[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43358-43359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19698]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0239; FRL-9967-16-ORD]
Human Studies Review Board Advisory Committee; Request for
Nominations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise
in the area of bioethics and statistics to be considered for
appointment to its Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) federal advisory
committee. HSRB vacancies will be filled in the fall of 2017. In
addition to this Federal Register notice, additional sources of
nominations may be used to obtain a balanced committee.
DATES: Submit nominations by October 16, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations by using any of the following
methods:
Email: Submit nominations electronically using the subject line:
``HSRB Membership 2017'' to [email protected].
USPS Mail: Human Studies Review Board, DFO, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail code: 8105R, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Hand or Courier Delivery: Human Studies Review Board, DFO, Room
41249, EPA, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
MC8105R, Washington, DC 20004. Deliveries are accepted from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas O'Farrell, Office of the
Science Advisor, Mail Code 8105R, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:
(202) 564-8451, fax number: (202) 564-2070, email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 6, 2006, the Agency published a final rule for the
protection of human subjects in research (71 FR 24 6138) that called
for creating a new, independent human studies review board (i.e.,
HSRB). The HSRB is a federal advisory committee operating in accordance
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. 2 section
9 (Pub. L. 92-463). The HSRB provides advice, information, and
recommendations to EPA on issues related to scientific and ethical
aspects of human subjects research. The major objectives of the HSRB
are to provide advice and recommendations on: (1) Research proposals
and protocols that include human subjects; (2) reports of completed
research with human subjects; and (3) how to strengthen EPA's programs
for protection of human subjects of research. Typically, the HSRB
reviews protocols and completed studies involving pesticide studies,
such as worker exposure studies with agricultural handlers applying
pesticides in field conditions; janitorial maintenance personnel
applying antimicrobial pesticides in commercial settings; and field
efficacy studies for skin applied insect repellent products. The HSRB
reports to the EPA Administrator through EPA's Science Advisor. General
information concerning the HSRB, including its charter, current
membership, and activities can be found on the EPA Web site at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board.
HSRB members serve as special government employees or regular
government employees. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator
for either two or three year terms with the possibility of
reappointment for additional terms, with a maximum of six years of
service. The HSRB convenes up to four times a year, with most of the
meetings being virtual. The average workload for HSRB members is
approximately 20 hours per meeting, including the time spent at the
meeting. Responsibilities of HSRB members include reviewing extensive
background materials prior to meetings of the Board, preparing draft
responses to Agency charge questions, attending Board meetings,
participating in the discussion and deliberations at these meetings,
drafting assigned sections of meeting reports, and assisting with the
finalization of HSRB reports. EPA compensates special government
employees for their time and provides reimbursement for travel and
other incidental expenses associated with official government business
related to the HSRB meetings. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an
effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages
nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups, as well
as from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., industry, non-profit
organizations, academia, and government).
Candidates not selected for HSRB membership at this time may be
considered for HSRB membership as vacancies arise in the future or for
service as consultants to the HSRB.
Members of the HSRB are subject to the provisions of 5 CFR part
2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, as supplemented by the EPA
in 5 CFR part 6401. In anticipation of this requirement, each nominee
will be asked to submit confidential financial information that fully
discloses, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment,
stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support.
The information provided is strictly confidential and will not be
disclosed to the public. Before a candidate is considered further for
service on the HSRB, EPA will evaluate each candidate to assess whether
there is any conflict of financial interest, appearance of a lack of
impartiality, or prior involvement with matters likely to be reviewed
by the Board.
[[Page 43359]]
Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of several criteria,
including: The professional background, expertise, and experience that
would contribute to the diversity of perspectives of the committee;
interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and other
attributes that would contribute to the HSRB's collaborative process;
consensus building skills; absence of any financial conflicts of
interest or the appearance of a lack of impartiality, or lack of
independence, or bias; and the availability to participate in meetings
and administrative sessions, participate in teleconferences, develop
policy recommendations to the Administrator, and prepare
recommendations and advice in reports.
Nominations should include a resume or curriculum vitae providing
the nominee's educational background, qualifications, leadership
positions in national associations or professional societies, relevant
research experience and publications along with a short (one page)
biography describing how the nominee meets the above criteria and other
information that may be helpful in evaluating the nomination, as well
as the nominee's current business address, email address, and daytime
telephone number. Interested candidates may self-nominate.
To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach
efforts, nominees are requested to inform the Agency of how you learned
of this opportunity.
Final selection of HSRB members is a discretionary function of the
Agency and will be announced on the HSRB Web site at https://www.epa.gov/osa/human-studies-review-board as soon as selections are
made.
Dated: August 24, 2017.
Robert Kavlock,
EPA Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2017-19698 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
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