The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting a public meeting and request for public comment on the Emergency Preparedness and Response Research Portfolio. Comments may be given orally at the following meeting, as well as provided to the NIOSH docket.

NIOSH/Emergency Preparedness and Response Research Portfolio Town Hall Meeting

Tuesday March 25, 2008, 8:30am-5:00pm EST
Hyatt Regency
Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis HWY,
Arlington, VA 22202
Telephone (703) 418-1234

Topics for Discussion

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the strategic goals on the NIOSH website in order to prepare their comments/feedback around the following topics to be discussed.

• Give your opinion about the top three goals needed to improve the safety and health of emergency responders.
  
  
• Discuss why these are the top goals. Address any obstacles in achieving these goals.
  
  
• Talk about how research can help the nation address the top goals that you have identified. Provide a couple of examples of research ideas for each of your top goals identified.
  
  
• Discuss opportunities you see on the horizon that could lead to improvements in emergency responder safety and health.

Please include as much information as might be useful for understanding the safety or health research priority you identify. Such information could include characterization of the frequency and severity with which the injury, illness, or hazardous exposure is occurring and of the factors you believe might be causing the health or safety issue. Input is also requested on the types of research that you believe might make a difference and which partners (e.g., specific industry associations, labor organizations, research organizations, government agencies) should be involved in informing research efforts and solutions.

The public meeting is open to everyone, including all workers, professional societies, organized labor, employers, researchers, health professionals, government officials, and elected officials. The public meeting will address priorities for emergency preparedness and response research during both morning and afternoon public comment periods. Participants are invited to speak for 5 minutes about the discussion topics listed above. Participants may register to speak during either the morning or afternoon session, though they are encouraged to stay for both sessions.

Broad participation is desired. All participants are requested to register for the free meeting by emailing nioshdocket@cdc.gov or on site the day of the meeting, space permitting. Participants wishing to speak are encouraged to register early. This meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space available.

Written responses can be submitted in person at the meeting or by emailing nioshdocket@cdc.gov.

Supporting Materials:

More information about registering and attending the town hall meeting:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/epr/townhall.html

NIOSH Emergency Preparedness & Response Program Goals:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/epr/goals.html

Contact for Technical Information

Dr. Renee Funk, EPR Portfolio Coordinator at (404) 498-2499 or rfunk@cdc.gov.

Time Frame for Review

Written comments on the document and resource information will be accepted through up to 60 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. All material submitted to NIOSH should reference docket number NIOSH-126. All electronic comments should be formatted as Microsoft Word and make reference to docket number NIOSH-126.

Comments will be accepted until sixty days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

To submit comments regarding this draft publication, please use one of these options:

• Send comments by email.
  
  
• Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
  
  
• Send by Mail to:
  NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
  Robert A. Taft Lab.
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

NIOSH Draft Documents for Public Review