[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75417-75419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30655]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 
1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 
(5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a), the Department of Defense 
gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Veterans' Advisory 
Board on Dose Reconstruction (hereinafter referred to as ``the 
Board''). The Board has been determined to be in the public interest.
    The Board is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee that 
shall provide review and oversight of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction 
Program and make such recommendations on modifications in the mission, 
procedures, and administration of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction 
Program as it considers appropriate as a result of the audits conducted 
under the authority of Section 601(c)(3)(A) of Title VI of Public Law 
108-183. The Board shall:
    a. Conduct periodic, random audits of dose reconstructions under 
the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program and of decisions by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs on claims for service connection of 
radiogenic diseases;
    b. Assist the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency in communicating to veterans information on the 
mission, procedures, and evidentiary requirements of the Radiation Dose 
Reconstruction Program;
    c. Carry out such other activities with respect to the review and 
oversight of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program as the Secretary 
of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly specify;
    d. Make recommendations on modifications to the mission and 
procedures of the Dose Reconstruction Program as the Board considers

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appropriate as a result of the audits conducted pursuant to paragraph 
(a) above;
    e. Any additional actions the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly determine are required to ensure 
that the quality assurance and quality control mechanisms of the 
Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program are adequate and sufficient for 
purpose of the program; and
    f. Any additional actions the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly determine are required to ensure 
that the mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program for 
communication and interaction with veterans are adequate and sufficient 
for the program.
    The Board, pursuant to Section 601(c)(2) of Title VI of Public Law 
108-183, shall be comprised of:
    a. At least one expert in historical dose reconstruction of the 
type conducted under the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program.
    b. At least one expert in radiation health matters.
    c. At least one expert in risk communications matters.
    d. A representative of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and a 
representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    e. At least three veterans, including at least one Veteran who is a 
member of an atomic veterans group.
    The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will 
jointly approve the appointment of Board members, and according to DoD 
policy the appointments will be renewed on an annual basis. Board 
members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal officers 
or employees shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants 
under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as special Government 
employees members. Each member of the Board is appointed to provide 
advice on behalf of the Government on the basis of his or her best 
judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a 
manner that is free from conflict of interest. With the exception of 
travel and per diem for official travel, Board members shall serve 
without compensation.
    Board members, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, may serve a term of service on the 
Board of one-to-four years; however, no member, unless authorized by 
the Secretary of Defense, may serve more than two consecutive terms of 
service on the Board, to include its subcommittees.
    The Department, when necessary and consistent with the Board's 
mission and DoD policies/procedures, may establish subcommittees, task 
forces, or working groups to support the Board. Establishment of 
subcommittees will be based upon written determination, to include 
terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense, or the Board's sponsor.
    Such subcommittees or work groups shall not work independently of 
the Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice solely 
to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, task 
forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and 
recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the chartered 
Board; nor can any subcommittee or its members update or report, 
verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board; nor can any 
subcommittee or its members update or report directly to the DoD or any 
Federal officers or employees.
    All subcommittee members shall be jointly appointed by the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs according to 
governing DoD policies/procedures, even if the member in question is 
already a Board member.
    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or part-time Government 
employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under 
the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and serve as special Government 
employee members, whose appointments must be renewed by the Secretary 
of Defense and Secretary of Veteran Affairs on an annual basis. 
Subcommittee members, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, may serve a term of service on the 
subcommittee of one-to-four years; however, no member shall serve more 
than two consecutive terms of service on the subcommittee, unless 
authorized by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs. With the exception of travel and per diem, subcommittee 
members shall serve without compensation.
    Each subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice on behalf 
of the Government on the basis of his or her best judgment without 
representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free 
from conflict of interest.
    All subcommittees, task forces, working groups shall operate under 
the provisions of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act, 
governing Federal statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies/
procedures.
    Currently, DoD has approved the following permanent subcommittees 
to the Board to meet the requirements of Public Law 108-163.
    a. The Subcommittee on DTRA Dose Reconstruction Procedures shall be 
composed of no more than four members and is responsible for reviewing 
and recommending improvements to the dose reconstruction process. The 
estimated number of meetings is two per year.
    b. The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs (VA) Claims Adjudication 
Procedures shall be composed of no more than four members and deals 
directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the process 
for handling Atomic Veterans claims. The estimated number of meetings 
is two per year.
    c. The Subcommittee on Quality Management and VA Process 
Integration with DTRA Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program shall be 
composed of no more than four members and deals with quality issues 
with DTRA's nuclear test personnel review and VA in its claims 
adjudication process for Atomic Veterans. The estimate number of 
meetings is two per year.
    d. The Subcommittee on Communication and Outreach shall be composed 
of no more than four members and deals with veteran outreach and 
communication programs. The estimated number of meetings is two per 
year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO), 
pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD 
employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD 
policies/procedures.
    In addition, the DFO is required to be in attendance at all Board 
and subcommittee meetings for the entire duration of each and every 
meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a properly 
approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to the 
DoD policies/procedures, shall attend the entire duration of the Board 
or subcommittee meeting. The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all 
meetings of the Board and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all 
meeting agendas; adjourn any meeting, when the DFO, or the Alternate 
DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by 
governing regulations or DoD policies/procedures; and chair meetings

[[Page 75419]]

when directed to do so by the official to whom the Board reports.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Veterans' 
Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction's membership about the Board's 
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time 
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of Veterans' 
Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction, and 
this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to 
the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the 
Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction's Designated Federal 
Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose 
Reconstruction. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may 
provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements 
that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in 
question.

    Dated: December 17, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-30655 Filed 12-19-12; 8:45 am]
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