Background: NIOSH announced it is soliciting nominations, including self-nominations, for scientific peer reviewers of proposed additions to the list of covered World Trade Center-Related Health Conditions (List). The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers (including those who are construction workers) who responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Pursuant to the Public Health Service Act, interested parties may petition the WTCHP Administrator to add a health condition to the list of covered conditions under the WTCHP. When the WTCHP Administrator proposes to add a condition to the List, he must publish the proposed rule in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and, as required by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, must provide for an independent peer review of the scientific and technical evidence that form the basis for issuing a final rule. To assist in accomplishing independent peer review in a timely manner, the WTCHP Administrator has determined that he will develop a standing pool of persons with the “scientific, technical, and medical background to potentially serve in this role to provide their individual input to the Administrator based on the health condition in the proposed rule under consideration.” The peer reviewers will not meet as a group, provide consensus advice or recommendations to the WTCHP Administrator, or produce a collective work product(s). Rather, the WTCHP Administrator is requesting nominations of persons to serve as independent scientific peer reviewers. Nominees should submit a C.V. that, in addition to biographical details, lists: (1) specific scientific credentials, including academic degrees and specialized training; (2) areas of competencies (e.g., medical, epidemiology, exposure assessment, industrial hygiene); and (3) areas of specialty (e.g., Cardiovascular, Integumentary, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Urinary, Immune, Lymphatic, Muscular, Nervous, Reproductive, Respiratory, Skeletal). All persons who have the necessary minimum qualifications will be included in the standing pool of potential peer reviewers. These persons will be included in the standing pool of potential peer reviewers for 3 years unless they request in writing to be removed. After 3 years persons may be nominated again and will be required to update their information.

Dates:

• Nominations must be submitted (postmarked or electronically received) by February 1, 2019. Electronic nominations, including attachments, should be submitted to nioshdocket@cdc.gov, noting NIOSH Docket 294.

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