[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3965-3966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01276]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9922-03-OA]
Request for Nominations of Candidates to the EPA's Science
Advisory Board (SAB) Agricultural Science Committee: Additional Time to
Nominate
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites public
nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to
the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Agricultural Science Committee
to provide advice to the Chartered SAB regarding matters referred to
the SAB that will have a significant direct impact on farming and
agriculture-related industries.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than
March 30, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nominators unable to submit
nominations electronically as described below may submit a paper copy
to Ms. Stephanie Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the
committee, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at
202-564-2067.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The chartered SAB (the Board) was established in 1978
by the Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration
Authorization Act (42 U.S.C. 4365) to provide independent advice to the
Administrator on general scientific and technical matters underlying
the Agency' policies and actions. Members of the SAB and its
subcommittees constitute a distinguished body of non-EPA scientists,
engineers, economists, and social scientists that are nationally and
internationally recognized experts in their respective fields. Members
are appointed by the EPA Administrator, generally for a period of three
years. The SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related
regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced in the Federal
Register, conducted in public view, and provide opportunities for
public input during deliberations. All the work of the SAB
subcommittees is performed under the direction of the Board. The
chartered Board provides strategic advice to the EPA Administrator on a
variety of EPA science and research programs and reviews and approves
all SAB subcommittee and panel reports. Additional information about
the SAB Federal Advisory Committees may be found at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
The EPA previously announced (79 FR 73304-73305, December 10, 2014)
the opportunity for the public to nominate experts to the SAB
Agricultural Science Committee, with nominations requested by January
30, 2015. Due to the high level of interest in the new committee from
organizations in the agricultural sector, the EPA has extended the date
to receive nominations of candidates for the committee until March 30,
2015.
Pursuant to section 12307 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L.
133-79), the EPA is establishing a new agriculture-related standing
committee of the SAB. The SAB Agricultural Science Committee will
provide advice to the chartered SAB on matters referred to the Board
that EPA and the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, determine will have a significant direct impact on farming
and agriculture-related industries. Initial appointments to the
committee will be for a mix of 2 and 3 year terms to ensure rotation
and staggered terms for future years.
Expertise Sought: The SAB Staff Office is seeking nominations of
experts to serve on the SAB Agricultural Science Committee with
demonstrated expertise in agriculture-related sciences, including:
agricultural economics, including valuation of ecosystem goods and
services; agricultural chemistry; agricultural engineering; agronomy,
including soil science; aquaculture science; biofuels engineering;
biotechnology; crop and animal science; environmental chemistry;
forestry; and hydrology. For further information, please contact Ms.
Sanzone, DFO, as identified above.
Selection criteria include:
--Demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in
relevant fields;
--Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability
to work constructively and effectively on committees;
--Background and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of
perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographic, economic, social,
cultural, educational backgrounds, and professional affiliations; and
--For the committee as a whole, consideration of the collective breadth
and depth of scientific expertise; and a balance of scientific
perspectives.
As the committee undertakes specific advisory activities, the SAB
Staff Office will consider two additional criteria for
[[Page 3966]]
each new activity: absence of financial conflicts of interest and
absence of an appearance of a loss of impartiality.
How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization
may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to this
advisory committee. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should
be submitted in electronic format (preferred) following the
instructions for ``Nominating Experts to the SAB Agricultural Science
Committee'' provided on the SAB Web site. Instructions can be accessed
through the ``Nomination of Experts'' link on the blue navigational bar
on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab. To be considered, all
nominations should include the information requested. 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 following information should be provided on the nomination
form: contact information about the person making the nomination;
contact information about the nominee; the disciplinary and specific
areas of expertise of the nominee; the nominee's curriculum vita; and a
biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current position,
educational background; research activities; sources of any research
funding over the last two years; and recent service on other national
advisory committees or national professional organizations. Persons
having questions about the nomination procedures, or who are unable to
submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should contact the
Designated Federal Officer for the committee, as identified above. Non-
electronic submissions must follow the same format and contain the same
information as the electronic form. The SAB Staff Office will
acknowledge receipt of nominations.
Candidates invited to serve will be asked to submit the
``Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government
Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential
form allows the EPA to determine whether there is a statutory conflict
between that person's public responsibilities as a Special Government
Employee and private interests and activities, or the appearance of a
loss of impartiality, as defined by
Federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded through
the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors'' link on the blue navigational
bar on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
Dated: January 14, 2015.
Thomas H. Brennan,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-01276 Filed 1-23-15; 8:45 am]
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