80 FR 22994 - Human Studies Review Board Advisory Committee

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 79 (April 24, 2015)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise in the area of human health risk assessment (hygienist) or in environmental epidemiology with expertise in exposure analysis to be considered for appointment to its Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) advisory committee. The anticipated vacancy will be filled by September 1, 2015. Sources in addition to this Federal Register document may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22994-22995]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09620]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0239; FRL-9926-78-ORD]


Human Studies Review Board Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations to the Human Studies Review 
Board (HSRB) advisory committee.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites 
nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates with expertise 
in the area of human health risk assessment (hygienist) or in 
environmental epidemiology with expertise in exposure analysis to be 
considered for appointment to its Human Studies Review Board (HSRB) 
advisory committee. The anticipated vacancy will be filled by September 
1, 2015. Sources in addition to this Federal Register document may also 
be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

DATES: Submit nominations by May 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your nominations by May 15, 2015, identified by 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0239, by any of the following methods:
    Internet: http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: [email protected].
    USPS Mail: ORD Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code: 
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Hand or Courier Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room 3304, 
EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0239. 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: Jim Downing, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of the Science Advisor, Mail Code 8105R, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2468, 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 (Public Law 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 http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/.
    HSRB members serve as special government employees or regular 
government employees. Members are

[[Page 22995]]

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 typically meets up to four 
times a year and the average workload for HSRB members is approximately 
25 to 30 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 finalization of Board 
reports. EPA compensates special government employees for their time 
and provides reimbursement for travel and other incidental expenses 
associated with official government business. 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 qualifications of nominees for membership on the HSRB will be 
assessed in terms of the specific expertise sought for the HSRB. 
Qualified nominees who agree to be considered further will be included 
in a ``Short List''. The Short List of nominee names and biographical 
sketches will be posted for 14 calendar days for public comment on the 
HSRB Web site: http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm. The public will 
be encouraged to provide additional information about the nominees that 
EPA should consider. At the completion of the comment period, EPA will 
select new Board members from the Short List. 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. The Agency estimates that the names of Short List candidates will 
be posted in June 2015. However, please be advised that this is an 
approximate time frame and the date is subject to change. If you have 
any questions concerning posting of Short List candidates on the HSRB 
Web site, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    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.
    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, verbal 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 http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/index.htm as soon as selections are made.

    Dated: April 13, 2015.
Thomas Burke,
EPA Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-09620 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P