currently found in the Integrated 
Risk Information System (IRIS) database. The intent of the IRIS Update 
Project is to review all dose-response assessment values (oral 
reference doses [RfDs], inhalation reference concentrations [RfCs], 
cancer slope factors, and inhalation unit risks) in IRIS that have a 
posting date more than 10-years old. Further information on the IRIS 
Update process can be found at the following URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=204063. ORD has requested that the 
Science Advisory Board (SAB) conduct a pilot review of draft 
assessments for several chemicals.
    The 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. In response to ORD's request, the SAB Staff Office will 
augment the SAB Exposure and Human Health Committee (EHHC) with 
additional experts to review EPA's draft assessments of several IRIS 
chemicals. The augmented EHHC 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 augmented EHHC is being asked to comment on 
the scientific soundness of nine draft assessments.
    Availability of the Review Materials: The EPA draft assessments to 
be reviewed by the augmented EHHC will be made available by the Office 
of Research and Development at the following URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=204063. For questions and information 
concerning the review materials, please contact Dr. Chon Shoaf, at 
(919) 541-4155, or [email protected].
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting 
nominations of nationally recognized experts with

[[Page 9092]]

expertise in one or more of the following areas: chemical toxicology 
and risk assessment, including reproductive/developmental toxicology, 
neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity; and dose-response assessment.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for possible 
service on the augmented EHHC in the areas of expertise described 
above. 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 
``Nomination of Experts'' 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.
    EPA's SAB Staff Office 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. Sue Shallal, DFO, as indicated above in this notice. 
Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than March 
23, 2009.
    The EPA SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations. 
The names and biosketches 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 augmented EHHC, 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: February 23, 2009.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. E9-4348 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]
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