[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66071-66072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27627]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Partnerships To Advance the National Occupational Research Agenda 
(NORA)

AGENCY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the following public meeting: ``Partnerships to Advance the 
National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)''.
    Public Meeting Time and Date: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST, January 26, 
2012.
    Place: Patriots Plaza, 395 E Street, SW., Conference Room 9000, 
Washington, DC 20201.
    Purpose of the Meeting: The National Occupational Research Agenda 
(NORA) has been structured to engage partners with each other and/or 
with NIOSH to advance NORA priorities. The NORA Liaison Committee 
continues to be an opportunity for representatives from organizations 
with national scope to learn about NORA progress and to suggest 
possible partnerships based on their organization's mission and 
contacts. This opportunity is now structured as a public meeting via 
the Internet to attract participation by a larger number of 
organizations and to further enhance the success of NORA. Some of the 
types of organizations of national scope that are especially encouraged 
to participate are employers, unions, trade associations, labor 
associations, professional associations, and foundations. Others are 
welcome.
    This meeting will include updates from NIOSH leadership on NORA as 
well as updates from approximately half of the NORA Sector Councils on 
their progress, priorities, and implementation plans to date, likely 
including the NORA Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Construction; 
Healthcare and Social Assistance; Mining; Oil and Gas Extraction; 
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities Councils. Updates will also 
be given on the Mid-Decade Review of NORA and at least one NIOSH 
Program that is working on several NORA priorities, e.g., the NIOSH 
Work Organization and Stress-Related Disorders Program. After each 
update, there will be time to discuss partnership opportunities.
    Status: The meeting is open to the public, limited only by the 
capacities of the conference call and conference room facilities. There 
is limited space available in the meeting room (capacity

[[Page 66072]]

34). Therefore, information to allow participation in the meeting 
through the Internet (to see the slides) and a teleconference call 
(capacity 50) will be provided to registered participants. Participants 
are encouraged to consider attending by this method. Each participant 
is requested to register for the free meeting by sending an e-mail to 
[email protected] containing the participant's name, organization 
name, contact telephone number on the day of the meeting, and 
preference for participation by Web meeting (requirements include: 
computer, Internet connection, and telephone, preferably with ``mute'' 
capability) or in person. An e-mail confirming registration will 
include the details needed to participate in the Web meeting. Non-US 
citizens are encouraged to participate in the Web meeting. Non-US 
citizens who do not register to attend in person on or before January 
4, 2012, will not be granted access to the meeting site and will not be 
able to attend the meeting in-person due to mandatory security 
clearance procedures at the Patriots Plaza facility.
    Background: NORA is a partnership program to stimulate innovative 
research in occupational safety and health leading to improved 
workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA has become a research 
framework for the nation. Diverse parties collaborate to identify the 
most critical issues in workplace safety and health. Partners then work 
together to develop goals and objectives for addressing those needs and 
to move the research results into practice. The NIOSH role is 
facilitator of the process. For more information about NORA, see http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/about.html.
    Since 2006, NORA has been structured according to industrial 
sectors. Ten major sector groups have been defined using the North 
American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). After receiving 
public input through the Web and town hall meetings, ten NORA Sector 
Councils have been working to define sector-specific strategic plans 
for conducting research and moving the results into widespread 
practice. During 2008-10, most of these Councils posted draft strategic 
plans for public comment and eight have posted finalized National 
Sector Agendas after considering comments on the drafts. For the 
National Sector Agendas, see http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sidney C. Soderholm, Ph.D, NORA 
Coordinator, E-mail [email protected], telephone (404) 957-0260.

    Dated: October 18, 2011.
John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2011-27627 Filed 10-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P