[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12383-12384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05754]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9975-80-OA]
Request for Nominations of Candidates to the Clean Air Scientific
Advisory Committee (CASAC)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites
nominations of scientific experts from a diverse range of disciplines
to be considered for appointment to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee (CASAC).
DATES: Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than
April 20, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For all inquiries, nominators should
contact Mr. Aaron Yeow, Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the CASAC,
EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office (1400R), 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW, Washington DC 20460; by telephone at 202-564-2050 or by email
at [email protected]. Anyone unable to submit electronic nominations
may send a paper copy to Mr. Yeow.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The CASAC is a chartered Federal Advisory Committee,
established pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1977,
codified at 42 U.S.C. 7409(d)(2), to provide advice, information and
recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the scientific and
technical aspects of air quality criteria and National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS). Members of the CASAC constitute a
distinguished body of non-EPA scientists and engineers who are
nationally and internationally recognized experts in their respective
fields. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for a three-year
term and serve as Special Government Employees who provide independent
expert advice to the agency.
Expertise sought for CASAC: The CASAC was established pursuant to
the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1977, codified at 42 U.S.C.
7409(d)(2), to review air quality criteria and NAAQS
[[Page 12384]]
and recommend to the EPA Administrator any new NAAQS and revisions of
existing criteria and NAAQS as may be appropriate. The CASAC shall
also: advise the EPA Administrator of areas in which additional
knowledge is required to appraise the adequacy and basis of existing,
new, or revised NAAQS; describe the research efforts necessary to
provide the required information; advise the EPA Administrator on the
relative contribution to air pollution concentrations of natural as
well as anthropogenic activity; and advise the EPA Administrator of any
adverse public health, welfare, social, economic, or energy effects
which may result from various strategies for attainment and maintenance
of such NAAQS. As required under the CAA section 109(d), the CASAC is
composed of seven members, with at least one member of the National
Academy of Sciences, one physician, and one person representing state
air pollution control agencies. The SAB Staff Office is seeking
nominations of experts to serve on the CASAC with expertise in: Air
quality, biostatistics, ecology, environmental economics, environmental
engineering, epidemiology, exposure assessment, medicine, risk
assessment, and toxicology. The SAB Staff Office is especially
interested in scientists with expertise described above who have
knowledge and experience relating to criteria pollutants (carbon
monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur
oxides). For further information about the CASAC membership appointment
process and schedule, please contact Mr. Aaron Yeow, DFO, by telephone
at 202-564-2050 or by email at yeow.aaron@epa,gov.
Selection Criteria for the CASAC
Nominees are selected based on their individual qualifications.
Curriculum vitae should reflect the following:
--Demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in
relevant fields;
--Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability
to work constructively and effectively on committees; and
--Background and experiences that would help members contribute to the
diversity of perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographical,
economic, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, professional
affiliations; and other considerations.
--For the committee as a whole, consideration of the collective breadth
and depth of scientific expertise; and a balance of scientific
perspectives is important.
As the committee undertakes specific advisory activities, the SAB Staff
Office will consider two additional criteria for each new activity:
absence of financial conflicts of interest and absence of an appearance
of a loss of impartiality.
How to submit nominations: Any interested person or organization
may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to this
advisory committee. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should
be submitted in electronic format (preferred) using the online
nomination form under ``Public Input on Membership'' on the CASAC web
page at http://www.epa.gov/casac. To be considered, all nominations
should include the information requested below. EPA values and welcomes
diversity. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply regardless
of sex, race, disability or ethnicity.
The following information should be provided on the nomination
form: contact information for the person making the nomination; contact
information for the nominee; the disciplinary and specific areas of
expertise of the nominee; the nominee's curriculum vitae; and a
biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current position,
educational background; research activities; sources of research
funding for the last two years; and recent service on other national
advisory committees or national professional organizations. To help the
agency evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please
indicate how you learned of this nomination opportunity. Persons having
questions about the nomination process or the public comment process
described below, or who are unable to submit nominations through the
CASAC website, should contact the DFO, as identified above. The DFO
will acknowledge receipt of nominations and will invite the nominee to
provide any additional information that the nominee feels would be
useful in considering the nomination, such as availability to
participate as a member of the committee; how the nominee's background,
skills and experience would contribute to the diversity of the
committee; and any questions the nominee has regarding membership. The
names and biosketches of qualified nominees identified by respondents
to this Federal Register notice, and additional experts identified by
the SAB Staff Office, will be posted in a List of Candidates on the
CASAC website at http://www.epa.gov/casac.
Public comments on each List of Candidates will be accepted for 21
days from the date the list is posted. The public will be requested to
provide relevant information or other documentation on nominees that
the SAB Staff Office should consider in evaluating candidates.
Candidates may be asked to submit 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 is required for Special
Government Employees (SGEs) and allows EPA to determine whether there
is a statutory conflict between that person's public responsibilities
as an SGE and private interests and activities, or the appearance of a
loss of impartiality, as defined by Federal regulation. The form may be
viewed and downloaded through the ``Ethics Requirements for Advisors''
link on the CASAC home page at http://www.epa.gov/casac. This form
should not be submitted as part of a nomination.
Dated: March 13, 2018.
Khanna Johnston,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-05754 Filed 3-20-18; 8:45 am]
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