Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee

December 17, 2001

ATSDR ANNOUNCES OPENINGS FOR NEW MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE ON THE OAK RIDGE RESERVATION HEALTH EFFECTS SUBCOMMITTEE

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today that they are seeking applications for new members for the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee. One position is for an ill worker (past or present) who thinks their illness resulted from exposures to releases at the Oak Ridge Reservation.

You can get a nomination package from ATSDR's Oak Ridge Field Office (197 S. Tulane Ave., Oak Ridge, telephone: (865) 220-0295), or by calling ATSDR toll free, at 1-888-422-8737. Nominations for the general Subcommittee positions must be postmarked by January 30, 2002, to be considered. Nominations for the worker position will also close on January 30, 2002.

The Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) Health Effects Subcommittee is a Federal Advisory Committee of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The members of the subcommittee are a representative and knowledgeable group of people from the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, area. The subcommittee provides advice and recommendations to CDC and ATSDR on their public health activities and research at the Oak Ridge Reservation site. The subcommittee works with private citizens, advocacy groups, state agencies, and other federal agencies in the area. Members of the community can communicate directly with national public health agencies.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have set up the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) Health Effects Subcommittee. You can nominate yourself or someone you know to be considered for membership on the Subcommittee. Nominations will be accepted from Monday, December 17, 2001 through Wednesday, January 30, 2002. Nominations that were received during the previous nomination processes will also be considered for membership on the Subcommittee. The nominations are on file and it is not necessary to re-submit the information.

The ORR Health Effects Subcommittee is a representative and knowledgeable group of people from the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, area. The Subcommittee is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to CDC and ATSDR about our public health activities and research at the Oak Ridge Reservation. The Subcommittee is a key part of a broad effort to communicate with people who are interested in and affected by our public health activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation.

You can get a nomination packet from ATSDR. The packet has information on the nomination process and background information about the Subcommittee. If you wish to nominate yourself or someone else for the Subcommittee, please follow the nomination procedures. Only nominations for membership that are currently on file and nominations that are received or postmarked by January 30, 2002, will be considered.

Special note for the worker nomination only: If no nominations are received or postmarked by January 30, 2002, the worker nomination will remain open until the position is filled or it is closed on Friday, December 31, 2004.

For more information about the ORR Health Effects Subcommittee or the nominations process, contact La Freta Dalton, ATSDR, Executive Secretary, Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee, or Marilyn Palmer, ATSDR, Committee Management Specialist toll free at 1-888-422-8737. You may also contact Bill Murray, ATSDR Oak Ridge Field Office liaison at (865)220-0295.

Information for General Membership

The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee is a representative and knowledgeable group of people from the Oak Ridge, Tennessee area. The Subcommittee is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to CDC and ATSDR about public health activities and research at the Oak Ridge Reservation site. The Subcommittee works with private citizens, advocacy groups, state agencies, and other Federal agencies in the region and provides communities an opportunity to communicate directly with national public health agencies. The Subcommittee is a key part of a broad effort to communicate with people who are interested in and affected by our public health activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Members of the Subcommittee meet on a regular basis, usually in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. These meetings are held every 6 weeks, although meetings may be held more or less often, as needed. Staff members from ATSDR and CDC and invited health experts will explain the scientific and technical aspects related to public health decisions.

The process of selecting new members for the Subcommittee will follow requirements and guidelines. Members will be selected based on their personal qualifications or experience that will enable them to contribute to the Subcommittee's work. Membership will be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the experience needed by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee includes fair geographic, ethnic, and gender representation. It is a goal to have members with views which represent the entire community. However, all Subcommittee meetings will be open to the public and everyone who attends a meeting will have an opportunity to speak.

Individuals serving on the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee are special government employees and are paid for their work.

We are looking for individuals whose views are representative of the community and who:

• are at least 18 years of age.
  
• are current residents of the area or have lived near the Oak Ridge Reservation in the past.
  
• have knowledge of the Oak Ridge Reservation, the contaminants of concern, or worker health concerns.
  

Information for Current or Former Workers

The Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee is a representative and knowledgeable group of people from the Oak Ridge, Tennessee area. The Subcommittee is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to CDC and ATSDR about public health activities and research at the Oak Ridge Reservation site. The Subcommittee works with private citizens, advocacy groups, state agencies, and other Federal agencies in the region and provides communities an opportunity to communicate directly with national public health agencies. The Subcommittee is a key part of a broad effort to communicate with people who are interested in and affected by our public health activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Members of the Subcommittee meet on a regular basis, usually in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. These meetings are held every 6 weeks, although meetings may be held more or less often, as needed. Staff members from ATSDR and CDC and invited health experts will explain the scientific and technical aspects related to public health decisions.

