[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15990-15991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04724]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-11778-01-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 March 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations by completing the nomination form 
provided on 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 Advisor, 
Policy and Engagement, 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 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. 10 (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 Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO). 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 Membership

    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.
    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.

Submission of Nominations

    To nominate a candidate for consideration or self-nominate, please 
visit the HSRB website at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board to access and complete the nomination form. 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. EPA values 
and welcomes diversity. In an effort to 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).

Evaluation of Nominations

    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

[[Page 15991]]

availability to participate in meetings and administrative sessions, 
participate in teleconferences, develop policy recommendations to the 
Administrator, and prepare recommendations and advice in reports.
    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.
    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 as soon as selections are made on the HSRB 
website at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.

Mary Ross,
Director, Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2024-04724 Filed 3-5-24; 8:45 am]
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