[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 217 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63024-63025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24783]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9225-01-OA]


Request for Nominations of Candidates for the Clean Air 
Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Ozone Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific 
experts for the CASAC Ozone Panel. This panel will provide advice 
through the chartered CASAC on policy-relevant science for the agency's 
reconsideration of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS).

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by December 6, 2021 per the 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding this Notice and Request for Nominations 
may contact Mr. Aaron Yeow, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff 
Office, by telephone at (202) 564-2050 or via email at 
[email protected]. General information concerning the CASAC can be 
found on the following website: https://casac.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: 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 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 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, 
including ozone.
    The CASAC is a Federal advisory committee chartered under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). 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. The 
CASAC and the CASAC Ozone Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA 
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
    EPA has made the determination to reconsider the December 2020 
decision to retain the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS). These standards were last revised in 2015. The CASAC Ozone 
Panel will provide advice through the Chartered CASAC on policy-
relevant science to support the Agency's reconsideration of the ozone 
NAAQS.
    The CASAC is a Federal advisory committee chartered under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). 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. The 
CASAC and the CASAC Ozone Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA 
and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking 
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists 
with demonstrated expertise and research in the field of air pollution 
related to criteria pollutants. For the CASAC Ozone Panel, experts are 
being sought in the following fields, especially with respect to ozone: 
Air quality, atmospheric science and chemistry; exposure assessment; 
toxicology; controlled clinical exposure; epidemiology; biostatistics; 
risk assessment; ecology, including of forests and terrestrial systems; 
and effects on welfare and the environment.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals in the areas 
of expertise described above. 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 https://casac.epa.gov. 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. Nominations 
should be submitted by December 6, 2021.
    The following information should be provided on the nomination 
form: Contact information for the person making the nomination; contact 
information for the nominee; and the disciplinary and specific areas of 
expertise of the nominee. Nominees will be contacted by the SABSO and 
will be asked to provide a recent curriculum vitae and a narrative 
biographical summary that includes: 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 website, should contact the DFO, as identified above. 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 https://casac.epa.gov. 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.
    For the EPA SAB Staff Office, a balanced review panel includes 
candidates who possess the necessary domains of knowledge, the relevant 
scientific perspectives (which, among other factors, can be influenced 
by work history and affiliation), and the collective breadth of 
experience to adequately address the charge. In forming this expert 
panel, the SAB Staff Office will consider public comments on the List 
of Candidates, information provided by the candidates themselves, and 
background information independently gathered by the SAB Staff Office. 
Selection criteria to be used for panel membership include: (a) 
Scientific and/or technical expertise, knowledge, and experience 
(primary factors); (b) availability and willingness

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to serve; (c) absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence 
of an appearance of a lack of impartiality; (e) skills working in 
committees, subcommittees and advisory panels; and (f) for the panel as 
a whole, diversity of expertise and viewpoints.
    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 https://casac.epa.gov. This form should 
not be submitted as part of a nomination.

V Khanna Johnston,
Deputy Director, Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-24783 Filed 11-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


