[3270-F1]
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Notice of Availability and Request for Comments; National Nanotechnology
Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy: 2024 Update
AGENCY: Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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), is
requesting comments on the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Environmental,
Health, and Safety (EHS) Research Strategy: 2024 Update (hereinafter “2024 Update”).
Federal agencies participating in NSET's Nanotechnology Environmental and Health
Implications (NEHI) Working Group developed the draft 2024 Update and seek
comments by the EHS research community and the public, as a final stage of public input
that will inform the final strategy.
DATES: Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit comments on or
before July 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
Interested individuals and organizations should submit comments electronically
via to https://www.regulations.gov/. Due to time constraints, mailed paper submissions
will not be accepted, and electronic submissions received after the deadline may not be
incorporated or taken into consideration.
Instructions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ to
submit your comments electronically. Information on how to use Regulations.gov,
including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and

viewing the docket, is available on the site under “FAQ”
(https://www.regulations.gov/faq).
Privacy Note: OSTP’s policy is to make all appropriate comments received from
members of the public available for public viewing in their entirety on the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov/. Therefore, commenters should be
careful to include in their comments only information that they wish to make publicly
available. OSTP requests that no proprietary information, copyrighted information, or
personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this notice of availability
and request for comments.
Information obtained from this Request for Comments may be used by the
Government on a non-attribution basis for planning and strategy development. OSTP will
not respond to individual submissions. A response to this Request for Comments will not
be viewed as a binding commitment to develop or pursue the project or ideas discussed.
This Request for Comments is not accepting applications for financial assistance or
financial incentives.
Responses containing references, studies, research, and other empirical data that
are not widely published should include copies of or electronic links to the referenced
materials. Responses from minors, or responses containing profanity, vulgarity, threats,
or other inappropriate language or content will not be considered.
Comments submitted in response to this notice are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). Responses to this Request for Comments may be posted without
change online. Please note that the United States Government will not pay for response
preparation, or for the use of any information contained in a response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please
direct questions to Rhema Bjorkland at info@nnco.nano.gov or 202–517–1050.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
Nanotechnology enables us to understand and manipulate atoms and molecules—
we can harness changes at the nanoscale to make new and improved materials and
devices. Nanotechnology has led to advances in medical treatments, clean energy
technologies, and semiconductor chips that serve as the foundation of our modern lives.
The years of research under the vision of the 2011 NNI Environmental, Health,
and Safety Research Strategy1 has significantly advanced the scientific understanding of
EHS issues related to engineered nanomaterials. However, critical gaps in knowledge
remain. There are unmet and new needs in nanotechnology-related EHS (nanoEHS)
issues that require collaborative action, which will ultimately help solve pressing global
challenges, while protecting human and environmental health.
NEHI’s efforts to prepare an updated EHS research strategy included a review of
the 2011 research strategy. The authors also analyzed NNI supplements to the President’s
Budget (2019–2023)2 and other relevant articles and reports, released a Request for
Information,3 and hosted a public meeting.4 NEHI is now offering this draft for comment
by the EHS research community and the public, as a final stage of public input that will
inform the final strategy.
The 2024 update of the NNI EHS research strategy represents the U.S.
Government’s commitment to steer future research advancements in nanotechnology,
aligning with the needs of the economy and society. The document is organized into two
major sections: Part A, which outlines progress toward the 2011 EHS research strategy
goals, and Part B, which addresses the scope of the research strategy going forward,

See https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/nni_2011_ehs_research_strategy.pdf
See https://www.nano.gov/NNIBudgetSupplementsandStrategicPlans
3 See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/05/23/2023-10958/request-for-information-nationalnanotechnology-initiative-environmental-health-and-safety-research
4 See https://www.nano.gov/ehsstrategymeeting
1
expands on the unmet needs from Part A, and adds specific actions to support the new
needs and challenges identified in the update.
Requests for Comment:
While OSTP invites all comments responsive to this request for comments, of key
interest is identifying any additional information and data sources that NEHI should
consider when updating the strategy. This notice serves as the follow-on to the Request
for Information referenced in a Federal Register Notice titled “Request for Information:
National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research
Strategy.”5 Please be specific in comments provided and/or recommendations for changes
to the digital resources. Response to this Request for Comments is voluntary.
Dated: June 10, 2024.
Stacy Murphy,
Deputy Chief Operating Officer/Security Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-13031 Filed: 6/12/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/13/2024]

See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/05/23/2023-10958/request-for-information-nationalnanotechnology-initiative-environmental-health-and-safety-research