[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69636-69637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22313]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the World Trade 
Center Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking 
nominations for membership on the World Trade Center (WTC) Health 
Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (WTCHP-STAC), in 
accordance with provisions of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and 
Compensation Act of 2010. The WTCHP-STAC consists of 17 members 
including experts in fields associated with occupational medicine, 
pulmonary medicine, environmental medicine, environmental health, 
industrial hygiene, epidemiology, toxicology, and mental health, and 
representatives of WTC responders as well as representatives of 
certified-eligible WTC survivors.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the STAC must be received no later 
than November 20, 2023. Packages received after this time will not be 
considered for the current membership cycle.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be mailed to NIOSH Docket 229-K, c/o 
Mia Wallace, Committee Management Specialist, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop V24-4, Atlanta, Georgia 
30329-4027, or emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tania Carre[oacute]n-Valencia, Ph.D., 
MS, Designated Federal Officer, World Trade Center Health Program 
Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop R-12, Atlanta, Georgia 
30329-4027. Telephone: (513) 841-4515 (this is not a toll-free number); 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program 
Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (WTCHP-STAC) reviews scientific 
and medical evidence and makes recommendations to the Administrator of 
the WTC Health Program on additional Program eligibility criteria and 
additional WTC-related health conditions, reviews and evaluates 
policies and procedures used to determine whether sufficient evidence 
exists to support adding a health condition to the List of WTC-Related 
Health Conditions, makes recommendations regarding individuals to 
conduct independent peer reviews of the scientific and technical 
evidence underlying a final rule adding a condition to the List of WTC-
Related Health Conditions, and provides consultation on research 
regarding certain health conditions related to the September 11, 2001, 
terrorist attacks.
    Nominations are sought for individuals with the expertise and 
qualifications necessary to accomplish the Committee's objectives. The 
Administrator of the WTC Health Program is seeking nominations for 
members fulfilling the following categories:
     Two representatives of certified-eligible survivors;
     Mental health professional;
     Industrial hygienist;
     Occupational physician with expertise in treating WTC 
rescue and recovery workers;
     Physician with expertise in pulmonary medicine; and
     Representative of WTC responders.
    Members may be invited to serve for four-year terms. Selection of 
members is based on candidates' qualifications to contribute to 
accomplishing WTCHP-STAC objectives. More information on the Committee 
is available at https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/stac.html.
    Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy stipulates 
that committee membership be balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's function. Appointments shall be made 
without discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, disability, and 
cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Nominees must be U.S. 
citizens and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. 
Current participation on Federal workgroups or prior experience serving 
on a Federal advisory committee does not disqualify a candidate; 
however, HHS policy is to avoid excessive individual service on 
advisory committees and multiple committee memberships. Committee 
members are Special Government Employees, requiring the filing of 
financial disclosure reports at the beginning of and annually during 
their terms. NIOSH identifies potential candidates and provides a slate 
of nominees for consideration to the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for STAC membership each year; CDC 
reviews the

[[Page 69637]]

proposed slate of candidates and provides a slate of nominees for 
consideration to the Secretary of HHS for final selection. HHS notifies 
selected candidates of their appointment near the start of the term in 
October, or as soon as the HHS selection process is completed. Note 
that the need for different expertise varies from year to year and a 
candidate who is not selected in one year may be reconsidered in a 
subsequent year.
    Candidates should submit the following items:
     Current curriculum vitae, including complete contact 
information (telephone numbers, mailing address, email address);
     The category of membership (environmental medicine or 
environmental health specialist, occupational physician, pulmonary 
physician, representative of WTC responders, certified-eligible WTC 
survivor representative, industrial hygienist, toxicologist, 
epidemiologist, or mental health professional) that the candidate is 
qualified to represent;
     A summary of the background, experience, and 
qualifications that demonstrates the candidate's suitability for the 
nominated membership category; and
     At least one letter of recommendation from person(s) not 
employed by HHS. Candidates may submit letter(s) from current HHS 
employees if they wish, but at least one letter must be submitted by a 
person not employed by an HHS agency (e.g., CDC, National Institutes of 
Health, Food and Drug Administration).
    Nominations may be submitted by the candidate or by the person/
organization recommending the candidate.
    The Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Office of 
the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register 
notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee 
management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Kalwant Smagh,
Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Office of the Chief 
Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-22313 Filed 10-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P