82 FR 40744 - Reopening of Nomination Period for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 165 (August 28, 2017)

Page Range		40744-40745
FR Document		2017-18168

On December 7, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in a Federal Register notice that it was soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) to fill 15 vacancies. The closing date for nominations was January 6, 2017. This notice reopens the nomination period for 30 days. This notice also announces that there are two more vacancies on the committee. Since the original announcement was made, two additional members have left the committee. The USDA is now seeking nominations to fill 17 vacancies. Nominations submitted during the original submission period do not need to be resubmitted.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40744-40745]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18168]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 40744]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2016-0042]


Reopening of Nomination Period for Membership on the National 
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: On December 7, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
announced in a Federal Register notice that it was soliciting 
nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) to fill 15 vacancies. The 
closing date for nominations was January 6, 2017. This notice reopens 
the nomination period for 30 days. This notice also announces that 
there are two more vacancies on the committee. Since the original 
announcement was made, two additional members have left the committee. 
The USDA is now seeking nominations to fill 17 vacancies. Nominations 
submitted during the original submission period do not need to be 
resubmitted.

DATES: All materials must be received by September 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages should be sent via email to 
[email protected] and mailed to: Secretary, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250, Attn: FSIS\Office of Public Health Science/National Advisory 
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (Karen Thomas-Sharp).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory 
Committee Specialist, by telephone at 202-690-6620 or by email 
[email protected].
    The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) invites interested 
persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by 
either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web 
site (http://www.regulations.gov/) provides the ability to type short 
comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a 
file for lengthier comments. Follow the online instructions at that 
site for submitting comments. Mail, including CD-ROMS and hand or 
courier delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS Docket Room, 
Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-
3700 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or email must include the 
Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0042. Comments received in 
response to this docket will be made available for public inspection 
and posted without change, including any personal information, to 
http://www.regulations.gov/.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. All comments submitted in response to this notice, as 
well as background information used by FSIS in developing this 
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The NACMCF was established in March 1988, in response to a 
recommendation in a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences 
Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria, 
``An Evaluation of the Role of Microbiological Criteria for Foods.'' 
The current charter for the NACMCF and other information about the 
Committee are available to the public for viewing on the FSIS Web site 
at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmcf.
    Nominees are sought who have scientific expertise in the fields of 
in the fields of microbiology, epidemiology, food technology (food, 
clinical, and predictive), toxicology, risk assessment, infectious 
disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. Persons from the 
government, industry, academia, and consumer advocacy groups are 
invited to submit nominations.
    The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the 
safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. For example, one of 
the most recent efforts of the Committee is to provide the best 
scientific information available on Shiga Toxin producing E. coli, 
including providing recommendations on optimal detection and 
identification methodologies.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to ensure that recommendations made by the Committee take into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department. On 
December 7, 2016, the USDA announced that it was seeking nominations to 
fill 15 vacancies (81 FR 88197). Since the original announcement was 
made, two additional members have left the committee. The USDA is now 
seeking to fill 17 vacancies. Advisory Committee members serve a two-
year term, renewable for two consecutive terms.
    The full Committee expects to meet at least once a year by 
teleconference or in-person, and the meetings will be announced in the 
Federal Register. The subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by 
the chairperson through working group meetings in an open public forum. 
Subcommittees also may meet through teleconference or by computer-based 
conferencing (Webinars). Subcommittees may invite technical experts to 
present information for consideration by the subcommittee. The 
subcommittee meetings will not be announced in the Federal Register. 
FSIS will announce the agenda and subcommittee working group meetings 
through the Constituent Update, available online at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/cu.
    NACMCF holds subcommittee meetings in order to accomplish the work 
of NACMCF; all subcommittee work is reviewed and approved during a 
public meeting of the full Committee,

[[Page 40745]]

as announced in the Federal Register. All data and records available to 
the full Committee are expected to be available to the public when the 
full Committee reviews and approves the work of the subcommittee. 
Advisory Committee members are expected to attend all in-person 
meetings during the two-year term to ensure the smooth functioning of 
the advisory committee. However, on rare occasions, attendance through 
teleconferencing may be permitted.
    Members must be prepared to work outside of scheduled Committee and 
subcommittee meetings and may be required to assist in document 
preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; however, 
travel expenses and per diem reimbursement are available.

Regarding Nominees Who Are Selected

    All SGE and Federal government employee nominees who are selected 
must complete the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) 450 Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Report before rendering any advice or before their 
first meeting. With the exception of the consumer representative 
committee member, all committee members will be reviewed pursuant to 18 
U.S.C. 208 for conflicts of interest relating to specific NACMCF work 
charges, and financial disclosure updates will be required annually. 
Members subject to financial disclosure must report any changes in 
financial holdings requiring additional disclosure. OGE 450 forms are 
available on-line at: https://www2.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/Confidential%20Financial%20Disclosure.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information 
regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register 
notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that 
could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, August 23, 2017.
Paul Kiecker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-18168 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

