[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68125-68127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27533]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority
Part J (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) of the
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of
the Department of Health and Human Services (50 FR 25129-25130, dated
June 17, 1985, as amended most recently at 75 FR 70276, dated November
17, 2010) is amended to reflect the reorganization of the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Section T-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as
follows:
Delete in their entirety the titles and functional statements for
the Division of Regional Operations (JAAB), Division of Health
Assessment and Consultation (JAAC), Division of Health Studies (JAAE),
and the Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine (JAAG), and
insert the following:
Division of Community Health Investigations (JAAM). (1) Conducts
public health assessments, health consultations, and other related
public health activities to determine the health implications of
releases or threatened releases of toxic substances into the
environment; in particular, such activities are conducted for Superfund
and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites, petition
requests, and other sites or instances where communities have been or
may have been exposed to toxic substances in the environment; (2)
plans, manages, directs, and conducts the regional operations of the
Agency; (3) provides liaison, technical advice, and consultation to the
Environmental Protection Agency, other federal, tribal, state, and
local agencies, private organizations, community groups, and
individuals on eliminating or mitigating public health problems
resulting from the release of hazardous substances into the
environment; (4) conducts and evaluates exposure pathways analyses and
other exposure screening analyses to identify impacted communities, to
include exposure investigations (biologic sampling, personal
monitoring, etc.), exposure-dose reconstruction, and related
environmental assessments, as appropriate; (5) identifies appropriate
interventions for impacted communities to prevent exposures and/or
adverse health effects; (6) issues public health advisories when a
release or threatened release of a toxic substance poses an imminent
health hazard; (7) plans, prepares, and executes appropriate community
involvement and health educational strategies/activities/programs for
communities affected or potentially affected by toxic substances
released into the environment; (8) manages the ATSDR-mandated program
for conducting site-specific activities at petitioned sites; (9)
manages and implements ATSDR's Site-Specific Cooperative Agreement
Program; (10) coordinates the Agency's environmental public health
training program; (11) provides technical support and field presence
for routine emergency and disaster response as appropriate; and (12)
engages with regional partners to accomplish special programs that
promote environmental health (i.e., brownfields/land reuse activities
and environmental justice).
Office of the Director (JAAM1). (1) Provides overall leadership in
directing, coordinating, evaluating, and managing all programmatic and
administrative operations of the division; (2) develops programmatic
goals and objectives and provides leadership, policy formation, and
guidance in program planning, development, and evaluation; (3)
coordinates division activities with other components of ATSDR and
other federal, tribal, state and local agencies; (4) provides overall
leadership and management of division activities pertaining to federal
facilities response, petition coordination, special environmental
public health programs (i.e., brownfields/land reuse), and community
involvement/health education; (5) ensures regional offices have support
for timely responses to regional partners; (6) ensures support for
regional emergency response activities; (7) works with the Washington,
D.C. regional office to ensure coordination with the Environmental
Protection Agency at the national level; (8) assesses the need and
develops training for public health professionals conducting site-
specific activities, and coordinates the delivery of these courses for
the training of federal staff, American Indian/Alaska Native tribal
members, and state partners; (9) plans, directs, coordinates, and
manages ATSDR's Site-Specific Cooperative Agreement Program; (10)
reviews and evaluates the scientific accuracy and clarity of public
health assessments, health consultations, and community outreach and
health education materials; (11) ensures the quality and consistency in
the science and format used in the development of
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divisional products and materials; (12) develops outreach messages
following the procedures and policies of the Agency's Office of
Communication; (13) provides timely responses to policy activities
(i.e., Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), congressional inquiries,
budget formulation, and briefings); and (14) develops measures of
divisional productivity and reports to the Agency and CDC director.
Eastern Branch (JAAMB). The branch serves regions 1-3 by performing
the following: (1) Manages a wide range of public health assessment
requests, including private-sector petitions and regional-led
activities, that are assigned based on branch staff expertise; (2)
monitors the progress of work plan activities, and reviews and
evaluates the scientific accuracy and clarity of public health
assessments, health consultations, and related materials; (3) plans,
directs, coordinates, evaluates, conducts, and manages operations and
activities at National Priorities List sites, federal sites, and RCRA
sites; (4) issues public health assessments, health consultations,
public health advisories, and provides technical assistance; (5)
establishes working relationships with regional partners to ensure
hazardous chemical exposures are addressed regionally; (6) operates
regional offices providing liaison, technical advice, and consultation
to the Environmental Protection Agency, other federal, tribal, state,
and local agencies, private organizations, community groups, and
individuals on eliminating or mitigating public health problems
resulting from the release of hazardous substances into the
environment; (7) ensures regional offices have adequate support to
provide timely responses to external partners; (8) ensures regional
offices have continued support for emergency response and removal
activities; (9) participates in regional initiatives to ensure
prevention and reduction of hazardous waste exposures; (10) plans,
coordinates, implements, and evaluates ATSDR's health promotion, health
education, and community involvement site-specific programs; (11)
communicates the agency's roles, responsibilities, and public health
information to public and professional audiences to mitigate health
effects from potential and actual exposures to toxic substances; (12)
advocates for the public health needs of communities affected by
environmental hazards; (13) links members of the public in communities
affected by hazardous waste with technical and scientific staff and
resources, where appropriate; (14) collaborates with other ATSDR
program areas and partners to ensure cultural awareness and respect are
observed and practiced in all activities that involve communities,
American Indian/Alaska Native tribes, tribal governments and tribal
organizations; (15) develops programmatic goals and objectives, and
contributes to policy formation and guidance in program planning,
development and evaluation; and (16) provides health physics expertise
for all division public health assessment activities and serves as the
division's liaison to radiation disaster response teams.
