2011-29916. Request for Nominations of Candidates to the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites public nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee to provide advice through the chartered SAB regarding Toxicological Reviews of environmental chemicals available on EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).

DATES:

Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than January 6, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nominators unable to submit nominations electronically as described below may submit a paper copy to the Designated Federal Officer for the committee, Dr. Suhair Shallal, DFO by email at [e-mail] or contact her by telephone at [phone].

Background: The chartered SAB (the Board) was established in 1978 by the Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration Act (42 U.S.C. 4365) to provide independent advice to the Administrator on general scientific and technical matters underlying the Agency' policies and actions. Members of the SAB and its subcommittees constitute a distinguished body of non-EPA scientists, engineers, economists, and social scientists that are nationally and internationally-recognized experts in their respective fields from academia, industry, state, and Tribal governments, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for a period of three years. The SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related regulations. Generally, SAB meetings are announced in the Federal Register, conducted in public view, and provide opportunities for public input during deliberations. All the work of the SAB subcommittees is performed under the direction of the Board. The chartered Board provides strategic advice to the EPA Administrator on a variety of EPA science and research programs and reviews and approves all SAB subcommittee and panel reports. Additional information about the SAB Federal Advisory Committees may be found at http://www.epa.gov/​sab.

EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) is a publicly available database which contains hazard and dose-response information on hundreds of chemical substances and their potential health effects. EPA's IRIS program develops human health risk assessments (i.e., Toxicological Reviews) used to inform the Agency's decisions on protecting public health. EPA is seeking SAB advice on a continuous basis as part of an effort to strengthen and streamline the process for IRIS Toxicological Review development. In response, the SAB is establishing a new subcommittee, the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee, which will provide advice through the chartered SAB regarding the IRIS program and the development of IRIS Toxicological Reviews.

Expertise Sought: The SAB Staff Office is seeking nominations of experts to serve on the SAB Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee with knowledge in human health risk assessment and expertise in a range of disciplines including, but not limited to: public health; epidemiology; toxicology; modeling; biostatistics; and risk assessment. For further information, please contact Dr. Suhair Shallal, DFO, by telephone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

Selection Criteria Include

—Demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in their own fields;

—Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively on committees;

—Absence of financial conflicts of interest;

—Absence of an appearance of a lack of impartiality;

—Background and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, and professional affiliations; and

—For the committee as a whole, consideration of the collective breadth and depth of scientific expertise; and a balance of scientific perspectives.

How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to this advisory committee. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should be submitted in electronic format (preferred) following the instructions for “Nominating Experts to the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee” provided on the SAB Web site. The form can be accessed through the “Nomination of Experts” link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/​sab. To be considered, all nominations should include the information requested. 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.

Nominators are asked to identify the specific committee for which nominees are to be considered. The following information should be provided on the nomination form: Contact information about the person making the nomination; contact information about the nominee; the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the nominee's curriculum vita; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current position, educational background; research activities; and recent service on other national advisory committees or national professional organizations. Persons having questions about the nomination procedures, or who are unable to submit nominations through the SAB Web site, should contact the Designated Federal Officer for the committee, as identified above. Non-electronic submissions must follow the same format and contain the same information as the electronic form. The SAB Staff Office will acknowledge receipt of nominations.

Candidates invited to serve will be asked to submit the “Confidential Financial Disclosure Form for Special Government Employees Serving on Federal Advisory Committees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” (EPA Form 3110-48). This confidential form allows EPA to determine whether there is a statutory conflict between that person's public responsibilities as a Special Government Employee and private interests and activities, or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, as defined by Federal regulation. The form may be viewed and downloaded through the “Ethics Requirements for Advisors” link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/​sab.

Dated: November 14, 2011.

Vanessa T. Vu,

Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.