[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22499-22500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10359]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Toxicology Program Board of Scientific Counselors; 
Announcement of Meeting; Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the next meeting of the National 
Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC). The BSC, 
a federally chartered, external advisory group composed of scientists 
from the public and private sectors, will review and provide advice on 
programmatic activities. The meeting is open to the public and 
registration is requested for both attendance and oral comment and 
required to access the webcast. Information about the meeting and 
registration are available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165.

DATES: Meeting: June 20, 2018; Begins at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) and continues 
until adjournment.
    Written Public Comment Submissions: Deadline is June 12, 2018.
    Oral Comments: Deadline is June 12, 2018.
    Registration for Meeting: Deadline June 20, 2018.
    Registration to view the meeting via the webcast is required.

ADDRESSES:
    Meeting Location: Rodbell Auditorium, Rall Building, National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 111 T.W. Alexander 
Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
    Meeting web page: The preliminary agenda, registration, and other 
meeting materials are at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165.
    Webcast: The meeting will be webcast; the URL will be provided to 
those who register for viewing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary Wolfe, Designated Federal 
Official for the BSC, Office of Liaison, Policy and Review, Division of 
NTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, K2-03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. 
Phone: 984-287-3209, Fax: 301-451-5759, Email: [email protected]. 
Hand Deliver/Courier address: 530 Davis Drive, Room K2130, Morrisville, 
NC 27560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Meeting and Registration: The meeting is open to the public with 
time scheduled for oral public comments; attendance at the meeting is 
limited only by the space available. The BSC will provide input to the 
NTP on programmatic activities and issues. Preliminary agenda topics 
include discussions on strategic realignment of NTP and updates on peer 
reviews. Please see the preliminary agenda for information about the 
specific presentations. The preliminary agenda, roster of BSC members, 
background materials, public comments, and any additional information, 
when available, will be posted on the BSC meeting website (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165) or may be requested in hardcopy from the 
Designated Federal Official for the BSC. Following the meeting, summary 
minutes will be prepared and made available on the BSC meeting website.
    The public may attend the meeting in person or view the webcast. 
Registration is required to view the webcast; the URL for the webcast 
will be provided in the email confirming registration. Individuals who 
plan to provide oral comments (see below) are encouraged to register 
online at the BSC meeting website (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165) by 
June 12, 2018, to facilitate planning for the meeting. Individuals are 
encouraged to access the website to stay abreast of the most current 
information regarding the meeting. Visitor and security information for 
those attending in-person is available at niehs.nih.gov/about/visiting/index.cfm. Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to 
participate in this event should contact Ms. Robbin Guy at phone: (984) 
287-3136 or email: [email protected]. TTY users should contact the 
Federal TTY Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Requests should be made at 
least five business days in advance of the event.
    Written Public Comments: NTP invites written and oral public

[[Page 22500]]

comments on the agenda topics. Guidelines for public comments are 
available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/guidelines_public_comments_508.pdf.
    The deadline for submission of written comments is June 12, 2018. 
Written public comments should be submitted through the meeting 
website. Persons submitting written comments should include name, 
affiliation, mailing address, phone, email, and sponsoring organization 
(if any). Written comments received in response to this notice will be 
posted on the NTP website, and the submitter will be identified by 
name, affiliation, and sponsoring organization (if any).
    Oral Public Comment Registration: The agenda allows for three 
public comment periods: The first comment period on the strategic 
realignment (6 commenters, up to 5 minutes per speaker); the second 
comment period on the peer review of NTP's studies of cell phone 
radiofrequency radiation (6 commenters, up to 5 minutes per speaker); 
and the third comment period on the CLARITY-BPA Research Program: Peer 
Review of Core Study and Next Steps (6 commenters, up to 5 minutes per 
speaker). Oral comments may be presented in person at NIEHS or by 
teleconference line. Registration for oral comments is on or before 
June 12, 2018, at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165. Registration is on a 
first-come, first-served basis, and registrants will be assigned a 
number in their confirmation email. Each organization is allowed one 
time slot per comment period. After the maximum number of speakers per 
comment period is exceeded, individuals registered to provide oral 
comment will be placed on a wait list and notified should an opening 
become available. Commenters will be notified after June 12, 2018, 
about the actual time allotted per speaker, and the teleconference 
number will be sent to those registered to give oral comments by 
teleconference line.
    If possible, oral public commenters should send a copy of their 
slides and/or statement or talking points to Robbin Guy by email: 
[email protected] by June 12, 2018.
    Meeting Materials: The preliminary meeting agenda is available on 
the meeting web page (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165) and will be 
updated one week before the meeting. Individuals are encouraged to 
access the meeting web page to stay abreast of the most current 
information regarding the meeting.
    Background Information on the BSC: The BSC is a technical advisory 
body comprised of scientists from the public and private sectors that 
provides primary scientific oversight to the NTP. Specifically, the BSC 
advises the NTP on matters of scientific program content, both present 
and future, and conducts periodic review of the program for the purpose 
of determining and advising on the scientific merit of its activities 
and their overall scientific quality. Its members are selected from 
recognized authorities knowledgeable in fields such as toxicology, 
pharmacology, pathology, biochemistry, epidemiology, risk assessment, 
carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, molecular biology, behavioral toxicology, 
neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology, reproductive toxicology or 
teratology, and biostatistics. Members serve overlapping terms of up to 
four years. The BSC usually meets biannually. The authority for the BSC 
is provided by 42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service 
Act (PHS), as amended.
    The BSC is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. app.), which sets forth standards 
for the formation and use of advisory committees.

    Dated: May 9, 2018.
Brian R. Berridge,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-10359 Filed 5-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P