[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56952-56953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22551]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Notice of Meetings: Public Meetings of the National Science and 
Technology Council; Committee on Technology; Nanoscale Science, 
Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee; National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office

AGENCY: Office of Science and Technology Policy.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 2013 ``U.S.-EU Bridging NanoEHS Research 
Efforts'' joint workshop on December 2-3, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia. 
The workshop will bring together the U.S.-EU Communities of Research 
(CORs), which are a platform for scientists to develop a shared 
repertoire of protocols and methods to overcome research gaps and 
barriers and to address environmental, health, and safety questions 
about nanomaterials. The goal of this workshop is to publicize progress 
towards COR goals and objectives, clarify and communicate future plans, 
share best practices, and identify areas of cross-Community 
collaboration.
    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, 2014. 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 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 Communities were launched 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 2013 workshop is intended to further develop and support the 
CORs' activities.
    The CORs directly address Goal 4.2 of the 2011 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 will hold several webinars and/or conference calls between 
the publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2014. The 
envisioned end date for the CORs is September 30, 2014.

DATES: Monday, December 2, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and 
Tuesday, December 3, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia. Teleconferences 
and web meetings for the CORs will take place periodically between the 
publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2014. Meeting dates 
and call-in information will be posted on the Community of Research 
page at http://us-eu.org/ as meetings are scheduled.
    Registration: Due to space limitations, pre-registration for the 
workshop is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served 
basis and will be capped at approximately 100 participants. 
Registration will open on October 16, 2013. Individuals planning to 
attend the workshop should register online at http://us-eu.org/2013-u-s-eu-nanoehs-workshop/. Written notices of participation by email 
should be sent to [email protected] or mailed to Stacey 
Standridge, 4201 Wilson Blvd., 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.

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://us-eu.org/2013-u-s-eu-nanoehs-workshop/. Additional information about the CORs and their 
upcoming meetings is posted at http://us-eu.org/.
    Meeting Accomodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access these public meetings should contact Stacey Standridge 
(telephone 703-292-8103) at least ten business

[[Page 56953]]

days prior to each meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be 
made.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-22551 Filed 9-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-F3-P