Office of Science and Technology Policy 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit input from all interested parties regarding recommendations for the development of a National Plan for Civil Earth Observations (``National Plan''). The public input provided in response to this Notice will inform the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as it works with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop this Plan.

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) and in collaboration with the European Commission, will hold the 2013 ``U.S.-EU Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts'' joint workshop on December 2-3, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia. The workshop will bring together the U.S.-EU Communities of Research (CORs), which are a platform for scientists to develop a shared repertoire of protocols and methods to overcome research gaps and barriers and to address environmental, health, and safety questions about nanomaterials. The goal of this workshop is to publicize progress towards COR goals and objectives, clarify and communicate future plans, share best practices, and identify areas of cross-Community collaboration. NNCO and the European Commission will also host meetings for the CORs on the topic of environmental, health, and safety issues related to nanomaterials between the publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2014. The co-chairs for each COR will convene meetings and set meeting agendas with administrative support from the European Commission and the NNCO. The CORs were proposed at the first U.S.-EU workshop on Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts, which was held in Washington, DC, in March 2011. Based on feedback from the workshop participants, the following six Communities were launched in 2012: Exposure through the Life Cycle, with Material Characterization Ecotoxicity Testing and Predictive Models, with Material Characterization Predictive Modeling for Human Health, with Material Characterization Databases and Ontologies Risk Assessment Risk Management and Control

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issues this final rule to implement the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as amended. This final rule implements the requirement of the FOIA by setting forth procedures for requesting access to, and making disclosures of, information contained by OSTP. This final rule contains provisions to comply with the President's January 21, 2009, Executive Memoranda on ``The Freedom of Information Act'' and ``Transparency and Open Government,'' and Attorney General Holder's March 19, 2009, Memorandum on ``The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).'' In addition, this rule reflects OSTP's policy and practices and reaffirms its commitment to provide the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public.

The United States Government (USG) invites comments on the proposed United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern. The proposed Policy establishes institutional review and oversight requirements for certain categories of life sciences research at institutions that accept Federal funding for such research. These requirements are intended to address risks of dual use research not addressed under existing Federal regulations or guidelines. Requirement for compliance with this Policy, once finalized, will be incorporated by Federal funding agencies in accordance with their relevant statutory authorities, into the terms and conditions of awards with funded institutions that conduct research falling into the categories identified in the Policy. The public input provided through this Notice will inform future deliberations and issuance of a final Policy.