[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26198-26199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09470]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9762-01-ORD]


Request for Nominations of Experts to the EPA Office of Research 
and Development's Human Studies Review Board Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites 
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise 
in the areas of toxicology, bioethics, and statistics to be considered 
for appointment to its Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) federal 
advisory committee. Submission of nominations will be made via the HSRB 
website at: https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by May 31, 2022, per 
instructions below.

ADDRESSES: Instructions on how to submit nomination will be provided at 
the HSRB website at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public needing 
additional information regarding this Notice and Request for 
Nominations may contact Mr. Tom Tracy, Office of Science Policy, Office 
of Research and Development, Mail Code B343-01, 109 T.W. Alexander 
Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; via phone/voice mail at: (919) 
541-4334; or via email at: [email protected]. General information 
concerning the HSRB can be found at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 6, 2006, the Agency published a final rule for the 
protection of human subjects in research (71 FR 24 6138) that called 
for creating a new, independent human studies review board (i.e., 
HSRB). The HSRB is a federal advisory committee operating in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. 2 Sec.  9 
(Pub. L. 92-463). The HSRB provides advice, information, and 
recommendations to EPA on issues related to scientific and ethical 
aspects of human subjects research. The major objectives of the HSRB 
are to provide advice and recommendations on: (1) Research proposals 
and protocols that include human subjects; and (2) reports of completed 
research with human subjects. Typically, the HSRB reviews protocols and 
completed studies involving pesticide studies, such as worker exposure 
studies with agricultural handlers applying pesticides in field 
conditions; janitorial maintenance personnel applying antimicrobial 
pesticides in commercial settings; and field efficacy studies for skin 
applied insect repellent products. The HSRB reports to the EPA 
Administrator through EPA's Chief Scientist. General information 
concerning the HSRB, including its charter, current membership, and 
activities can be found on the EPA website at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.
    HSRB members serve as special government employees or regular 
government employees. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator 
for either two or three year terms with the possibility of 
reappointment for additional terms, for a maximum of six years of 
service. The HSRB convenes on average four times a year, with all of 
the meetings being virtual. The average workload for HSRB members is 
approximately 20 hours per meeting, including the time spent at the 
meeting. Responsibilities of HSRB members include reviewing extensive 
background materials prior to meetings of the Board, preparing draft 
responses to Agency charge questions, attending Board meetings, 
participating in the discussion and deliberations at these meetings, 
drafting assigned sections of meeting reports, and assisting with the 
finalization of HSRB reports. EPA compensates special government 
employees for their time and provides reimbursement for travel and 
other incidental expenses associated with official government business 
related to the HSRB meetings. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an 
effort to

[[Page 26199]]

obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of 
women and men of all racial and ethnic groups, as well as from a 
variety of backgrounds (e.g., industry, non-profit organizations, 
academia, and government).
    Candidates not selected for HSRB membership at this time may be 
considered for HSRB membership as vacancies arise in the future or for 
service as consultants to the HSRB. Members of the HSRB are subject to 
the provisions of 5 CFR part 2634, Executive Branch Financial 
Disclosure, as supplemented by the EPA in 5 CFR part 6401. In 
anticipation of this requirement, each nominee will be asked to submit 
confidential financial information that fully discloses, among other 
financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, and 
where applicable, sources of research support. The information provided 
is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to the public. 
Before a candidate is considered further for service on the HSRB, EPA 
will evaluate each candidate to assess whether there is any conflict of 
financial interest, appearance of a lack of impartiality, or prior 
involvement with matters likely to be reviewed by the Board.
    Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of several criteria, 
including: Professional background, expertise, and experience that 
would contribute to the diversity of perspectives of the committee; 
interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and other 
attributes that would contribute to the HSRB's collaborative process; 
consensus building skills; absence of any financial conflicts of 
interest or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, or lack of 
independence, or bias; and the availability to participate in meetings 
and administrative sessions, participate in teleconferences, develop 
policy recommendations to the Administrator, and prepare 
recommendations and advice in reports.
    Nominations should include a resume or curriculum vitae providing 
the nominee's educational background, qualifications, leadership 
positions in national associations or professional societies, relevant 
research experience and publications along with a short (one page) 
biography describing how the nominee meets the above criteria and other 
information that may be helpful in evaluating the nomination, as well 
as the nominee's current business address, email address, and daytime 
telephone number. Interested candidates may self-nominate.
    To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach 
efforts, nominees are requested to inform the Agency of how you learned 
of this opportunity.
    Final selection of HSRB members is a discretionary function of the 
Agency and will be announced on the HSRB website at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board as soon as selections are 
made.

Mary Ross,
Director, Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2022-09470 Filed 5-2-22; 8:45 am]
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