The process of selecting a worker (former or current) for the Subcommittee will follow the requirements and guidelines from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the General Services Administration, the CDC and ATSDR Committee Management Office, and the charter of the Subcommittee. Members will be selected based on their personal qualifications or experience that will enable them to contribute to the Subcommittee's work.

Individuals serving on the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee are special government employees and are paid for their work.

We are looking for a person who is a worker (former or current) who is affected with an illness believed to have been caused by exposure to releases from the Oak Ridge Reservation and who:

• is at least 18 years of age.
  
• is a current resident of the area or has lived near the Oak Ridge Reservation in the past.
  
• has knowledge of the Oak Ridge Reservation, the contaminants of concern, or worker health concerns.
  

Special note for the worker nomination only: If no nominations are received or postmarked by January 30, 2002, the worker nomination will remain open until the position is filled or it is closed on Friday, December 31, 2004.

Nomination Procedures

To nominate someone for membership on the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee, please send a request to ATSDR at the address below. Send a brief resume, along with answers to the five questions listed below. This information will be shared with interested parties and the selection committee, but it will be safeguarded in accordance with applicable statutes.

The resume must include a short description of the person's education and work experience and other information that would assist us to understand the individual's point of view and interest in the Oak Ridge Reservation. The guidelines we must follow require that the following information be included: name, address, telephone number, date of birth, citizenship and ethnic status, sex, and length of residence in the Oak Ridge area.

In addition to the resume, please answer these questions concerning your nominee.

1. What would the person's participation add to the Subcommittee?
2. Does the person represent a specific interest or point of view? If so, what interest or point of view would the person represent? How would the person help the Subcommittee with other interested individuals or groups?
3. Does the person have any experience working on committees or advisory boards? If so, please describe that experience.
4. How and when did the person become interested in issues related to the Oak Ridge Reservation and/or health effects from hazardous substances? Explain why he or she became interested if it is not evident in your reply.
5. Attributes of effective Subcommittee members are listed under "Nominee Attributes".

Would the experiences and interpersonal skills of your nominee benefit the Subcommittee?

Although not required, personal or professional references may be included with your nomination.

If you have questions about this procedure, you may call La Freta Dalton or Marilyn Palmer of ATSDR at the toll-free number, 1-888-422-8737(1-888-42-8737). Please note that applications that were received during the previous nomination processes will also be considered for membership on the Subcommittee. You may also contact Bill Murray, ATSDR Oak Ridge Field Office liaison at (865)220-0295. The nominations are on file and it is not necessary to resubmit the information. For new nominations, please send the nomination and required information by January 30, 2002, to: La Freta Dalton, ATSDR 1600 Clifton Road, NE (E-54) Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Nominee Attributes

1. Understanding and agreement with the charter and mission of the Subcommittee.
   
   
2. Interest in the Subcommittee's work. Conscientious in meeting attendance and acknowledging the importance of time lines.
   
   
3. Willing to speak in public. Able to communicate knowledge, ideas, and point of view to the public.
   
   
4. Able to present rational arguments and support or provide evidence for positions.
   
   
5. Basic diplomatic skills and open-mindedness. Belief in constructive participation and willingness to engage in productive dialogue.
   
   
6. Receptive and responsive to the public participation. Sensitive and compassionate to the emotions and concerns of multiple constituencies.
   
   
7. Willing to report back to interested individuals and groups.
   
   
8. No actual or apparent conflict of interest (such as the possibility of receiving a direct personal financial gain or gaining an unfair competitive edge from decisions made in the area of health research or other activity that may come before the Subcommittee).
   
   

Contact Information

If you have any questions or need additional information about the nomination process, please contact:

La Freta Dalton, ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE (E-54)
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Toll-free phone number: 1-888-422-8737(1-888-42-8737)
E-mail address: ljd4@cdc.gov

- or -

Marilyn Palmer, ATSDR
1600 Clifton Road, NE (E-54)
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Toll-free phone number: 1-888-422-8737(1-888-42-8737)
E-mail address: myr4@cdc.gov

- or -

Bill Murray, ATSDR
Oak Ridge Field Office
197 South Tulane Avenue
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830

Phone number: (865) 220-0295
E-mail address: wem2@cdc.gov