[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15118-15119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05907]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9908-28-ORD; EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0192]
Human Studies Review Board Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice. Request for Nominations to the Human Studies Review
Board (HSRB) Advisory Committee.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations
from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise in
bioethics to be considered for appointment to its Human Studies Review
Board (HSRB) advisory committee. Anticipated vacancies will be filled
by September 1, 2014. Sources in addition to this Federal Register
Notice may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.
DATES: Submit nominations by April 11, 2014.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: On February 6, 2006, the Agency published a final rule
for the protection of human subjects in research (71 FR 24 6138) that
called for creating a new, independent human studies review board
(i.e., HSRB). The HSRB is a federal advisory committee operating in
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App.
2 Sec. 9 (Pub. L. 92-463). The HSRB provides advice, information, and
recommendations to EPA on issues related to scientific and ethical
aspects of human subjects research. The major objectives of the HSRB
are to provide advice and recommendations on: (1) Research proposals
and protocols that include human subjects; (2) reports of completed
research with human subjects; and (3) how to strengthen EPA's programs
for protection of human subjects of research. The HSRB reports to the
EPA Administrator through EPA's Science Advisor. General information
concerning the HSRB, including its charter, current membership, and
activities can be found on the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/.
HSRB members serve as special government employees or regular
government employees. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator
for either two or three year terms with the possibility of
reappointment for additional terms, with a maximum of six years of
service. The HSRB usually meets up to four times a year and the typical
workload for HSRB members is approximately 25 to 30 hours per meeting,
including the time spent at the meeting. Responsibilities of HSRB
members include reviewing extensive background materials prior to
meetings of the Board, preparing draft responses to Agency charge
questions, attending Board meetings, participating in the discussion
and deliberations at these meetings, drafting assigned sections of
meeting reports, and helping to finalize Board reports. EPA compensates
special government employees for their time and provides reimbursement
for travel and other incidental expenses associated with official
government business. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an effort to
obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of
women and men of all racial and ethnic groups.
The qualifications of nominees for membership on the HSRB will be
assessed in terms of the specific expertise sought for the HSRB.
Qualified nominees who agree to be considered further will be included
in a ``Short List''. The Short List of nominee names and biographical
sketches will be posted for 14 calendar days for public comment on the
HSRB Web site: http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm. The public will
be encouraged to provide additional information about the nominees that
EPA should consider. At the completion of the comment period, EPA will
select new Board members from the Short List. Candidates not selected
for HSRB membership at this time may be considered for HSRB membership
as vacancies arise in the future or for service as consultants to the
HSRB. The Agency estimates that the names of Short List candidates will
be posted in June 2014. However, please be advised that this is an
approximate time frame and the date is subject to change. If you have
any questions concerning posting of Short List candidates on the HSRB
Web site, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Members of the HSRB are subject to the provisions of 5 CFR Part
2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, as supplemented by the EPA
in 5 CFR Part 6401. In anticipation of this requirement, each nominee
will be asked to submit confidential financial information that fully
discloses, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment,
stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support.
The information provided is strictly confidential and will not be
disclosed to the public. Before a candidate is considered further for
service on the HSRB, EPA will evaluate each candidate to assess whether
there is any conflict of financial interest, appearance of a lack of
impartiality, or
[[Page 15119]]
prior involvement with matters likely to be reviewed by the Board.
Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of several criteria,
including: The professional background, expertise and experience that
would contribute to the diversity of perspectives of the committee;
interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and other
attributes that would contribute to the HSRB's collaborative process;
consensus building skills; absence of any financial conflicts of
interest or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, or lack of
independence, or bias; and the availability to attend meetings and
administrative sessions, participate in teleconferences, develop policy
recommendations to the Administrator, and prepare recommendations and
advice in reports.
Nominations should include a resume or curriculum vitae providing
the nominee's educational background, qualifications, leadership
positions in national associations or professional societies, relevant
research experience and publications along with a short (one page)
biography describing how the nominee meets the above criteria and other
information that may be helpful in evaluating the nomination, as well
as the nominee's current business address, email address, and daytime
telephone number. Interested candidates may self-nominate.
To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach
efforts, nominees are requested to inform the Agency of how you learned
of this opportunity.
Final selection of HSRB members is a discretionary function of the
Agency and will be announced on the HSRB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm as soon as selections are made.
ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations by April 11, 2014, identified by
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0192, by any of the following methods:
Internet: http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: [email protected].
USPS Mail: ORD Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode:
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand or Courier Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room 3304,
EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460,
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2014-0192. Deliveries are accepted
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Downing, Designated Federal
Official, Office of the Science Advisor, Mail Code 8105R, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2468, fax number:
(202) 564-2070, email: [email protected].
Dated: March 10, 2014.
Glenn Paulson,
Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-05907 Filed 3-17-14; 8:45 am]
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