[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66132-66133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23825]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Call for Nominations To Serve on the NIST Safety Commission

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST) intends for a new federal advisory committee to be 
established, the NIST Safety Commission (Commission). The Commission 
would provide advice to the NIST Director on matters relating to NIST 
safety policies; safety management system, practices, and performance; 
and safety culture. NIST invites and requests nominations of 
individuals for appointment to the Commission. Registered federal 
lobbyists may not serve on NIST federal advisory committees in an 
individual capacity.

DATES: Nominations to serve on the Commission must be submitted by 5 
p.m. eastern time on November 17, 2022. After initial members are 
appointed, nominations for the Commission will be accepted on an 
ongoing basis and will be considered if vacancies arise.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Alicia Chambers, Committee 
Liaison Officer, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 
Bureau Drive, MS 1000, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 or via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. S. Shyam Sunder, Director of the 
Special Programs Office and Chief Data Officer, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, at 301-975-6713 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Commission Information

    The NIST Director intends for a new federal advisory committee to 
be established, the NIST Safety Commission (Commission). The Commission 
would provide advice to the NIST Director on matters relating to NIST 
safety policies; safety management system, practices, and performance; 
and safety culture. It is anticipated that the Commission would carry 
out its activities over the period of one year, and convene 
approximately three times. The Commission would function solely as an 
advisory body, in accordance with the provisions of Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. app. The Commission would be tasked 
with assessing the state of NIST's safety culture and how effectively 
the existing safety protocols and policies have been implemented across 
NIST. The Commission may consider:
    a. the quality and completeness of NIST safety directives and 
programs;
    b. the performance of safety protocols; and
    c. the impacts of the pandemic and hybrid work environment on 
safety.
    The Commission would submit oral and written reports to the NIST 
Director on its findings, including an oral briefing of its preliminary 
findings within 75 days of beginning its activities, and written 
findings within 150 days of beginning its activities.
    Members of the Commission would be appointed by the Director of 
NIST. The Commission would be composed of not more than seven members 
who are qualified to provide advice to the NIST Director on matters 
relating to safety policies; safety management system, practices, and 
performance; and safety culture.
    Commission membership would be balanced fairly and drawn from 
industry, academia, federal laboratories, and other relevant sectors. 
Membership would also consider balance among the broad diversity of 
disciplinary specialties represented in the NIST Laboratories, 
including the physical sciences; chemical, biological, and materials 
sciences and engineering; structural engineering and fire research; 
manufacturing and mechanical engineering; and information and 
communication technologies. NIST will consider candidates with 
established records of distinguished service who are either a current 
or former member of the NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology, 
a member of the first or second NIST Blue Ribbon Commission on 
Management and Safety, or a qualified expert with public or private 
sector experience in one or more of the following areas: (a) management 
and organizational structure; (b) laboratory management and safety (c) 
safety training and operations; (d) hazardous materials safety and 
security; (e) emergency medical response; and (f) organizational safety 
culture.
    Each member would serve for the duration of the Commission. Members 
would serve in their personal capacities as Special Government 
Employees (SGEs) as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. 202. SGEs are 
subject to conflict-of-interest laws and regulations, including (but 
not limited to) the obligation to annually file a New Entrant 
Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) and complete 
ethics training. Members of the Commission who are full-time or 
permanent part-time federal officers or employees would be appointed 
pursuant to 41 CFR 102.3.130(h) to serve as Regular Government Employee 
(RGE) members. Members would be individually advised of the capacity in 
which they will serve through their appointment letters.
    The Director of NIST would appoint the Commission Chair and a Vice-
Chair

[[Page 66133]]

to serve in the absence of the Chair from among the Commission 
membership. Both members would serve in those capacities for the 
duration of the Commission, at the pleasure of the Director.
    Commission members would, upon request, be reimbursed for travel 
and per diem as it pertains to official business of the Commission in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq. Commission members would serve 
without compensation, except that federal government employees who are 
members of the Commission would remain covered by their compensation 
system pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(h).
    Members would not be permitted to reference or otherwise utilize 
their membership on the Commission in connection with public statements 
made in their personal capacities without a disclaimer that the views 
expressed are their own and do not represent the views of the 
Commission, NIST, the Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Government.

Nomination Information

    1. Nominations are sought from all fields, sectors, and 
perspectives described above.
    2. Each member should be a qualified expert with public or private 
sector experience in one or more of the following areas: (a) management 
and organizational structure; (b) laboratory management and safety; (c) 
safety training and operations; (d) hazardous materials safety and 
security; (e) emergency medical response; or (f) organizational safety 
culture. The field of eminence for which the candidate is qualified 
should be specified in the nomination letter. A summary of the 
candidate's qualifications should be included with the nomination, 
including (where applicable) current or former service on federal 
advisory boards and federal employment. In addition, each nomination 
letter should state that the candidate acknowledges the 
responsibilities of serving and will actively participate in good faith 
in the tasks of the Commission, as appropriate. Third-party nomination 
letters should state that the candidate agrees to the nomination.
    3. NIST seeks a diverse Commission membership.

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2022-23825 Filed 11-1-22; 8:45 am]
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