[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18657-18658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08005]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Preparedness and Response Science Board; Call for 
Nominees

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary seeks application submissions from 
qualified individuals for consideration for membership on the National 
Preparedness and Response Science Board (NPRSB). Terms of eight members 
expire December 31, 2017; therefore, the Secretary must appoint eight 
new voting members. Nominees shall represent the following categories: 
Industry, academia, health care consumer organizations, and 
organizations representing other appropriate

[[Page 18658]]

stakeholders. Please visit the NPRSB Web site at https://www.phe.gov/nprsb for all application submission information and instructions. If 
interested, please submit your application by the deadline of June 7, 
2017, at 11:59 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR Evelyn Seel, MPH, Designated 
Federal Official, National Preparedness and Response Science Board, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Thomas P. O'Neill Federal 
Building, Room Number 22H11, 200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20024; 
Office: 202-205-7960, Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 319M of the Public 
Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-7f) and section 222 of the PHS 
Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
established the NPRSB. The Board shall provide expert advice and 
guidance to the Secretary on scientific, technical, and other matters 
of special interest to HHS regarding current and future chemical, 
biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether naturally 
occurring, accidental, or deliberate. The Board may also provide advice 
and guidance to the Secretary and/or the Assistant Secretary for 
Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on other matters related to public 
health emergency preparedness and response.
    Description of Duties: The Board shall advise the Secretary and/or 
ASPR on current and future trends, challenges, and opportunities 
presented by advances in biological and life sciences, biotechnology, 
and genetic engineering with respect to threats posed by naturally 
occurring infectious diseases and chemical, biological, radiological, 
and nuclear agents. At the request of the Secretary and/or ASPR, the 
Board shall review and consider any information and findings received 
from the working groups established under 42 U.S.C. 247d-7f(b). At the 
request of the Secretary and/or ASPR, the Board shall provide 
recommendations and findings for expanded, intensified, and coordinated 
biodefense research and development activities. The Secretary and/or 
ASPR may assign additional advisory duties concerning public health 
emergency preparedness and response at his/her discretion.
    Structure: The Board shall consist of 13 voting members, including 
the chairperson; additionally, there may be non-voting ex officio 
members. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 247d-7f(a), the Secretary shall appoint 
members and the Chairperson from among the nation's preeminent 
scientific, public health, and medical experts, as follows: (a) Such 
federal officials as the Secretary determines are necessary to support 
the functions of the Board; (b) four individuals from the 
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device industries; (c) four 
academicians; and, (d) five other members as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary and/or ASPR, one of whom must be a practicing health care 
professional, one of whom must be from an organization representing 
health care consumers, one of whom must have pediatric subject matter 
expertise, and one of whom shall be a state, tribal, territorial, or 
local public health official. The Secretary will appoint additional 
members for category (d), above, from among emergency medical 
responders and organizations representing other appropriate 
stakeholders. A member of the Board described in (b), (c), or (d) in 
the above paragraph shall serve for a term of three years, except that 
the Secretary may adjust the terms of the initial Board appointees in 
order to provide for a staggered term of appointment of all members. 
The Secretary shall appoint members who are not full-time or permanent 
part-time federal employees as special government employees.

    Dated: April 14, 2017.
George W. Korch Jr.,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
[FR Doc. 2017-08005 Filed 4-19-17; 8:45 am]
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