[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 158 (Thursday, August 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46101-46102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16077]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE


Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Subcommittee, 
National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Technology; 
Priorities for Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Related to 
Engineered Nanoscale Materials: An Interim Document for Public Comment

August 10, 2007.

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on 
behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) 
Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC), will post a document for public comment on 
the Web site www.nano.gov. The document, The Prioritization of 
Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered 
Nanoscale Materials: An Interim Document for Public Comment, assigns 
priority to research needs and areas that were identified in the NSET 
Subcommittee document Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs 
for Engineered Nanoscale Materials, which was published on September 
21, 2006. The comment period will commence on August 16, 2007 and end 
on September 17, 2007.
    Web site Posting: The prioritization document and request for 
comment will be posted at the Web site of the National Nanotechnology 
Initiative, www.nano.gov. (The document can be accessed from the 
indicated home page or by going directly to http://www.nano.gov/html/society/ehs_priorities.) Comments can be submitted to the NSET 
Subcommittee via the Web site through September 17, 2007. Only written 
comments are being solicited at this time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, 
please contact Cate Alexander Brennan, National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office. Telephone: (703) 292-4399. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and 
Technology (NSET) Subcommittee coordinates planning, budgeting, and 
program implementation and review to ensure a balanced and 
comprehensive National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). The NSET 
Subcommittee is composed of representatives from agencies participating 
in the NNI. The NNCO provides technical and administrative support to 
the NSET Subcommittee in its work.
    On September 21, 2006, the NSET Subcommittee released a document 
identifying environmental, health, and safety research and information 
needs related to understanding and management of potential risks of 
nanomaterials. The document, Environmental, Health, and Safety Research 
Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials, was created by the 
Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working 
Group of the NSET Subcommittee, which is composed of scientists and 
other agency representatives. The document reflects expert input from 
industry liaison groups and other research needs-identification 
efforts. (To read this document, see http://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_research_needs.pdf).
    On January 4, 2007, a public meeting was held in Arlington, VA, to 
receive input on research needs related to the environmental, health, 
and safety aspects of engineered nanoscale materials, and specifically, 
prioritization criteria for the research identified in the September 
21, 2006, document. Input gained from the public at the January 4 
meeting was considered in preparing the prioritization document, which 
is the subject of this call for public comment.
    The additional feedback requested through this solicitation by the 
NSET Subcommittee and the NNI participating agencies is whether parties 
agree with the identified priorities of the Government or would suggest 
different or additional priorities. Support for the submitted 
perspectives is requested. The comment period is an opportunity for 
public input into the prioritization of research related to 
environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanomaterials. The 
prioritization document will be used by the Federal agencies as they 
set research priorities for Government-funded research programs.
    For more information on the National Nanotechnology Initiative and 
its various working entities, please visit www.nano.gov.

[[Page 46102]]

How Can You Participate?

    You can participate through written electronic submissions to the 
NNCO at http://www.nano.gov/html/society/ehs_priorities. Submissions 
are welcome from all members of the public.

How Will Public Input Be Used?

    All comments and recommendations that are submitted will be 
considered by the NEHI Working Group. Input from multiple stakeholders 
with various interests will be valuable to the NNI. Through activities 
such as this solicitation, the NSET Subcommittee and NNI member 
agencies are making the priority-setting process dynamic, open, and 
transparent.

E. Clayton Teague,
Director, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, Nanoscale 
Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the National 
Science and Technology Council Committee on Technology.
[FR Doc. E7-16077 Filed 8-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-WF-P