[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71561-71562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29916]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9491-6]


Request for Nominations of Candidates to the EPA's Science 
Advisory Board (SAB) Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites public 
nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to 
the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Chemical Assessment Advisory 
Committee to provide advice through the chartered SAB regarding 
Toxicological Reviews of environmental chemicals available on EPA's 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).

DATES: Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than 
January 6, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nominators unable to submit 
nominations electronically as described below may submit a paper copy 
to the Designated Federal Officer for the committee, Dr. Suhair 
Shallal, DFO by email at [email protected] or contact her by 
telephone at (202) 564-2057.
    Background: The chartered SAB (the Board) was established in 1978 
by the Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration Act (42 
U.S.C. 4365) to provide independent advice to the Administrator on 
general scientific and technical matters underlying the Agency' 
policies and actions. Members of the SAB and its subcommittees 
constitute a distinguished body of non-EPA scientists, engineers, 
economists, and social scientists that are nationally and 
internationally-recognized experts in their respective fields from 
academia, industry, state, and Tribal governments, research institutes, 
and non-governmental organizations. Members are appointed by the EPA 
Administrator for a period of three years. The SAB conducts business in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2) and related regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced 
in the Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide 
opportunities for public input during deliberations. All the work of 
the SAB subcommittees is performed under the direction of the Board. 
The chartered Board provides strategic advice to the EPA Administrator 
on a variety of EPA science and research programs and reviews and 
approves all SAB subcommittee and panel reports. Additional information 
about the SAB Federal Advisory Committees may be found at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
    EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) is a publicly 
available database which contains hazard and dose-response information 
on hundreds of chemical substances and their potential health effects. 
EPA's IRIS program develops human health risk assessments (i.e., 
Toxicological Reviews) used to inform the Agency's decisions on 
protecting public health. EPA is seeking SAB advice on a continuous 
basis as part of an effort to strengthen and streamline the process for 
IRIS Toxicological Review development. In response, the SAB is 
establishing a new subcommittee, the Chemical Assessment Advisory 
Committee, which will provide advice through the chartered SAB 
regarding the IRIS program and the development of IRIS Toxicological 
Reviews.
    Expertise Sought: The SAB Staff Office is seeking nominations of 
experts to serve on the SAB Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee with 
knowledge in human health risk assessment and expertise in a range of 
disciplines including, but not limited to: public health; epidemiology; 
toxicology; modeling; biostatistics; and risk assessment. For further 
information, please contact Dr. Suhair Shallal, DFO, by telephone at 
(202) 564-2057 or by email at [email protected].

Selection Criteria Include

--Demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in 
their own fields;
--Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability 
to work constructively and effectively on committees;
--Absence of financial conflicts of interest;
--Absence of an appearance of a lack of impartiality;
--Background and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of 
perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographic, economic, social, 
cultural, educational backgrounds, and professional affiliations; and
--For the committee as a whole, consideration of the collective breadth 
and depth of scientific expertise; and a balance of scientific 
perspectives.

    How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization 
may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to this 
advisory committee. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should 
be submitted in electronic format (preferred) following the 
instructions for ``Nominating Experts to the Chemical Assessment 
Advisory Committee'' 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 be 
considered, all nominations should include the information requested. 
EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations 
of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of women and men of 
all racial and ethnic groups.
    Nominators are asked to identify the specific committee for which 
nominees are to be considered. The following information should be 
provided on the nomination form: 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; 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 the Designated Federal Officer for the 
committee, as identified above. Non-electronic submissions must follow 
the same format and contain the same information as the electronic 
form. The SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.
    Candidates invited to serve will be asked to submit 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 EPA to determine whether there is a statutory conflict 
between that person's public responsibilities as a Special Government 
Employee 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 through the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors'' 
link on the blue navigational

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bar on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.

    Dated: November 14, 2011.
Vanessa T. Vu,
 Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-29916 Filed 11-17-11; 8:45 am]
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