[Federal Register: July 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 45314-45315]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy04-50]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7794-2]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Request for Nominations for
the Science Advisory Board Metals Risk Assessment Framework Review
Panel
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces
the formation of a new SAB review panel known as the Metals Risk
Assessment Framework Review Panel, and is soliciting nominations for
members of the Panel.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by August 19, 2004, per the
instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing
further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact
Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), via telephone/
voice mail at (202) 343-9995; via e-mail at armitage.thomas@epa.gov; or
at the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB can be
found in the SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: A basic input to the decision-
making process for many EPA programs is an assessment of potential
risks posed by environmental contaminants including metal or metal
compounds. As such, EPA has been undertaking an effort to develop
cross-agency guidance for assessing the human health and ecological
hazards and risks of metals and metal compounds. As recommended in
EPA's Metals Action Plan, the Agency developed the draft guidance
document, Framework for Metals Risk Assessment, to supplement previous
EPA guidance for use in site-specific risk assessments, criteria
derivation, and other similar Agency activities related to metals.
The Framework for Metals Risk Assessment is organized around the
risk assessment paradigm. The document provides a conceptual model that
highlights areas where consideration of metal-specific information is
necessary and advantageous when conducting risk assessments. It
outlines recommendations for conducting risk assessment for metals and
metal compounds, based on the unique attributes of these compounds. The
guidance document also discusses metal-specific issues, methods, and
tools to be considered when conducting hazard and risk assessments.
Specific sections of the guidance address metal-specific issues related
to environmental chemistry, exposure, bioaccumulation and
bioavailability, ecological effects, and human health effects. In
addition, the guidance discusses research underway, planned, and needed
to reduce uncertainty in metals risk assessment.
The EPA SAB Staff Office is announcing the formation of a new panel
to conduct a peer review of EPA's Framework for Metals Risk Assessment.
As part of the SAB's mission, established by 42 U.S.C. 4365, to provide
independent scientific and technical advice, consultation, and
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the technical bases for EPA
policies and regulations, the work of this panel is expected to
continue until the review is complete.
The SAB is a chartered Federal advisory committee, that reports
directly to the EPA Administrator. The Metals Risk Assessment Framework
Review Panel will provide advice through the chartered SAB. The Metals
Risk Assessment Framework Review Panel will comply with the openness
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all
appropriate SAB procedural policies, including the SAB process for
panel formation described in the Overview of the Panel Formation
Process at the Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board,
which can be found on the SAB's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/ec0210.pdf
.
Tentative Charge to the Panel: The specific details of the charge
remain to be finalized. However, in general, the Panel will assess the
scientific and technical adequacy of the document in providing guidance
to assess potential risks posed by metals or metal compounds to human
health and the environment. The Panel will assess the scientific
validity and completeness of the technical content in various sections
of the document, and the appropriateness of tools, approaches, and
recommendations provided.
EPA Technical Contact: For technical inquiries concerning the draft
Framework for Metals Risk Assessment, please contact Dr. William Wood,
U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Risk Assessment Forum
(8601-D), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
(202) 564-3361; facsimile (202) 564-0062; e-mail: forum.risk@epa.gov.
Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is requesting
nominations of recognized experts in one or more of the following
areas: (a) Environmental chemistry of metals, (b) environmental fate
and transport of metals, (c) bioavailability of metals, (d) routes of
exposure of aquatic and terrestrial species to metals, (e) routes of
human exposure to metals, (f) human health effects of exposure to
metals, and (g) ecological effects of exposure to metals.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested
person or organization may nominate individuals qualified in the areas
of expertise described above to serve on the Panel. Nominations should
be submitted in electronic format through the Form for Nominating
Individuals to Panels of the EPA Science Advisory Board provided on the
SAB Web site, http://www.epa.gov/sab The form can be accessed through a link on the blue navigational bar on the SAB Web site, http://www.epa.gov/sab.
To be considered, all nominations must include the
information required on that form.
Anyone who is unable to submit nominations using this form, and any
questions concerning any aspects of the nomination process may contact
the DFO, as indicated above in this notice. Nominations should be
submitted in time to arrive no later than August 19,
[[Page 45315]]
2004. Any questions concerning either this process or any other aspects
of this notice should be directed to the DFO.
The SAB will acknowledge receipt of the nomination and inform
nominators of the panel selected. From the nominees identified by
respondents to this Federal Register notice (termed the ``Widecast''),
SAB Staff will develop a smaller subset (known as the ``Short List'')
for more detailed consideration. Criteria used by the SAB Staff in
developing this Short List are given at the end of the following
paragraph. The Short List will be posted on the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab
, and will include, for each candidate, the nominee's
name and biosketch. Public comments on the Short List will be accepted
for 21 calendar days. During this comment period, the public will be
requested to provide information, analysis or other documentation on
nominees that the SAB Staff should consider in evaluating candidates
for the Panel.
For the SAB, a balanced review panel (i.e., committee,
subcommittee, or panel) is characterized by inclusion of candidates who
possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant scientific
perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced by work
history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of experience to
adequately address the charge. Public responses to the Short List
candidates will be considered in the selection of the panel, along with
information provided by candidates and information gathered by SAB
Staff independently of the background of each candidate (e.g.,
financial disclosure information and computer searches to evaluate a
nominee's prior involvement with the topic under review). Specific
criteria to be used in evaluation of an individual subcommittee member
include: (a) Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and
experience (primary factors); (b) absence of financial conflicts of
interest; (c) scientific credibility and impartiality; (d) availability
and willingness to serve; and (e) ability to work constructively and
effectively in committees.
Short List candidates will also be required to fill-out 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 Government officials to determine whether there is a
statutory conflict between that person's public responsibilities (which
includes membership on an EPA Federal advisory committee) 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
from the following URL address: http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/epaform3110-48.pdf
.
In addition to reviewing background material, Panel members will be
asked to attend one public face-to-face meeting over the anticipated
course of the advisory activity.
Dated: July 23, 2004.
Vanessa T. Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 04-17309 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
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