[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 9008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04307]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Availability of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory 
Committee Scientific Report and Solicitation of Written Comments

AGENCY: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (a) 
announces the availability of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines 
Advisory Committee Scientific Report (Scientific Report); and (b) 
solicits written comments on the Scientific Report.

DATES: Written comments on the Scientific Report will be accepted 
through 11:59 p.m. ET on April 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The Scientific Report is available on the internet at 
www.health.gov/paguidelines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Officer, 2018 
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, Richard D. Olson, MD, 
MPH and/or Alternate Designated Federal Officer, Katrina L. Piercy, 
Ph.D., RD, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), HHS; 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite LL-100; Rockville, MD 20852; Telephone: (240) 453-8280. 
Email: [email protected]. Additional information is available at 
www.health.gov/paguidelines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The inaugural Physical Activity Guidelines 
for Americans (PAG), issued in 2008, was the first comprehensive 
guidelines on physical activity issued by the federal government. The 
PAG serves as the benchmark and primary, authoritative voice of the 
federal government for providing science-based guidance on physical 
activity, fitness, and health for Americans. The second edition of the 
PAG will build upon the first edition and provide a foundation for 
federal recommendations and education for physical activity programs 
for Americans, including those at risk for chronic disease.
    Description of the Committee's Mission and Composition: The 2018 
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee or PAGAC) 
was established to perform a single, time-limited task. The work of the 
Committee was solely advisory in nature. It was charged to examine the 
current PAG, take into consideration new scientific evidence and 
current resource documents, and develop a scientific report to the 
Secretary of HHS that outlines its science-based advice and 
recommendations for development of the second edition of the PAG. The 
Committee consisted of 17 members, who were appointed by the Secretary 
in June 2016. The Committee disbanded upon submission of its Scientific 
Report to the Secretary of HHS. Information on the Committee membership 
is available at www.health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/committee/.
    Written Public Comments: Written comments on the Scientific Report 
are encouraged from the public and will be accepted through April 2, 
2018. Written public comments can be submitted and/or viewed at 
www.health.gov/paguidelines/pcd using the ``Submit Comments'' and 
``Read Comments'' links, respectively. HHS requests that commenters 
provide a brief summary of the points or issues in the comment text 
box. If commenters are providing literature or other resources, 
complete citations or abstracts and electronic links to full articles 
or reports are preferred instead of attaching these documents to the 
comment. The Department does not make decisions on specific policy 
recommendations based on the number of comments for or against a topic, 
but on the scientific justification for the recommendation. All 
comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 2, 2018, after 
which the time period for submitting written comments to the federal 
government expires. After submission, comments will be reviewed, 
processed, and then posted for public viewing.

    Dated: February 21, 2018.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion.
[FR Doc. 2018-04307 Filed 3-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-32-P