[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65384-65385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26387]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Intent To Establish the 2015 Dietary Guidelines 
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to 
the Committee Membership

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health; and U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services and Research, Education and 
Economics.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working 
jointly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the 
2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). It is planned for 
the Committee to be established in the beginning of calendar year 2013. 
This notice also will serve to announce that an invitation is being 
extended for nominations of individuals who are interested in being 
considered for appointment to the Committee.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted no later than close of business 
November 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Nominations may be submitted by email to

[[Page 65385]]

[email protected]. This address can be accessed through the 
Internet at the following Web site address: www.dietaryguidelines.gov. 
Nominations also may be sent to: Richard D. Olson, M.D., M.P.H., 
Prevention Science Lead and Designated Federal Officer, 2015 DGAC; 
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, OASH; U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 
LL100 Tower Building; Rockville, MD 20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280; 
Fax: (240) 453-8281.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Officer, 2015 DGAC, 
Richard D. Olson and/or HHS Co-Executive Secretary, 2015 DGAC: Kellie 
(O'Connell) Casavale, Ph.D., RD; Office of Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion, OASH/DHHS; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100 Tower 
Building; Rockville, MD 20852: Telephone (240) 453-8280; Fax: (240) 
453-8281. Lead USDA Co-Executive Secretary, Colette I. Rihane, M.S., 
R.D., Director, Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division, Center for 
Nutrition Policy and Promotion; U.S. Department of Agriculture; 3101 
Park Center Drive, Room 1034; Alexandria, VA 22302; Telephone: (703) 
305-7600; Fax: (703) 305-3300. USDA Co-Executive Secretary, Shanthy A. 
Bowman, Ph.D.; Nutritionist, Food Surveys Research Group, Beltsville 
Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA; 
10300 Baltimore Avenue, BARC-West Bldg 005, Room 125; Beltsville, MD 
20705-2350; Telephone: 301-504-0619. Additional information about the 
2015 DGAC is available on the Internet at www.dietaryguidelines.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority and Purpose: Under Section 301 of 
the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the 
Secretaries of HHS and USDA are required to publish the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines) at 
least every five years. The Guidelines were first published by HHS and 
USDA in 1980, with revisions in 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. 
The Guidelines contain nutrition and dietary information for the 
general public. Because of its focus on health promotion and risk 
reduction, the Guidelines form a basis for federal food and nutrition 
policy and education activities. The information and key 
recommendations of the Guidelines are based on the preponderance of 
scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time.
    Beginning with the 1985 edition, the Secretaries of HHS and USDA 
have established a DGAC to provide advice and make recommendations 
regarding the Guidelines, based on a thorough evaluation of recent 
scientific and applied literature. The DGAC is composed of experts in 
nutrition and health. The Committee is established as a federal 
advisory committee and is governed by the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., 
App.). Formation of the 2015 DGAC is necessary and in the public 
interest.
    The Committee is expected to begin meeting during the Spring/Summer 
of 2013; the Committee will meet, at a minimum, four times during the 
course of its operation. Pursuant to the FACA, all Committee meetings 
will be open to the public. The 2015 DGAC will be established to 
accomplish a single time-limited task. The Committee will develop a 
report of its recommendations that will be presented to the Secretaries 
of HHS and USDA. Upon delivery of its report to the Secretaries, the 
activities of the 2015 DGAC will be terminated.
    For those who are interested in reviewing the 2010 edition of the 
DGAC report, it is available at www.dietaryguidelines.gov. A limited 
number of hard copies of the report are available upon request from HHS 
and USDA.
    Structure: It is proposed that the 2015 DGAC will consist of up to 
17 members; one or more members will be selected to serve as the Chair, 
Vice Chair, and/or Co-Chairs. Prospective members of the DGAC should be 
knowledgeable of current scientific research in human nutrition and 
chronic disease and be respected and published experts in their fields. 
The prospective members also should be familiar with the purpose, 
communication, and application of the Guidelines and have demonstrated 
interest in the public's health and well-being through research and/or 
educational endeavors. Expertise will be sought in specific specialty 
areas that may include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular disease; 
type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity; osteoporosis; cancer; 
pediatrics; gerontology; maternal/gestational nutrition; epidemiology; 
general medicine; energy balance, which includes physical activity; 
nutrient bioavailability; nutrition biochemistry and physiology; food 
processing science, safety and technology; public health; nutrition 
education and behavior change; and/or nutrition-related systematic 
review methodology.
    Nominations: Nominations, including self nominations, of 
individuals who have the above mentioned expertise and knowledge will 
be considered for appointment as members of the Committee. A nomination 
should include, at a minimum, the following for each nominee: (1) A 
letter of nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of 
the nominee, the basis for the nomination (i.e., specific attributes 
which qualify the nominee to be considered for appointment as a member 
of the 2015 DGAC), and a statement from the nominee that he/she would 
be willing to serve as a member of the Committee, if selected; (2) the 
nominator's name, address, and daytime telephone number, and the 
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being 
nominated; and (3) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae or 
resume, which should be limited to no more than 10 pages.
    Equal opportunity practices regarding membership appointments to 
the 2015 DGAC will be aligned with HHS and USDA policies. Every effort 
will be made to ensure that the Committee is a diverse group of 
individuals with representation from various geographic locations, 
racial and ethnic minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Individuals will be appointed to serve as members of the Committee 
to represent balanced viewpoints of the scientific evidence, not to 
represent the viewpoints of any specific group. Members of the 2015 
DGAC will be classified as special Government employees (SGEs) during 
their term of appointment on the Committee, and as such are subject to 
the ethical standards of conduct for federal employees. Upon entering 
the position and annually throughout the term of appointment, members 
of the 2015 DGAC will be required to complete and submit a report of 
their financial holdings.

    Dated: October 22, 2012.
Howard K. Koh,
Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services.
    Dated: October 16, 2012.
Kevin W. Concannon,
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture.
    Dated: October 16, 2012.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Chief Scientist and Under Secretary Research, Education, and Economics, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2012-26387 Filed 10-25-12; 8:45 am]
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