04-857. Veteran's Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards; Notice of Meeting

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Public Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that a meeting of the Veteran's Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, February 11-12, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The meeting will be held at the Department of Veterans Affairs (Lafayette Building), 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Room 819, Washington, DC 20420. The meeting is open to the public.

The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on adverse health effects that may be associated with exposure to ionizing radiation and to make recommendations on proposed standards and guidelines regarding VA benefit claims based upon exposure to ionizing radiation.

The major items on the agenda for both days will be discussions and analyses of medical and scientific papers concerning the health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. On the basis of those analyses and discussions, the Committee may make recommendations to the Secretary concerning diseases that are the result of exposure to ionizing radiation. The agenda for the second day will include planning future Committee activities and assignment of tasks among the members.

Those who wish to attend should contact Ms. Bernice Green, of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Compensation and Pension Service, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, by phone at [phone], or by fax at [phone], prior to February 9, 2004. Members of the public may submit written questions or prepared statements for review by the Committee in advance of the meeting. Statements must be received at least five (5) days prior to the meeting and should be sent to Ms. Bernice Green's attention at the address given above. Those who submit material may be asked to clarify it prior to its consideration by the Committee. An open forum for verbal statements from the public will also be available for 20 minutes during the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon for each day. Each person who wishes to make a verbal statement before the Committee will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis and will be provided three minutes to present the statement.

Dated: January 8, 2004.

By Direction of the Secretary:

E. Philip Riggin,

Committee Management Officer.