[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 16846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6949]



[[Page 16846]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity Meeting; Office 
of Biotechnology Activities, Office of Science Policy, Office of the 
Director; Notice of Closed Meeting

    Pursuant to section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is hereby given of the following 
meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB).
    Under authority 42 U.S.C. 217a, Section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services 
established the NSABB to provide advice, guidance and leadership 
regarding federal oversight of dual use research, defined as biological 
research that generates information and technologies that could be 
misused to pose a biological threat to public health and/or national 
security.
    The NSABB is being convened on March 29-30, 2012, to review two 
unpublished manuscripts on the transmissibility of highly pathogenic 
avian influenza H5N1 virus and to provide recommendations about the 
responsible communication of such information. In addition, 
representatives from the Intelligence Community will present a 
classified briefing to the NSABB.
    The NSABB meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with 
the provisions set forth in section 552b(c)(9)(B), Title 5 U.S.C. as 
amended, because premature disclosure of information to be discussed 
during the meeting would significantly frustrate the agency's ability 
to determine how the sensitive information in the manuscripts should be 
responsibly communicated, taking into consideration potential public 
health and national security concerns. The classified briefing of the 
NSABB will be closed to the public in accordance with the provisions 
set forth in section 552b(c)(1), Title 5 U.S.C. as amended, because 
classified matters sensitive to the interest of national security will 
be presented.

    Name of Committee: National Science Advisory Board for 
Biosecurity.
    Date: March 29-30, 2012.
    Time: 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on March 29 and 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on March 
30 (times approximate).
    Agenda: NSABB members will review unpublished manuscripts 
regarding transmissibility of avian influenza H5N1 virus. In 
addition, representatives from the Intelligence Community will 
present a classified briefing.
    Place: National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Center Drive, 
6th Floor, Conference Room 6, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, and a 
location to be determined for the classified briefing.
    Contact Person: Ronna Hill, NSABB Program Assistant, NIH Office 
of Biotechnology Activities, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892, (301) 496-9838, [email protected].
    This meeting is being published less than 15 days prior to the 
meeting due to timing limitations imposed by administrative matters.

    Dated: March 16, 2012.
Jennifer S. Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-6949 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
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