[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56234-56235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21985]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Multi-Agency Informational Meeting Concerning Compliance with the
Select Agent Regulations; Public Webcast
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of public webcast.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces a public
webcast for all interested parties, including individuals and entities
possessing, using, or transferring biological agents and toxins. The
purpose of the webcast is to provide guidance related to the select
agent regulations established under the Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The webcast is
being organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), HHS/CDC, and the
Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Criminal
Justice Information Services. Changes to Section 11(Security) of the
select agent regulations including information security, physical
security, and personnel suitability will be discussed. Topics will
focus on additional requirements for entities possessing select agents
and toxins designated as Tier 1 agents.
DATES: The webcast will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. All who wish to join the webcast must register by
October 18, 2013. Registration instructions can be found on the Web
site http://www.selectagents.gov.
ADDRESSES: The webcast will be broadcast from the APHIS facility, 4700
River Road, Unit 2, Riverdale, MD 20737.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
APHIS: Dr. Keith Wiggins, APHIS Select Agent Program, 4700 River
Road, Unit 2, Riverdale, MD 20737; 301-851-3300 option 1 (voice only);
[email protected].
CDC: Diane Martin, Division of Select Agents and Toxins, Office of
Public Health Preparedness and Response, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE.,
MS A-46, Atlanta, GA 30333; (404) 718-2000; [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title II of the Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, ``Enhancing
Controls on Dangerous Biological Agents and Toxins'' (sections 201
through 221), provides for the regulation of certain biological agents
and toxins by HHS (subtitle A, sections 201-204) and USDA (subtitle B,
sections 211-213), and provides for interagency coordination between
the two departments regarding overlap agents and toxins (subtitle C,
section 221). HHS/CDC regulates the possession, use or transfer
biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe
threat to public health and safety. The HHS/CDC select agent
regulations can be found at 42 CFR part 73.
USDA/APHIS has a parallel program that regulates the possession,
use or transfer biological agents that have the potential to pose a
severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant
products. The USDA/APHIS select agent regulations can be found at 7 CFR
part 331 and 9 CFR part 121.
The Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) in the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducts security risk assessments of all
individuals and nongovernmental entities that require access to select
agents and toxins.
The webcast announced here is an opportunity for the regulated
community (i.e., registered entity responsible officials, alternate
responsible officials, and entity owners) and other interested
individuals to obtain specific regulatory guidance and information on
standards concerning security issues related to the select agent
regulations. Representatives from HHS/CDC, USDA/APHIS, and the FBI will
be present during the webcast to address questions from and concerns of
the web participants.
Changes to Section 11 (Security) of the select agent regulations
including
[[Page 56235]]
information security, physical security, and personnel suitability will
be discussed. Presenters will focus on the additional requirements for
entities possessing select agents and toxins designated as Tier 1
agents or toxins. A question and answer session will follow each
presentation.
Registration instructions can be found on the Web site http://www.selectagents.gov. Registration must be completed by October 18,
2013. Registration is required for participation to the webcast. This
is a 100% webcast; therefore, in person participation cannot be
accommodated.
Participants will be able to submit questions during the webcast at
[email protected]. Closed-captioning services will be provided
during the webcast.
Dated: September 4, 2013.
Tanja Popovic,
Deputy Associate Director for Science, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-21985 Filed 9-11-13; 8:45 am]
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