[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 83 (Friday, May 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20317-20318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10008]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Public Consultation Meeting of the Working Group on Strengthening 
the Biosecurity of the United States

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 Working Group on Strengthening the Biosecurity 
of the United States will be holding a public consultation meeting. The 
meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The Working Group on Strengthening the Biosecurity of the United 
States will hold a public consultation meeting on May 13, 2009 from 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and May 14, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 
EDT.

ADDRESSES: The Hyatt Regency-Bethesda, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 
MD 20814. Phone (301) 657-1234.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Kwinn, PhD, 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 5123, Washington, DC 20201; phone: 
202-260-0666; fax: 202-205-8508; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Working Group on Strengthening the 
Biosecurity of the United States, was established by Executive Order 
(EO) 13486 on January 9, 2009, with the mission of reviewing, 
evaluating, analyzing and making recommendations to the President 
regarding the current laws, regulations, guidance, and practices of 
laboratories (including clinical and environmental facilities) that 
conduct research on, handle, store, or transport biological select 
agents and toxins in the United States. Within 180 days, the Working 
Group must issue a report to the President containing ``recommendations 
for any new legislation, regulations, guidance, or practices for 
security and personnel assurance'' and ``options for establishing 
oversight mechanisms.'' The report will also include a comparison of 
personnel security and reliability programs for access to biological 
select agents and toxins to similar programs in other fields and 
industries. Given the importance of biosecurity to protecting public 
health and agriculture, a public consultation meeting is being held to 
discuss biosecurity issues related to the Select Agent Regulations (The 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations for Select 
Agents and Toxins, 42 CFR Part 72, and the United States Department of 
Agriculture regulations for Possession, Use, and

[[Page 20318]]

Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins, 9 CFR Part 121). Topics will 
include the definition of select agents, transportation of select 
agents, physical and personnel security of select agent entities, 
oversight and inspections of laboratories, and fostering a culture of 
security and responsibility.
    Procedures for Providing Public Input: Public participation in this 
meeting of the Working Group is encouraged. Interested members of the 
public may attend the meeting in person. Pre-registration is highly 
encouraged and is available at the website: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/StrengtheningBiosecurity2009. Members of 
the public may also submit relevant written or oral information for the 
Working Group 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 presentation will be limited to three minutes. To be 
placed on the public speaker list, interested parties should contact 
Dr. Laura Kwinn, in writing (preferably via e-mail to 
[email protected]), by May 8, 2009. Written Statements: In 
general, individuals or groups may file written comments with the 
Working Group. All written comments must be received prior to May 18, 
2009 and should be sent to Dr. Laura Kwinn (preferably by e-mail with 
``Working Group Public Comment'' as the subject line). Individuals 
needing special assistance should notify Dr. Laura Kwinn by May 8, 
2009.

    Dated: April 27, 2009.
RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. E9-10008 Filed 4-30-09; 8:45 am]
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