Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2012)

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75417-75419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30655]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Renewal of the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of
1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976
(5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a), the Department of Defense
gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Veterans' Advisory
Board on Dose Reconstruction (hereinafter referred to as ``the
Board''). The Board has been determined to be in the public interest.
The Board is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee that
shall provide review and oversight of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction
Program and make such recommendations on modifications in the mission,
procedures, and administration of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction
Program as it considers appropriate as a result of the audits conducted
under the authority of Section 601(c)(3)(A) of Title VI of Public Law
108-183. The Board shall:
a. Conduct periodic, random audits of dose reconstructions under
the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program and of decisions by the
Department of Veterans Affairs on claims for service connection of
radiogenic diseases;
b. Assist the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency in communicating to veterans information on the
mission, procedures, and evidentiary requirements of the Radiation Dose
Reconstruction Program;
c. Carry out such other activities with respect to the review and
oversight of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program as the Secretary
of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly specify;
d. Make recommendations on modifications to the mission and
procedures of the Dose Reconstruction Program as the Board considers

[[Page 75418]]

appropriate as a result of the audits conducted pursuant to paragraph
(a) above;
e. Any additional actions the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly determine are required to ensure
that the quality assurance and quality control mechanisms of the
Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program are adequate and sufficient for
purpose of the program; and
f. Any additional actions the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly determine are required to ensure
that the mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program for
communication and interaction with veterans are adequate and sufficient
for the program.
The Board, pursuant to Section 601(c)(2) of Title VI of Public Law
108-183, shall be comprised of:
a. At least one expert in historical dose reconstruction of the
type conducted under the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program.
b. At least one expert in radiation health matters.
c. At least one expert in risk communications matters.
d. A representative of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and a
representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
e. At least three veterans, including at least one Veteran who is a
member of an atomic veterans group.
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will
jointly approve the appointment of Board members, and according to DoD
policy the appointments will be renewed on an annual basis. Board
members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal officers
or employees shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants
under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as special Government
employees members. Each member of the Board is appointed to provide
advice on behalf of the Government on the basis of his or her best
judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a
manner that is free from conflict of interest. With the exception of
travel and per diem for official travel, Board members shall serve
without compensation.
Board members, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, may serve a term of service on the
Board of one-to-four years; however, no member, unless authorized by
the Secretary of Defense, may serve more than two consecutive terms of
service on the Board, to include its subcommittees.
The Department, when necessary and consistent with the Board's
mission and DoD policies/procedures, may establish subcommittees, task
forces, or working groups to support the Board. Establishment of
subcommittees will be based upon written determination, to include
terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary
of Defense, or the Board's sponsor.
Such subcommittees or work groups shall not work independently of
the Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice solely
to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, task
forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and
recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the chartered
Board; nor can any subcommittee or its members update or report,
verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board; nor can any
subcommittee or its members update or report directly to the DoD or any
Federal officers or employees.
All subcommittee members shall be jointly appointed by the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs according to
governing DoD policies/procedures, even if the member in question is
already a Board member.
Subcommittee members, if not full-time or part-time Government
employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under
the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and serve as special Government
employee members, whose appointments must be renewed by the Secretary
of Defense and Secretary of Veteran Affairs on an annual basis.
Subcommittee members, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, may serve a term of service on the
subcommittee of one-to-four years; however, no member shall serve more
than two consecutive terms of service on the subcommittee, unless
authorized by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. With the exception of travel and per diem, subcommittee
members shall serve without compensation.
Each subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice on behalf
of the Government on the basis of his or her best judgment without
representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free
from conflict of interest.
All subcommittees, task forces, working groups shall operate under
the provisions of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act,
governing Federal statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies/
procedures.
Currently, DoD has approved the following permanent subcommittees
to the Board to meet the requirements of Public Law 108-163.
a. The Subcommittee on DTRA Dose Reconstruction Procedures shall be
composed of no more than four members and is responsible for reviewing
and recommending improvements to the dose reconstruction process. The
estimated number of meetings is two per year.
b. The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs (VA) Claims Adjudication
Procedures shall be composed of no more than four members and deals
directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the process
for handling Atomic Veterans claims. The estimated number of meetings
is two per year.
c. The Subcommittee on Quality Management and VA Process
Integration with DTRA Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program shall be
composed of no more than four members and deals with quality issues
with DTRA's nuclear test personnel review and VA in its claims
adjudication process for Atomic Veterans. The estimate number of
meetings is two per year.
d. The Subcommittee on Communication and Outreach shall be composed
of no more than four members and deals with veteran outreach and
communication programs. The estimated number of meetings is two per
year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO),
pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD
employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD
policies/procedures.
In addition, the DFO is required to be in attendance at all Board
and subcommittee meetings for the entire duration of each and every
meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a properly
approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to the
DoD policies/procedures, shall attend the entire duration of the Board
or subcommittee meeting. The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all
meetings of the Board and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all
meeting agendas; adjourn any meeting, when the DFO, or the Alternate
DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by
governing regulations or DoD policies/procedures; and chair meetings

[[Page 75419]]

when directed to do so by the official to whom the Board reports.
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Veterans'
Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction's membership about the Board's
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of Veterans'
Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction.
All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal
Officer for the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction, and
this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to
the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the
Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction's Designated Federal
Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will
announce planned meetings of the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose
Reconstruction. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may
provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements
that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in
question.

Dated: December 17, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-30655 Filed 12-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P