80 FR 17743 - Request for Nominations of Candidates to the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 63 (April 2, 2015)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of scientific experts from a range of disciplines to be considered for appointment to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17743-17744]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07634]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9925-63-OA]


Request for Nominations of Candidates to the EPA's 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 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 
May 4, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  General information about the CASAC is 
available at http://www.epa.gov/casac or by contacting 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].
    Background: The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) was 
established under section 109(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) 
(42 U.S.C. 7409) as an independent scientific advisory committee. The 
CASAC provides advice, information and recommendations on the 
scientific and technical aspects of air quality criteria and NAAQS 
under sections 108

[[Page 17744]]

and 109 of the Act. The CASAC is a Federal advisory committee chartered 
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). As amended, 5 U.S.C., 
App. Section 109(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that EPA 
carry out a periodic review and revision, as appropriate, of the air 
quality criteria and the NAAQS for the six ``criteria'' air pollutants. 
As a Federal Advisory Committee, the CASAC conducts business in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2) and related regulations. 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.
    Request for Nominations: 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 who have demonstrated experience in 
the following disciplines related to air pollution: ecological and 
welfare effects; environmental engineering; exposure assessment; 
biostatistics; toxicology; epidemiology; and/or risk assessment.
    The SAB Staff Office is especially interested in scientists with 
expertise described above who have knowledge and experience in air 
quality relating to criteria pollutants. 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 
[email protected].
    Selection Criteria for the CASAC include:
--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;
--Background and experiences that would help members contribute to the 
diversity of perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographic, economic, 
social, cultural, educational backgrounds, professional affiliations, 
and other considerations; and
--For the committee as a whole, consideration of the collective breadth 
and depth of scientific expertise; and a balance of scientific 
perspectives.
    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) following the 
instructions for ``Nominating Experts for Annual Membership'' provided 
on the CASAC Web site. The form can be accessed through the 
``Nomination of Experts'' link on the blue navigational bar on the 
CASAC Web site at http://www.epa.gov/casac. Nominators unable to submit 
nominations electronically as described below may submit a paper copy 
to Mr. Yeow at the contact information above. To be considered, all 
nominations should include the information requested. 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.
    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. Persons 
having questions about the nomination process or the public comment 
process described below, or who are unable to submit nominations 
through the CASAC Web site, should contact Mr. Yeow, Designated Federal 
Officer, as identified above. The DFO will acknowledge receipt of 
nominations and in that acknowledgement 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, will be posted in a List of Candidates on the CASAC Web 
site at http://www.epa.gov/casac. Public comments on this 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.
    Members of the CASAC serve as Special Government Employees. 
Therefore, candidates invited to serve will 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 allows EPA to determine whether there is a statutory conflict 
between that person's public responsibilities as a Special Government 
Employee 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 blue navigational bar on the CASAC Web site at http://www.epa.gov/casac.

    Dated: March 24, 2015.
Thomas H. Brennan,
 Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-07634 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
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