Central Branch (JAAMC). The branch serves regions 4-6 by performing
the following: (1) Manages a wide range of public health assessment
requests, including private-sector petitions and regional-led
activities, that are assigned based on branch staff expertise; (2)
monitors the progress of work plan activities, and reviews and
evaluates the scientific accuracy and clarity of public health
assessments, health consultations, and related materials; (3) plans,
directs, coordinates, evaluates, conducts, and manages operations and
activities at National Priorities List sites, federal sites, and RCRA
sites; (4) issues public health assessments, health consultations,
public health advisories, and provides technical assistance; (5)
establishes working relationships with regional partners to ensure
hazardous chemical exposures are addressed regionally; (6) operates
regional offices providing liaison, technical advice, and consultation
to the Environmental Protection Agency, other federal, tribal, state,
and local agencies, private organizations, community groups, and
individuals on eliminating or mitigating public health problems
resulting from the release of hazardous substances into the
environment; (7) ensures regional offices have adequate support to
provide timely responses to external partners; (8) ensures regional
offices have continued support for emergency response and removal
activities; (9) participates in regional initiatives to ensure
prevention and reduction of hazardous waste exposures; (10) plans,
coordinates, implements, and evaluates ATSDR's health promotion, health
education, and community involvement site-specific programs; (11)
communicates the agency's roles, responsibilities, and public health
information to public and professional audiences to mitigate health
effects from potential and actual exposures to toxic substances; (12)
advocates for the public health needs of communities affected by
environmental hazards; (13) links members of the public in communities
affected by hazardous waste with technical and scientific staff and
resources, where appropriate; (14) collaborates with other ATSDR
program areas and partners to ensure cultural awareness and respect are
observed and practiced in all activities that involve communities,
American Indian/Alaska Native tribes, tribal governments and tribal
organizations; (15) develops programmatic goals and objectives, and
contributes to policy formation and guidance in program planning,
development and evaluation; and (16) provides health physics expertise
for all division public health assessment activities and serves as the
division's liaison to radiation disaster response teams.
Western Branch (JAAMD). The branch serves regions 7-10 by
performing the following: (1) Manages a wide range of public health
assessment requests, including private-sector petitions and regional-
led activities, that are assigned based on branch staff expertise; (2)
monitors the progress of work plan activities, and reviews and
evaluates the scientific accuracy and clarity of public health
assessments, health consultations, and related materials; (3) plans,
directs, coordinates, evaluates, conducts, and manages operations and
activities at National Priorities List sites, federal sites, and RCRA
sites; (4) issues public health assessments, health consultations,
public health advisories, and provides technical assistance; (5)
establishes working relationships with regional partners to ensure
hazardous chemical exposures are addressed regionally; (6) operates
regional offices providing liaison, technical advice, and consultation
to the Environmental Protection Agency, other federal, tribal, state,
and local agencies, private organizations, community groups, and
individuals on eliminating or mitigating public health problems
resulting from the release of hazardous substances into the
environment; (7) ensures regional offices have adequate support to
provide timely responses to external partners; (8) ensures regional
offices have continued support for emergency response and removal
activities; (9) participates in regional initiatives to ensure
prevention and reduction of hazardous waste exposures; (10) plans,
coordinates, implements, and evaluates ATSDR's health promotion, health
education, and community involvement site-specific programs; (11)
communicates the agency's roles, responsibilities, and public health
information to public and professional audiences to mitigate health
effects from potential and actual exposures to toxic
[[Page 68127]]
substances; (12) advocates for the public health needs of communities
affected by environmental hazards; (13) links members of the public in
communities affected by hazardous waste with technical and scientific
staff and resources, where appropriate; (14) collaborates with other
ATSDR program areas and partners to ensure cultural awareness and
respect are observed and practiced in all activities that involve
communities, American Indian/Alaska Native tribes, tribal governments
and tribal organizations; (15) develops programmatic goals and
objectives, and contributes to policy formation and guidance in program
planning, development and evaluation; and (16) provides health physics
expertise for all division public health assessment activities and
serves as the division's liaison to radiation disaster response teams.
