[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43292-43293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17879]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health; Request for 
Nominations

ACTION: Solicitation for Nominations To Serve on the Advisory Board on 
Toxic Substances and Worker Health for Part E of the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

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

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Labor (Secretary) invites interested parties 
to submit nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Board on 
Toxic Substances and Worker Health for Part E of the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and 
Worker Health (the Board) is mandated by Section 3687 of EEOICPA. The 
Secretary of Labor established the Board under this authority and 
Executive Order 13699 (June 26, 2015) and in accordance with the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Secretary with 
respect to: 1) The Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) of the Department of 
Labor; 2) medical guidance for claims examiners for claims with the 
EEOICPA program, with respect to the weighing of the medical evidence 
of claimants; 3) evidentiary requirements for claims under Part B of 
EEOICPA related to lung disease; and 4) the work of industrial 
hygienists and staff physicians and consulting physicians of the 
Department of Labor and reports of such hygienists and physicians to 
ensure quality, objectivity, and consistency. In addition, the Board, 
when necessary, coordinates exchanges of data and findings with the 
Department of Health and Human Services' Advisory Board on Radiation 
and Worker Health, which advises the Department of Health and Human 
Services' National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
on various aspects of causation in radiogenic cancer cases under Part B 
of the EEOICPA program.
    The Board shall consist of 12-15 members, to be appointed by the 
Secretary. A Chair of the Board will be appointed by the Secretary from 
among the Board members. Pursuant to Section 3687(a)(2), the Advisory 
Board will reflect a reasonable balance of scientific, medical, and 
claimant members, to address the tasks assigned to the Advisory Board. 
The members serve two-year or three-year staggered terms. At the 
discretion of the Secretary, members may be appointed to successive 
terms or removed at any time. The Board will meet no less than twice 
per year, except the Board may meet only once in 2015.
    Pursuant to Section 3687(d), no Board member, employee, or 
contractor can have any financial interest, employment, or contractual 
relationship (other than a routine consumer transaction) with any 
person who has provided or sought to provide, within two years of their 
appointment or during their appointment, goods or services for medical 
benefits under EEOICPA. A certification that this is true will be 
required with each nomination.
    The Department of Labor is committed to equal opportunity in the 
workplace and seeks broad-based and diverse Advisory Board membership. 
Any interested person or organization may nominate one or more 
individuals for membership. Interested persons are also invited and 
encouraged to submit statements in support of nominees.
    Nomination Process: Any interested person or organization may 
nominate one or more qualified individuals for

[[Page 43293]]

membership. If you would like to nominate an individual or yourself for 
appointment to the Board, please submit the following information:
     The nominee's contact information (name, title, business 
address, business phone, fax number, and/or business email address) and 
current employment or position;
     A copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae;
     Category of membership that the nominee is qualified to 
represent;
     A summary of the background, experience, and 
qualifications that addresses the nominee's suitability for the 
nominated membership category identified above;
     Articles or other documents the nominee has authored that 
indicate the nominee's knowledge, experience, and expertise in fields 
related to the EEOICPA program, particularly as pertains to industrial 
hygiene, toxicology, epidemiology, occupational medicine, lung 
conditions, or the nuclear facilities covered by the EEOICPA program;
     Any familiarity, experience, or history of participation 
with the EEOICPA program or with administering a technically complex 
compensation program such as EEOICPA; and
     A signed statement that the nominee is aware of the 
nomination, consents to have his or her name published in the Federal 
Register as part of a list of candidates, and is willing to regularly 
attend and participate in Advisory Board meetings, and has no conflicts 
of interest that would preclude membership on the Board.
    Following the nomination period, a list of qualified candidates for 
the Advisory Board will be published in the Federal Register and 
interested parties will be invited to submit comments regarding those 
nominated, within the time period specified. The information received 
through this process, in addition to relevant information obtained from 
other sources, will assist the Secretary in appointing members to serve 
on the Advisory Board. Nominees will be appointed based on their 
demonstrated qualifications, professional experience, and knowledge of 
issues the Advisory Board may be asked to consider. Nominees will also 
be selected in accordance with statutory obligations under FACA and 
Section 3687 of EEOICPA regarding a balanced membership.
    The activities of the Advisory Board may necessitate its members 
obtaining security clearance. Pursuant to Section 3687(f), the 
Secretary of Energy will ensure that the members and staff of the 
Board, and any contractors performing work in support of the Board, are 
afforded the opportunity to apply for a security clearance for any 
matter for which such a clearance is appropriate, and should provide a 
determination on eligibility for clearance within 180 days of receiving 
a completed application.
    Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the 
expiration of a resigning Board member's term shall be appointed for 
the remainder of such term. As specified in Section 3687(i), the 
Advisory Board shall terminate five (5) years after the date of the 
enactment of the legislation, which was December 19, 2014. Thus, the 
Advisory Board shall terminate on December 19, 2019.
    Members are Special Government Employees (SGEs). Members will serve 
without compensation. However, members may each receive reimbursement 
for travel expenses for attending Board meetings, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by the Federal travel regulations.

ADDRESSES: Nominations may be submitted, including attachments, by any 
of the following methods:
     Electronically: Send to: [email protected] 
(specify in the email subject line, ``Advisory Board on Toxic 
Substances and Worker Health nomination'').
     Mail, express delivery, hand delivery, messenger, or 
courier service: Submit one copy of the documents listed above to the 
following address: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker 
Health, Room S-3522, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    Follow-up communications with nominees may occur as necessary 
through the process.

DATES: Nominations for individuals to serve on the Board must be 
submitted (postmarked, if sending by mail; submitted electronically; or 
received, if hand delivered) within 30 days of the date of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions, contact Sam 
Shellenberger, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, at 
[email protected], or Carrie Rhoads, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, at [email protected].

    Dated: July 15th, 2015.
Leonard J. Howie III,
Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-17879 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P