E9-15441. National Biodefense Science Board; Notification of a Public Teleconference

AGENCY:

Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) will be holding a public teleconference. The meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The NBSB will hold a public teleconference on July 17, 2009. The teleconference will be held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES:

The conference will be conducted by phone. Public Conference Call-in Number is available by emailing [e-mail]. Participants should call in 15 minutes prior to the call and will be asked to provide their name, title, and organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Any member of the public wishing to obtain general information concerning this public teleconference should contact [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to section 319M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-7f) and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), the Department of Health and Human Services established the National Biodefense Science Board. The Board shall provide expert advice and guidance to the Secretary on scientific, technical, and other matters of special interest to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding current and future chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. The Board may also provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on other matters related to public health emergency preparedness and response.

Background: The purpose of the July 17, 2009 teleconference is for the Board to learn about and comment on the findings from the June 18-19, 2009 H1N1 Countermeasures Strategy and Decision Making Forum hosted by the Pandemic Influenza Working Group of the National Biodefense Science Board. The public teleconference is being convened to assure that the public is given the opportunity to hear the deliberations and to provide comments on the findings of the proposed report. There will be time for members of the public to present their comments to the Board on this subject matter.

Availability of Materials: The meeting agenda, report, and other materials will be posted on the NBSB Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/​aspr/​omsph/​nbsb/​index.html prior to the meeting.

Procedures for Providing Public Input: Interested members of the public may submit relevant written or oral information for the NBSB to consider. All written comments must be received prior to July 10, 2009 and should be sent by e-mail to [e-mail] with “NBSB Public Comment” as the subject line or mailed to Leigh Sawyer, 330 C Street, SW., Switzer Building Room 5127, Washington, DC 20447.

Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral presentation at a public NBSB teleconference will be limited to three minutes per speaker, with no more than a total of 20 minutes for all speakers. To be placed on the public participant list, you should notify the operator when you enter the call-in number.

Dated: June 24, 2009.

William C. Vanderwagen,

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.