Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0765-0037
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Requests for Nominations: Experts to the EPA Office of Research and Development's Board of Scientific Counselors
Posted Date: 2021-10-18T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 198 (Monday, October 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57668-57669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22581]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0765; FRL-9120-01-ORD]

Request for Nominations of Experts to the EPA Office of Research 
and Development's Board of Scientific Counselors

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking 
nominations for technical experts to serve on its Board of Scientific 
Counselors (BOSC), a federal advisory committee to the Office of 
Research and Development (ORD). Submission of nominations will be made 
via the BOSC website at: https://www.epa.gov/bosc.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by November 12, 2021, per 
instructions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public needing 
additional information regarding this Notice and Request for 
Nominations may contact Mr. Tom Tracy, Office of Science Policy, Office 
of Research and Development, Mail Code B343-01, 109 T.W. Alexander 
Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; via phone/voice mail at: (919) 
541-4334; or via email at: [email protected]. General information 
concerning the BOSC can be found at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/bosc.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The BOSC is a chartered Federal Advisory Committee established by 
the EPA to provide independent scientific and technical peer review, 
advice, consultation, and recommendations about ORD. As a Federal 
Advisory Committee, the BOSC conducts business in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and related 
regulations.
    The BOSC is comprised of an Executive Committee and one or more 
supporting subcommittee(s). Potential subcommittee focuses are: Social 
and Community Science, and Climate Change. Please visit https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-research-and-development-ord to learn 
more about ORD's research programs.
    Members of the BOSC constitute a distinguished body of non-EPA 
scientists, engineers, and economists who are experts in their 
respective fields. EPA will consider nominees from industry, business, 
public and private research institutes or organizations, academia, 
government (federal, state, local, and tribal) and non-government 
organizations, and other relevant interest areas. Members are appointed 
by the EPA Administrator to serve as Special Government Employees and 
provide independent expert advice to the agency for a term of up to six 
years. EPA values and welcomes diversity. All qualified candidates are 
encouraged to apply regardless of gender, race, disability, or 
ethnicity.

Expertise Sought

    The chartered BOSC provides scientific advice to the EPA 
Administrator on a variety of EPA science and research topics. All the 
work of BOSC standing committees and ad-hoc panels is conducted under 
the auspices of the chartered BOSC. The chartered BOSC members review 
all BOSC standing committee and ad-hoc panel draft reports and 
determine whether each meets the BOSC's criteria and high-quality 
standards required to deliver them to the EPA Administrator. The BOSC 
Staff Office invites nominations of individuals to serve on the 
chartered BOSC with expertise or extensive experience in the following 
scientific disciplines and topic areas as they relate to human health 
and the environment:

Agronomy, Soil Science
Air Quality
Atmospheric Sciences
Biology and Microbiology
Chemistry (including Environmental Chemistry)
Climate Science and Change
Community and Citizen Science
Community Engagement
Contaminated Site Remediation
Ecology
Ecosystem Services
Emergency Management
Energy and the Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Justice
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment
Environmental Modeling
Epidemiology
Exposure Science and Assessment
Forestry and Natural Resource Management
Information and Data Science
Materials/Waste Management Disaster Science
New Approach Methods
Novel Analytical Methods
Physiologically based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling
Public Health
Research Program Evaluation
Risk Assessment (including Human Health, Ecological, Environmental)
Science Policy/Public Policy
Social, Behavioral and Decision Sciences
Sustainability
Systems Science
Toxicology
Water Quality (including Drinking Water, Surface Water, Groundwater)
Water Quantity and Reuse
Watershed Management

Selection Criteria

    The BOSC is a balanced and diverse expert committee. The committee 
and each of its subcommittees strives to possess necessary domains of 
expertise, depth and breadth of knowledge, and diverse and balanced 
scientific perspectives. Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of 
several criteria including: (a) Demonstrated scientific and/or 
technical credentials and disciplinary expertise, knowledge, and 
experience in relevant fields; (b) availability to serve and 
willingness to commit time to the committee (approximately one to three 
meetings per year both by teleconferences and possibly face-to-face 
meetings); (c) absence of financial conflicts of interest; (d) absence 
of an appearance of a lack of impartiality; (e) demonstrated ability to 
work constructively and effectively on committees; and (f) background 
and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of viewpoints on 
the Executive Committee or Subcommittee, e.g., workforce sector, 
geographical location, social, cultural, and educational backgrounds, 
and professional affiliations.

Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations

    Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified 
persons to be considered for appointment to the advisory committee. 
Nominations should be submitted via the BOSC website at: https://www.epa.gov/bosc. Nominations should be submitted no later than 
November 12, 2021. To receive full consideration, nominations should 
include all the information requested. EPA's nomination form requests: 
Contact information about the person making the nomination; contact 
information about the nominee; the disciplinary and specific areas of

[[Page 57669]]

expertise of the nominee; committee preference; the nominee's 
curriculum vita and/or resume; and additional information that would be 
useful for considering the nomination such as background and 
qualifications (e.g., current position, educational background, 
expertise, research areas), experience relevant to one or more of ORD's 
research programs, service on other advisory committees and 
professional societies, and availability to participate as a member of 
the Executive Committee and/or Subcommittee. Persons having questions 
about the nomination procedures, or who are unable to submit 
nominations through the BOSC website, should contact Mr. Tom Tracy, as 
indicated above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.

Mary Ross,
Director, Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2021-22581 Filed 10-15-21; 8:45 am]
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