[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33517-33518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14331]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0233; FRL-9925-36]


Chemical Safety Advisory Committee; Establishment of a Federal 
Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), we are giving notice that EPA recently 
established the Chemical Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC). The purpose 
of the CSAC is to provide expert scientific advice, information, and 
recommendations to the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 
(OPPT). The major objective is to provide advice and recommendations 
on: The scientific basis for risk assessments, methodologies, and 
pollution prevention measures or approaches. EPA has determined that 
this federal advisory committee is necessary and in the public interest 
and will assist the EPA in performing its duties and responsibilities. 
Copies of the CSAC charter will be filed with the appropriate 
congressional committees and the Library of Congress. EPA invites the 
public to nominate experts to be considered for the Chemical Safety 
Advisory Committee.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0233, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: OPPT Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on visiting the docket, along with more 
information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Bailey, (7201M), Office of 
Science Coordination and Policy (OSCP), Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, email address: 
[email protected], telephone number: (202) 564-8450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to those involved in the manufacture, 
processing, distribution, disposal, and/or interested in the assessment 
of risks involving chemical substances and mixtures. Since other 
entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to 
describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action.

B. What is EPA's authority?

    This committee is being established under FACA, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 
2.

II. Purpose and Function of the Chemical Safety Advisory Committee

    The CSAC was established under FACA section 9(a) to provide advice 
and recommendations on the scientific basis for risk assessments, 
methodologies, and pollution prevention measures or approaches.
    OPPT manages programs under the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), 
42 U.S.C. 13101 et seq. Under these laws, EPA evaluates new and 
existing chemical substances and their risks, and finds ways to prevent 
or reduce pollution before it is released into the environment. OPPT 
also manages a variety of environmental stewardship programs that 
encourage companies to reduce and prevent pollution.
    The CSAC will be composed of approximately ten members who will 
serve as Regular Government Employees (RGEs) or Special Government 
Employees (SGEs). The CSAC expects to meet in person or by electronic 
means (e.g., telephone, videoconference, webcast, etc.) approximately 3 
to 4 times a year, or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO). Meetings will be held in the Washington, DC or Virginia 
area. The CSAC will be examined annually and will exist until the EPA 
determines that the CSAC is no longer needed. The charter will be in 
effect for 2 years from the date it is filed with Congress. After the 
initial 2-year period, the charter may be renewed as authorized in 
accordance with section 14 of FACA (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, Section 14). A 
copy of the charter will be available on the EPA Web site and in the 
docket.

III. Nominations Sought

    Nominations for membership are being solicited through publication 
of this document in the Federal Register and through other sources. Any 
interested person or organization may nominate him or herself or any 
qualified individual to be considered for the CSAC.
    Nominations should include candidates who have demonstrated high 
levels of competence, knowledge, and expertise in scientific/technical 
fields relevant to chemical risk assessment and pollution prevention. 
To the extent feasible, the members will include representation of the 
following disciplines, including, but not limited to: toxicology, 
pathology, environmental toxicology and chemistry, exposure assessment, 
and related sciences, e.g., synthetic biology, pharmacology, 
biotechnology, nanotechnology, biochemistry, biostatistics, 
pharmacologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, computational 
toxicology, epidemiology, environmental fate, and environmental 
engineering and sustainability. EPA values and welcomes diversity and 
encourages

[[Page 33518]]

nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups.

IV. Selection Criteria

    In selecting members, EPA will also consider the differing 
perspectives and breadth of collective experience needed to address 
EPA's charge to the CSAC, as well as the following:
    [ssquf] Demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively 
in a committee setting;
    [ssquf] Absence of financial conflicts of interest or the 
appearance of lack of impartiality;
    [ssquf] Skills and experience working on committees and advisory 
panels;
    [ssquf] Background and experiences that would contribute to the 
diversity of viewpoints on the committee, e.g., workforce sector; 
geographical location; social, cultural, and educational backgrounds; 
and professional affiliations;
    [ssquf] Willingness to commit adequate time for the thorough review 
of materials provided to the committee; and
    [ssquf] Availability to participate in committee meetings.
    Names, affiliations and a brief biographical sketch of the nominees 
selected to serve on the CSAC will be available on the EPA Web site.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

    Dated: June 4, 2015.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2015-14331 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P