[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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