Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the following committee meeting:

Name: Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (ABRWH), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Time and date: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., January 15, 2004.

Place: The Cincinnati Airport Marriott, 2395 Progress Drive, Hebron, Kentucky 41048, telephone (859) 586-0166, fax (859) 586-0266.

Status: Closed 9 a.m.-5 p.m., January 15, 2004.

Background: The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (“the Board”) was established under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) of 2000 to advise the President, through the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), on a variety of policy and technical functions required to implement and effectively manage the new compensation program. Key functions of the Board include providing advice on the development of probability of causation guidelines which have been promulgated by HHS as a final rule, advice on methods of dose reconstruction which have also been promulgated by HHS as a final rule, evaluation of the scientific validity and quality of dose reconstructions conducted by NIOSH for qualified cancer claimants, and advice on the addition of classes of workers to the Special Exposure Cohort. In December 2000 the President delegated responsibility for funding, staffing, and operating the Board to HHS, which subsequently delegated this authority to CDC. NIOSH implements this responsibility for CDC. The charter was renewed on August 3, 2003, and the President has completed the appointment of members to the Board to ensure a balanced representation on the Board.

Purpose: This board is charged with (a) Providing advice to the Secretary, HHS, on the development of guidelines under Executive Order 13179; (b) Providing advice to the Secretary, HHS, on the scientific validity and quality of dose reconstruction efforts performed for this Program; and (c) Upon request by the Secretary, HHS, advise the Secretary on whether there is a class of employees at any Department of Energy facility who were exposed to radiation but for whom it is not feasible to estimate their radiation dose, and on whether there is reasonable likelihood that such radiation doses may have endangered the health of members of this class.

Matters to be Discussed: The meeting will involve a review and discussion of the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for task order contracts and proposals of work for the performance of these task order contracts. The Board may revise or accept the IGCE, the task orders, and/or some or all of the ABRWH independent dose reconstruction review contractor's bids. These contracts will serve to provide technical support consultation to assist the ABRWH in fulfilling its statutory duty to advise the Secretary, HHS, on the scientific validity and quality of dose estimation and reconstruction efforts under the EEOICPA. These discussions will include reviews of the technical proposals to determine adequacy of the proposed approach and associated contract cost estimates. The information being discussed will include information of a confidential nature. The IGCEs will include contract cost estimates, the disclosure of which would adversely impact the Governments negotiating position and strategy in regards to these contracts by giving the ABRWH independent dose reconstruction review contractor undue advantage in determining the price associated with its bids. The meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with provisions set forth regarding subject matter considered confidential under the terms of 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 48 CFR 5.401(b)(1) and (4), and 48 CFR 7.304(d), and the Determination of the Director of the Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pursuant to Pub. L. 92-463. A summary of this meeting will be prepared and submitted within 14 days of the close of the meeting.

The agenda is subject to change as priorities dictate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Larry Elliott, Executive Secretary, ABRWH, NIOSH, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, telephone (513) 533-6825, fax (513) 533-6826.

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.