[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71328-71329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25170]



[[Page 71328]]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10398-01-OA]


Request for Nominations for the Science Advisory Board Inorganic 
Arsenic Review Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory 
Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific 
experts to form a Panel to review the draft EPA Integrated Risk 
Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic. 
Based on the publicly available systematic review protocol, EPA's draft 
assessment includes a summary of the chemical properties and 
pharmacokinetics; hazard identification analysis for diseases of the 
circulatory system, pregnancy and birth outcomes, diabetes, and 
neurodevelopmental effects; and dose-response analysis characterizing 
the quantitative relationship for the noncancer outcomes listed above 
as well as for bladder cancer and lung cancer. These quantitative 
relationships are then used to derive cancer and non-cancer toxicity 
values (e.g., oral slope factor, reference dose). The SAB Inorganic 
Arsenic Review Panel will consider whether the conclusions found in the 
EPA's draft assessment are clearly presented and scientifically 
supported.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by December 9, 2022 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 Dr. Diana Wong, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA 
Science Advisory Board Staff Office by telephone/voice mail (202) 564-
2049, or email at [email protected]. General information concerning 
the EPA SAB can be found at the EPA SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The SAB (42 U.S.C. 4365) is a chartered Federal 
Advisory Committee that provides independent scientific and technical 
peer review, advice, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on 
the technical basis for EPA actions. As a Federal Advisory Committee, 
the SAB conducts business in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. app. 2) and related regulations. The SAB 
Staff Office is forming an expert panel, the SAB Inorganic Arsenic 
Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered SAB. The SAB 
Inorganic Arsenic Review Panel will provide advice through the 
chartered SAB. The SAB and the Inorganic Arsenic Review Panel will 
comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office 
procedural policies.
    The SAB Inorganic Arsenic Review Panel will conduct a review of the 
draft EPA IRIS Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic. Based on the 
publicly available systematic review protocol, EPA's draft assessment 
includes a summary of the chemical properties and pharmacokinetics; 
hazard identification analysis for diseases of the circulatory system, 
pregnancy and birth outcomes, diabetes, and neurodevelopmental effects; 
and dose-response analysis characterizing the quantitative relationship 
for the noncancer outcomes listed above as well as for bladder cancer 
and lung cancer. The SAB Inorganic Arsenic Review Panel will consider 
whether the conclusions found in the EPA's draft assessment are clearly 
presented and scientifically supported. The Panel will also be asked to 
provide recommendations on how the assessment may be strengthened.
    Request for Nominations: The SAB Staff Office is seeking 
nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists 
with demonstrated expertise and experience in the following 
disciplines: Epidemiology, including specific expertise in 
carcinogenesis, cardiovascular disease, reproductive and developmental 
toxicity, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and diabetes; systematic review; 
physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling; risk assessment; 
epidemiological dose-response analysis; and Bayesian statistics.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Any interested 
person or organization may nominate qualified individuals in the areas 
of expertise described above for possible service on the SAB Panel. 
Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations should be submitted in 
electronic format (preferred) using the online nomination form on the 
SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov (see the ``Public Input on 
Membership'' list under ``Committees, Panels, and Membership''). To be 
considered, 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 in time to arrive no later than 
December 9, 2022. 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 SAB Staff Office 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 procedures, or who are 
unable to submit nominations through the SAB website, should contact 
the DFO at the contact information noted 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 for the Panel on 
the SAB website at https://sab.epa.gov. Public comments on the List of 
Candidates will be accepted for 21 days. 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 the expert 
panel, the SAB Staff Office will consider public comments on the Lists 
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 to serve; (c) 
absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence of an 
appearance of a loss of impartiality; (e) skills working in committees, 
subcommittees and advisory panels; and (f) for the panel as a whole, 
diversity of expertise and scientific points of view.
    The SAB Staff Office's evaluation of an absence of financial 
conflicts of interest will include a review of the ``Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Form for Environmental Protection Agency Special 
Government Employees'' (EPA Form 3110-48). This

[[Page 71329]]

confidential form is required and allows government officials to 
determine whether there is a statutory conflict between a person's 
public responsibilities (which include membership on an EPA federal 
advisory committee) 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 SAB website at https://sab.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. 2022-25170 Filed 11-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