40744

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 165

Monday, August 28, 2017

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER The Food Safety and Inspection predictive), toxicology, risk assessment,
contains documents other than rules or Service (FSIS) invites interested persons infectious disease, biostatistics, and
proposed rules that are applicable to the to submit comments on this notice. other related sciences. Persons from the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Comments may be submitted by either government, industry, academia, and
committee meetings, agency decisions and of the following methods: Federal consumer advocacy groups are invited
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
eRulemaking Portal: This Web site to submit nominations.
statements of organization and functions are (http://www.regulations.gov/) provides The Committee provides scientific
examples of documents appearing in this the ability to type short comments advice and recommendations to the
section. directly into the comment field on this Secretary of Agriculture and the
Web page or attach a file for lengthier Secretary of Health and Human Services
comments. Follow the online concerning the development of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE instructions at that site for submitting microbiological criteria by which the
comments. Mail, including CD–ROMS safety and wholesomeness of food can
Food Safety and Inspection Service and hand or courier delivered items: be assessed. For example, one of the
[Docket No. FSIS–2016–0042] Send to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS most recent efforts of the Committee is
Docket Room, Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E to provide the best scientific
Reopening of Nomination Period for Street SW., Room 8–163A, Washington, information available on Shiga Toxin
Membership on the National Advisory DC 20250–3700 between 8:30 a.m. and producing E. coli, including providing
Committee on Microbiological Criteria 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. recommendations on optimal detection
for Foods Instructions: All items submitted by and identification methodologies.
mail or email must include the Agency Appointments to the Committee will
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection name and docket number FSIS–2016– be made by the Secretary of Agriculture
Service, USDA. 0042. Comments received in response to after consultation with the Secretary of
ACTION: Notice. this docket will be made available for Health and Human Services to ensure
public inspection and posted without that recommendations made by the
SUMMARY: On December 7, 2016, the
change, including any personal Committee take into account the needs
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
information, to http:// of the diverse groups served by the
announced in a Federal Register notice
www.regulations.gov/. Department. On December 7, 2016, the
that it was soliciting nominations for
Docket: For access to background USDA announced that it was seeking
membership on the National Advisory
documents or comments received, go to nominations to fill 15 vacancies (81 FR
Committee on Microbiological Criteria
the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 88197). Since the original
for Foods (NACMCF) to fill 15
3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8–164, announcement was made, two
vacancies. The closing date for
Washington, DC 20250–3700 between additional members have left the
nominations was January 6, 2017. This
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday committee. The USDA is now seeking to
notice reopens the nomination period
through Friday. All comments fill 17 vacancies. Advisory Committee
for 30 days. This notice also announces
submitted in response to this notice, as members serve a two-year term,
that there are two more vacancies on the
well as background information used by renewable for two consecutive terms.
committee. Since the original
FSIS in developing this document, will The full Committee expects to meet at
announcement was made, two
be available for public inspection in the least once a year by teleconference or in-
additional members have left the
FSIS Docket Room at the address listed person, and the meetings will be
committee. The USDA is now seeking
above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., announced in the Federal Register. The
nominations to fill 17 vacancies.
Monday through Friday. subcommittees will meet as deemed
Nominations submitted during the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: necessary by the chairperson through
original submission period do not need
working group meetings in an open
to be resubmitted. Background public forum. Subcommittees also may
DATES: All materials must be received The NACMCF was established in meet through teleconference or by
by September 27, 2017. March 1988, in response to a computer-based conferencing
ADDRESSES: Nomination packages recommendation in a 1985 report of the (Webinars). Subcommittees may invite
should be sent via email to National Academy of Sciences technical experts to present information
karen.thomas-sharp@fsis.usda.gov and Committee on Food Protection, for consideration by the subcommittee.
mailed to: Secretary, U.S. Department of Subcommittee on Microbiological The subcommittee meetings will not be
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue Criteria, ‘‘An Evaluation of the Role of announced in the Federal Register. FSIS
SW., Washington, DC 20250, Attn: Microbiological Criteria for Foods.’’ The will announce the agenda and
FSIS\Office of Public Health Science/
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

current charter for the NACMCF and subcommittee working group meetings
National Advisory Committee on other information about the Committee through the Constituent Update,
Microbiological Criteria for Foods are available to the public for viewing available online at: http://
(Karen Thomas-Sharp). on the FSIS Web site at: http:// www.fsis.usda.gov/cu.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmcf. NACMCF holds subcommittee
Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory Nominees are sought who have meetings in order to accomplish the
Committee Specialist, by telephone at scientific expertise in the fields of in the work of NACMCF; all subcommittee
202–690–6620 or by email fields of microbiology, epidemiology, work is reviewed and approved during
karen.thomas-sharp@fsis.usda.gov. food technology (food, clinical, and a public meeting of the full Committee,

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Document Created: 2017-08-28 11:29:57
Document Modified: 2017-08-28 11:29:57

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		All materials must be received by September 27, 2017.
Contact		Ms. Karen Thomas-Sharp, Advisory Committee Specialist, by telephone at 202-690-6620 or by email [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 40744

82 FR 40744 - Reopening of Nomination Period for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFood Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 165 (August 28, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service