[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21885-21886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07943]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9718-01-OA]


Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board IRIS 
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) 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 Hexavalent Chromium 
(Cr(VI)). EPA's draft assessment includes a hazard identification 
analysis, which summarizes the chemical properties, toxicokinetics, and 
health effects associated exposure, and dose-response analysis, which 
characterizes the quantitative relationship between chemical exposure 
and each credible health hazard. These quantitative relationships are 
then used to derive cancer and non-cancer toxicity values (e.g., 
inhalation unit risk, oral slope factor, reference concentration, 
reference dose). The SAB Hexavalent Chromium 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 May 4, 2022 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 Hexavalent Chromium 
Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered SAB. The SAB 
Hexavalent Chromium Review Panel will provide advice through the 
chartered SAB. The SAB and the SAB Hexavalent Chromium Review Panel 
will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff 
Office procedural policies.
    The SAB Hexavalent Chromium Review Panel will conduct a review of 
the draft EPA IRIS Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium. EPA's 
draft assessment includes a hazard identification analysis, which 
summarizes the chemical properties, toxicokinetics, and health effects 
associated exposure, and dose-response analysis, which characterizes 
the quantitative relationship between chemical exposure and each 
credible health hazard. These quantitative relationships are then used 
to derive cancer and non-cancer toxicity values (e.g., inhalation unit 
risk, oral slope factor, reference concentration, reference dose). The 
SAB Hexavalent Chromium 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 nephrological, 
genetic toxicology; epidemiology; systematic review; physiologically-
based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling; carcinogenesis,

[[Page 21886]]

including gastrointestinal; risk assessment; and dose response 
analysis.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified 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 May 4, 
2022. 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.

Thomas Brennan,
Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2022-07943 Filed 4-12-22; 8:45 am]
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