2020-29079. National Toxicology Program Board of Scientific Counselors; Announcement of Meeting; Request for Comments

AGENCY:

National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the next meeting of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC). The BSC, a federally chartered, external advisory group composed of scientists from the public and private sectors, will review and provide advice on programmatic activities. This meeting is a virtual meeting and is open to the public. Written comments will be accepted and registration is required to present oral comments. Information about the meeting and registration is available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165.

DATES:

Meeting: Scheduled for February 2, 2021, 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Written Public Comment Submissions: Deadline is January 26, 2021.

Registration for Oral Comments: Deadline is January 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Meeting Web page: The preliminary agenda, registration, and other meeting materials are available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165.

Virtual Meeting: The URL for viewing the virtual meeting will be provided on the meeting web page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Sheena Scruggs, Designated Federal Official for the BSC, Office of Liaison, Policy and Review, Division of NTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, K2-03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail]. Hand Deliver/Courier address: 530 Davis Drive, Room K2130, Morrisville, NC 27560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The BSC will provide input to the NTP on programmatic activities and issues. The preliminary agenda topics include presentations from two of the Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP)'s research program areas. The preliminary agenda, roster of BSC members, background materials, public comments, and any additional information, when available, will be posted on the BSC meeting web page (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165) or may be requested in hardcopy from the Designated Federal Official for the BSC. Following the meeting, summary minutes will be prepared and made available on the BSC meeting web page.

Meeting Attendance Registration: The meeting is open to the public with time scheduled for oral public comments. Registration is not required to view the virtual meeting; the URL for the virtual meeting is provided on the BSC meeting web page (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165). TTY users should contact the Federal TTY Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Requests should be made at least five business days in advance of the event.

Written Public Comments: NTP invites written public comments. Guidelines for public comments are available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​ntp/​about_​ntp/​guidelines_​public_​comments_​508.pdf.

The deadline for submission of written comments is January 26, 2021. Written public comments should be submitted through the meeting web page. Persons submitting written comments should include name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, email, and sponsoring organization (if any). Written comments received in response to this notice will be posted on the NTP web page, and the submitter will be identified by name, affiliation, and sponsoring organization (if any).

Oral Public Comment Registration: The agenda allows for two formal public comment periods—one comment period for each program area (up to 3 commenters, up to 5 minutes per speaker, per topic). Persons wishing to make an oral comment are required to register online at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165 by January 26, 2021. Oral comments will be received only during the formal comment periods indicated on the preliminary agenda. Oral comments will only be by teleconference line. The access number for the teleconference line will be provided to registrants by email prior to the meeting. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each organization is allowed one time slot per topic. After the maximum number of speakers per comment period is exceeded, individuals registered to provide oral comment will be placed on a wait list and notified should an opening become available. Commenters will be notified approximately one week before the meeting about the actual time allotted per speaker.

If possible, oral public commenters should send a copy of their slides and/or statement or talking points to [e-mail] by January 26, 2021.

Meeting Materials: The preliminary meeting agenda is available on the meeting web page (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/​go/​165) and will be updated one week before the meeting. Individuals are encouraged to access the meeting web page to stay abreast of the most current information regarding the meeting.

Background Information on the BSC: The BSC is a technical advisory body comprised of scientists from the public and private sectors that provides primary scientific oversight to the NTP. Specifically, the BSC advises the NTP on matters of scientific program content, both present and future, and conducts periodic review of the program for the purpose of determining and advising on the scientific merit of its activities and their overall scientific quality. Its members are selected from recognized authorities knowledgeable in fields such as toxicology, pharmacology, pathology, epidemiology, risk assessment, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, cellular biology, computational toxicology, neurotoxicology, genetic toxicology, reproductive toxicology or teratology, and biostatistics. Members serve overlapping terms of up to four years. The BSC usually meets periodically. The authority for the BSC is provided by 42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS), as amended.

The BSC is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. app.), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Dated: December 29, 2020.

Brian R. Berridge,

Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.