Science Support Branch (JAAME). (1) Serves as the lead branch for
planning, directing, coordinating, evaluating, conducting, and managing
the division's operations and activities for exposure investigations,
exposure-dose reconstruction, and modeling; (2) coordinates within and
across branch and divisional units to provide technical expertise for a
wide-range of activities that support the division and agency's public
health mandates and priorities; and (3) provides modeling and other
analytic expertise to analyze the impact of exposures.
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences (JAAN). The
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences develops and
coordinates a research agenda and program that integrates epidemiology
and environmental medicine with toxicology. This includes investigating
the relationships between exposures to hazardous substances and adverse
health effects. In order to do this, the division: (1) coordinates all
activities associated with human health studies, surveillance
activities, and registries; (2) provides epidemiologic, toxicologic,
geospatial, and biostatistical assistance and consultation to site-
specific activities across ATSDR including chemical-specific
consultations as needed; (3) coordinates all activities associated with
toxicological profiles including associated research; (4) develops and
applies science-based health education tools, methods and strategies to
deliver messages, education, and training; and (5) provides technical
expertise and site specific support in addressing the health issues
presented by emergency or acute release events and threatened releases
of hazardous materials.
Office of the Director (JAAN1). (1) Plans, directs, coordinates,
and manages the operations of the division; (2) provides leadership in
the development of goals and objectives, policy formulation, and
program planning, development and evaluation; (3) facilitates the
science, including analytic support, of the division and undertakes
special scientific activities; (4) coordinates division activities with
other components of ATSDR, CDC, and other federal agencies; (5) ensures
the quality and consistency in the science and format used in the
development of divisional products and materials; (6) develops outreach
messages following the procedures and policies of the Agency's Office
of Communication; (7) provides timely responses to policy activities
(i.e., FOIA inquiries, congressional inquiries, budget formulation, and
briefings); and (8) develops measures of divisional productivity and
reports to the Agency and CDC director.
Geospatial Research, Analysis and Services Program (JAAN12). (1)
Researches and analyzes geospatial trends and patterns relevant to
environmental health and emergency preparedness and response; (2)
promotes and integrates the use of geospatial science and systems with
data and technology; and (3) collaborates with scientists at CDC/ATSDR
and public health partners on geospatial research and service needs.
Emergency Response Program (JAAN13). (1) Provides technical
expertise and site-specific support in addressing the health issues
presented by emergency or acute release events and threatened releases
of hazardous materials; (2) provides remote and on-site support during
chemical emergencies to federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, and
the general public, with emphasis on preparing for and preventing
emergency events; (3) develops information resources and guidance for
first responders and health care providers for use in responding to
unplanned releases and spills; and (4) works with the National Response
Program and CDC guidelines to collaborate with other federal, tribal,
state, and local agencies during emergency response situations.
Environmental Epidemiology Branch (JAANB). (1) Provides scientific
expertise in environmental epidemiology; (2) designs and conducts human
health, including epidemiologic, studies to evaluate the association
between exposure to hazardous substances and adverse health effects;
(3) provides expert medical and environmental epidemiologic
consultation; and (4) implements extramural research programs that
involve human health investigations.
Environmental Health Surveillance Branch (JAANC). (1) Provides
scientific expertise in surveillance of hazardous substances; (2)
designs and conducts surveillance and registry programs to evaluate the
adverse health effects on persons exposed to hazardous substances; (3)
conducts health follow-up activities resulting from surveillance and
registries; and (4) implements extramural research programs that
involve surveillance and registries.
Environmental Medicine Branch (JAAND). (1) Provides scientific
expertise for environmental medicine and health education; (2)
develops, disseminates, and applies science-based health education
strategies, services, and tools to deliver key messages, education, and
training to state and other public health partners; and (3) provides
leadership in development, implementation, and evaluation of internal
and external professional health education and environmental medicine
activities.
Environmental Toxicology Branch (JAANE). (1) Provides scientific
expertise for the development and dissemination of toxicological
information; (2) develops and disseminates toxicological profiles; (3)
develops, implements, and coordinates a program of research designed to
identify priority data needs and associated health effects for various
hazardous substances; (4) coordinates toxicological information and
research activities with the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Toxicology Program, the Interagency Testing Committee, other
appropriate federal, tribal, state, and local programs and other public
and private concerns; and (5) develops and applies, through
consultations, a program of computational toxicology research to
enhance traditionally based approaches using modeling tools and
techniques.
Dated: October 29, 2012.
Sherri A. Berger,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-27533 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-70-M