2018-00968. World Trade Center Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (WTCHP STAC)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), announces the following meeting for the World Trade Center Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (WTCHP STAC). This meeting is open to the public, limited only by the number of telephone lines. The room will accommodate approximately 100 persons. The public is also welcome to listen to the meeting by dial-in number 1 [phone], the passcode 3778171, and will accommodate up to 50 callers. To view the web conference, enter the following web address in your web browser: https://odniosh.adobeconnect.com/​wtchpstac18-1/​.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on March 1, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST. Public comment time will be from 9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EST.

Please note that the public comment period ends at the time indicated above or following the last call for comments, whichever is earlier. Members of the public who want to comment must sign up by providing their name to Mia Wallace, Committee Management Specialist, by phone: [phone], email: [e-mail], or the addresses provided below by February 16, 2018. Each commenter will be provided up to five minutes for comment. A limited number of time slots are available and will be assigned on a first come—first served basis. Written comments will also be accepted from those unable to attend the public session.

ADDRESSES:

Jacob J. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul J. Middendorf, Ph.D., Designated Federal Officer, NIOSH, CDC, 2400 Century Parkway NE, Mail Stop E-20, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, telephone [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background: The Advisory Committee was established by Title I of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-347 (January 2, 2011), amended by Public Law 114-113 (Dec. 18, 2015), adding Title XXXIII to the Public Health Service Act (codified at 42 U.S.C. 300mm to 300mm-61).

Purpose: The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to review scientific and medical evidence and to make recommendations to the World Trade Center (WTC) Program Administrator regarding additional WTC Health Program eligibility criteria, potential additions to the list of covered WTC-related health conditions, and research regarding certain health conditions related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Title XXXIII of the PHS Act established the WTC Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The WTC Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible firefighters and related personnel, law enforcement officers, and rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers who responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (responders), and to eligible persons who were present in the dust or dust cloud on September 11, 2001 or who worked, resided, or attended school, childcare, or adult daycare in the New York City disaster area (survivors). Certain specific activities of the WTC Program Administrator are reserved to the Secretary, HHS, to delegate at her discretion; other WTC Program Administrator duties not explicitly reserved to the Secretary, HHS, are assigned to the Director, NIOSH. The administration of the Advisory Committee is left to the Director of NIOSH in his role as WTC Program Administrator. CDC and NIOSH provide funding, staffing, and administrative support services for the Advisory Committee. The charter was reissued on May 12, 2017, and will expire on May 12, 2019.

Policy on Redaction of Committee Meeting Transcripts (Public Comment): Transcripts will be prepared and posted to http://www.regulations.gov within 60 days after the meeting. If a person making a comment gives his or her name, no attempt will be made to redact that name. NIOSH will take reasonable steps to ensure that individuals making public comments are aware of the fact that their comments (including their name, if provided) will appear in a transcript of the meeting posted on a public website. Such reasonable steps include a statement read at the start of the meeting stating that transcripts will be posted and names of speakers will not be redacted. If individuals in making a statement reveal personal information (e.g., medical information) about themselves, that information will not usually be redacted. The CDC Freedom of Information Act coordinator will, however, review such revelations in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and, if deemed appropriate, will redact such information. Disclosures of information concerning third party medical information will be redacted.

Matters To Be Considered: The agenda will include discussions on recommendations regarding the identification of individuals to conduct independent peer reviews of the evidence that would be the basis for issuing final rules to add a health condition to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions, and World Trade Center Health-Related Research. Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, 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.

Elaine L. Baker,

Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.