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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16807-16809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6895]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0010]

Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on 
Microbiological Criteria for Foods

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is announcing that the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership to fill 16 
vacancies on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological 
Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).
    NACMCF is seeking members with scientific expertise in the fields 
of epidemiology, food technology, microbiology (food, clinical, and 
predictive), toxicology, risk assessment, infectious disease, 
biostatistics, and other related sciences. NACMCF is seeking 
applications from persons from academia, industry, consumer groups, 
State governments, and the Federal Government, as well as all other 
interested persons with such expertise.
    Please note that federally registered lobbyists cannot be 
considered for USDA advisory committee membership. Members can only 
serve on one USDA advisory committee at a time. All nominees will 
undergo a USDA background check.
    Members who are not Federal government employees will be appointed 
to serve as non-compensated special government employees (SGEs). SGEs 
will be subject to appropriate conflict of interest statutes and 
standards of ethical conduct.
    To receive consideration for serving on the NACMCF, a nominee must 
submit a resume and USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information form AD-755. The resume or curriculum vitae must be limited 
to five one-sided pages and should include educational background, 
expertise, and a list of select publications. For submissions received 
that are more than five one-sided pages in length, only the first five 
pages will be reviewed. USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information form AD-755 is available online at: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/doc/AD-755.pdf.

DATES: Nominations including a cover letter to the Secretary, and the 
nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae and a completed USDA 
Advisory Committee Membership Background

[[Page 16808]]

Information form AD-755 must be received by April 23, 2012. Self 
nominations are welcome.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages including a cover letter to the 
Secretary accompanied by a resume and AD-755 form can be sent by mail 
to: Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250, Attn: National Advisory 
Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.

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: Send to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS Docket 
Room, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Hand- or courier-delivered items: Deliver to the Docket Clerk, 
USDA, FSIS Docket Room at 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 electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2012-0010. 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.

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 for viewing to the public on the FSIS Web site 
at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
    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, the 
Committee assists in the development of criteria for microorganisms 
that indicate whether food has been processed using good manufacturing 
practices.
    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.
    Given the complexity of issues, 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 and will be held as 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/news_&_events/Constituent_Update/index.asp.
    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, 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 have a two-year term, renewable for two 
consecutive terms. Members are expected to attend all in-person 
meetings for the smooth functioning of this advisory committee. 
However, the Advisory Committee realizes that unexpected events or 
extenuating circumstances (e.g., a personal or family emergency) may 
result in a member's inability to attend an in-person meeting and that 
attendance through teleconferencing may be necessary. Some meetings may 
be held through teleconferencing and or Webinars exclusively.
    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 prior to 
their first meeting. All members will be reviewed for conflict of 
interest pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208 in relation to specific NACMCF work 
charges. Financial disclosure updates will be required annually. 
Members must report any changes in financial holdings requiring 
additional disclosure. OGE 450 forms are available on-line at: http://www.oge.gov/Financial-Disclosure/Confidential-Financial-Disclosure-450/OGE-Form-450/.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
    FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register 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 constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, 
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals 
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS 
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail 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/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range 
from recalls to export information to regulations, directives, and 
notices. Customers can add or

[[Page 16809]]

delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, 
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or 
family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, or 
audiotape.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice 
and TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

     Done at Washington, DC, on March 19, 2012.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-6895 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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