[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61448-61449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24867]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Subcommittee 
Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council; 
Public Meetings

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy.

ACTION: Notice of Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on 
behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) 
Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) and in collaboration with the European 
Commission, will hold the 2012 ``EU-U.S.: Bridging NanoEHS Research 
Efforts'' joint workshop on October 25-26, 2012 in Helsinki, Finland. 
The purpose of this workshop is to further promote and deepen the EU-
U.S. collaboration on nanosafety research and to develop the 
Communities of Research (CoRs). The event is aimed at administrators, 
policy makers, decision makers, and scientists from the EU and the U.S.
    NNCO and the European Commission will also host meetings for the 
CoRs on the topic of environmental, health, and safety issues related 
to nanomaterials between the publication date of this Notice and 
September 30, 2013. These CoRs will provide a platform for scientists 
from the U.S. and EU to develop a shared repertoire of protocols and 
methods to overcome research gaps and barriers. The co-chairs for each 
CoR will convene meetings and set meeting agendas with administrative 
support from the European Commission and the NNCO.
    The CoRs directly address Goal 4.2 of the National Nanotechnology 
Initiative Strategic Plan: ``Develop tools and procedures for * * * 
international outreach and engagement to assist stakeholders in 
developing best practices for communicating and managing risks.'' 
However, the CoRs are not envisioned to provide any government agency 
with advice or recommendations.
    The CoRs were proposed at the first U.S.-EU workshop on Bridging 
NanoEHS Research Efforts, which was held in Washington, DC in March 
2011. Based on feedback from the workshop participants, the following 
six CoR themes were announced in 2012:
     Exposure through the Life Cycle, with Material 
Characterization.
     Ecotoxicity Testing and Predictive Models, with Material 
Characterization.
     Predictive Modeling for Human Health, with Material 
Characterization.
     Databases and Ontologies.
     Risk Assessment.
     Risk Management and Control.
    The CoRs will hold several Webinars and/or conference calls between 
the publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2013. The 
envisioned end date for the CoRs is September 30, 2013.

DATES: The workshop will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 
9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on Friday, October 26, 2012 from 9:00 
a.m. until 4:00 p.m. CoR meetings will take place periodically between 
the publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2013. Meeting 
dates and call-in information will be posted on the

[[Page 61449]]

Community of Research page at http://us-eu.org/ as meetings are 
scheduled.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at Finnish Institute of 
Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 30, Helsinki, Finland. The CoRs 
will meet via teleconferences and Web meetings.
    Registration: Due to space limitations, pre-registration for the 
workshop is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served 
basis until capacity is reached. Individuals planning to attend the 
workshop should register online at http://www.ttl.fi/partner/nanoehs_workshop/registration/sivut/default.aspx. Written notices of 
participation by email should be sent to [email protected] or 
mailed to Stacey Standridge, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Stafford II, Suite 
405, Arlington, VA 22230. Individuals wishing to participate in any of 
the CoRs should send the participant's name, affiliation, and country 
of residence to Stacey Standridge at either of the addresses above. 
NNCO will collect email addresses from registrants to ensure that they 
are included in CoR conference calls and other meetings and that they 
receive information relevant to the CoR scope from other CoR members. 
Email addresses are submitted on a completely voluntary basis.
    Those interested in presenting 3-5 minutes of public comments at 
the U.S.-EU workshop on Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts or any of the 
CoR meetings should register for the appropriate event. For those who 
are unable to attend the workshop or CoR meetings in person, written or 
electronic comments should be submitted by email to 
[email protected] at least two business days prior to each 
meeting to provide time to copy and distribute the written comments to 
the participants.
    Meeting Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access these public meetings should contact Stacey Standridge 
(telephone 703-292-8103) at least ten business days prior to each 
meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, 
please contact Stacey Standridge at National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office, by telephone (703-292-8103) or email 
([email protected]). Additional information about the workshop, 
including the agenda, is posted at http://www.ttl.fi/partner/nanoehs_workshop/sivut/default.aspx. Additional information about the CoRs and 
their upcoming meetings is posted at http://us-eu.org/.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-24867 Filed 10-5-12; 8:45 am]
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