[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50113-50114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19150]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8883-01-OA]


Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board IRIS 
Chloroform (Noncancer; Inhalation) Review Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific 
experts to form a Panel to review the draft EPA Integrated Risk 
Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Chloroform 
(Noncancer; Inhalation). The draft assessment includes a hazard 
identification analysis, which summarizes the chemical properties, 
pharmacokinetics, and health effects associated with environmental or 
occupational exposure, and dose-response analysis, which characterizes 
the quantitative relationship between chemical exposure and each 
credible health hazard. The SAB Chloroform Review Panel will consider 
whether the conclusions found in the EPA's draft assessment are clearly 
presented and scientifically supported. The Panel will also be asked to 
provide recommendations on how the assessment may be strengthened.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by September 28, 2021 per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations 
may contact Dr. Suhair Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA 
Science Advisory Board via telephone/voice mail (202) 564-2057, or 
email at [email protected]. General information concerning the EPA 
SAB can be found at the EPA SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a 
chartered Federal Advisory Committee that provides independent 
scientific and technical peer review, advice, and recommendations to 
the EPA Administrator on the technical basis for EPA actions. As a 
Federal Advisory Committee, the SAB conducts business in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and 
related regulations. The SAB Staff Office is forming an expert panel, 
the SAB Chloroform Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered 
SAB. The SAB Chloroform Review Panel will provide advice through the 
chartered SAB. The SAB and the SAB Chloroform Review Panel will comply 
with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office 
procedural policies.
    The SAB Chloroform Review Panel will conduct a review of the draft 
EPA IRIS Toxicological Review of Chloroform (Inhalation; Noncancer). 
The draft assessment includes a hazard identification analysis, which 
summarizes the chemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and health 
effects associated with environmental or occupational exposure, and 
dose-response analysis, which characterizes the quantitative 
relationship between chemical exposure and each credible health hazard. 
The SAB Chloroform Review Panel will consider whether the conclusions 
found in the EPA's draft assessment are clearly presented and 
scientifically supported. The Panel will also be asked to provide 
recommendations on how the assessment may be strengthened.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking 
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists 
with demonstrated expertise in the following disciplines: toxicology, 
specifically inhalation toxicology/dosimetry, hepatic and nephrological 
toxicology; epidemiology; systematic review; physiologically-based 
pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling; carcinogenesis; risk assessment; dose 
response analysis.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified

[[Page 50114]]

individuals in the areas of expertise described above for possible 
service on the SAB Panel. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations 
should be submitted in electronic format (preferred) using the online 
nomination form on the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov (see the 
``Public Input on Membership'' list under ``Committees, Panels, and 
Membership''). To be considered, nominations should include the 
information requested below. EPA values and welcomes diversity. All 
qualified candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of sex, race, 
disability, or ethnicity. Nominations should be submitted in time to 
arrive no later than September 28, 2021. The following information 
should be provided on the nomination form: Contact information for the 
person making the nomination; contact information for the nominee; and 
the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee. 
Nominees will be contacted by the SAB Staff Office and will be asked to 
provide a recent curriculum vitae and a narrative biographical summary 
that includes: Current position, educational background; research 
activities; sources of research funding for the last two years; and 
recent service on other national advisory committees or national 
professional organizations. Persons having questions about the 
nomination procedures, or who are unable to submit nominations through 
the SAB website, should contact the DFO at the contact information 
noted above. The names and biosketches of qualified nominees identified 
by respondents to this Federal Register notice, and additional experts 
identified by the SAB Staff Office, will be posted in a List of 
Candidates for the Panel on the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov. 
Public comments on the List of Candidates will be accepted for 21 days. 
The public will be requested to provide relevant information or other 
documentation on nominees that the SAB Staff Office should consider in 
evaluating candidates.
    For the EPA SAB Staff Office a balanced review panel includes 
candidates who possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant 
scientific perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced 
by work history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of 
experience to adequately address the charge. In forming the expert 
panel, the SAB Staff Office will consider public comments on the Lists 
of Candidates, information provided by the candidates themselves, and 
background information independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. 
Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include: (a) 
Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience 
(primary factors); (b) availability and willingness to serve; (c) 
absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an 
appearance of a loss of impartiality; (e) skills working in committees, 
subcommittees and advisory panels; and, (f) for the panel as a whole, 
diversity of expertise and scientific points of view.
    The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial 
conflicts of interest will include a review of the ``Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental Protection Agency Special 
Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential form is 
required and allows government officials to determine whether there is 
a statutory conflict between a person's public responsibilities (which 
include membership on an EPA federal advisory committee) and private 
interests and activities, or the appearance of a loss of impartiality, 
as defined by federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded 
through the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors'' link on the SAB 
website at https://sab.epa.gov. This form should not be submitted as 
part of a nomination.
    The approved policy under which the EPA SAB Office selects members 
for subcommittees and review panels is described in the following 
document: Overview of the Panel Formation Process at the Environmental 
Protection Agency Science Advisory Board (EPA-SAB-EC-02-010), which is 
posted on the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.

V. Khanna Johnston,
Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-19150 Filed 9-3-21; 8:45 am]
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