[Federal Register: May 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 25612]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my03-95]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Emergency Public Information and Communications Advisory
Committee; Notice of Meetings
Pursuant to section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is given of series of three
meetings of the Emergency Public Information and Communications
Advisory Committee.
The purpose of these public meetings is to convene the Committee to
discuss issues related to the appropriate ways to communicate public
health information regarding bioterrorism and other public health
emergencies to the nation. Major areas to be considered by the
Committee at these meetings may include the following: an assessment of
current practices within the public health community for communicating
with the public regarding threats posed by bioterrorism and other
public health emergencies, identification of those particular practices
that warrant broad use and how such use might best be encouraged within
the nation's public health community, and determination of where new or
improved communication strategies and methods are needed and how they
might best be developed.
Name of Committee: Emergency Public Information and
Communications Advisory Committee.
Dates: June 2-3, 6 and 9.
Times:
June 2--10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. EDT
June 3--9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT
June 6--1 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT
June 10--1 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT
Place: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hubert H.
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20201.
Conference Call Number: June 6 and 10, dial 888-942-8131,
password: EPIC.
Contact Person: Shellie Abramson, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Public Emergency Preparedness, 200 Independence Ave.
Room 625G, Washington, DC 20201, 202-205-4729.
Supplementary Information: Emergency Public Information and
Communications Advisory Committee was established on March 26, 2003 by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the authorization of
Public Law 107-188 section 104(a) dated June 12, 2002, which amended
section 319F of the Public Health Services Act. The purpose of the
Emergency Public Information and Communications Advisory Committee will
be to advise the Secretary on the appropriate ways to communicate
public health information regarding bioterrorism and other public
health emergencies to the nation. The function of the Committee is to
advise the Secretary regarding steps the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services can take to improve communications with the public
regarding threats posed by bioterrorism and other public health
emergencies.
Public Participation
The meetings are open to the public with attendance limited by the
availability of space on a first come, first served basis. Members of
the public who wish to attend the meeting may register by emailing
EPIC@hhs.gov no later than close of business, day, May 23, 2003.
Opportunities for oral statements by the public will be provided on
June 2, 2003, from 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (Time approximate). Oral comments
will be limited to 5 minutes, three minutes to make a statement and two
minutes to respond to questions from Council members. Due to time
constraints, only one representative from each organization will be
allotted time for oral testimony. The number of speakers and the time
allotment may also be limited by the number of registrants. Members of
the public who wish to present oral comments at the meeting may
register by emailing EPIC@hhs.gov no later than close of business, day,
May 23, 2003. All requests to present oral comments should include the
name, address, telephone number, and business or professional
affiliation of the interested party, and should indicate the areas of
interest or issue to be addressed.
Any person attending the meeting who has not registered to speak in
advance of the meeting will be allowed to make a brief oral statement
during the time set aside for public comment if time permits and at the
Chairperson's discretion. Individuals unable to attend the meeting, or
any interested parties, may send written comments by e-mail to
EPIC@hhs.gov for inclusion in the public record no later than close of
business, day, May 23, 2003.
When mailing written comments, please provide your comments, if
possible, as an electronic version or on a diskette. Persons needing
special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other
special accommodations, should contact staff at the address and
telephone number listed above no later than close of business, day, May
23, 2003.
The public can gain access to the conference call meetings by
dialing toll-free, 888-942-8131 and using the conference call password
EPIC. At the end of the committee conference calls, the line will be
opened 30 minutes to take questions or brief comments from the public.
Jerome M. Hauer,
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (Acting).
[FR Doc. 03-11819 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
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