[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65814-65815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32742]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
National Institutes of Health
Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information;
Dissemination (EMFRAPID) Program; Environmental Toxicology Program,
Office of Special Programs; National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences, National Institutes of Health
NOTICE: Second EMF Science Review Symposium--EMFRAPID Program.
Background
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and
the Department of Energy (DOE) are coordinating the implementation of
the Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Research and Public Information
Dissemination (RAPID) Program. EMFRAPID was established by the 1992
Energy Policy Act (Section 2118 for Public Law 102-486) which was
signed in October 1992. This five-year effort is designed to determine
the potential effect from exposure to 60 Hz electric and magnetic
fields on biological systems, especially those produced by the
generation, transmission and use of electric energy. DOE is responsible
for characterizing field exposures and for mitigating exposures which
may be hazardous. The NIEHS is responsible for the development and
implementation of a research program on the possible human health
effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF). The RAPID Program
requires the NIEHS to report on the extent to which exposure to
electric and magnetic fields adversely affects human health.
The NIEHS has three groups that assist in managing and directing
the science portion of RAPID and who will provide guidance on reporting
on the health effects of electric and magnetic fields. The first, known
as the Interagency Agency Committee on Electric and Magnetic Fields
(IAC) is composed of representatives from 10 federal agencies with
responsibilities related to electric and magnetic fields (DOE, NIEHS,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Defense
(DOD), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department
of Transportation (DOT), the Rural Electrification Administration
(REA), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC)). The IAC, established by the President of
the United States, must also prepare a final report for Congress.
The second is the National Electric and Magnetic Field Advisory
Committee (NEMFAC). NEMFAC consists of representatives from public
interest groups, organized labor, state governments, academia, and
industry. This groups advises DOE and NIEHS on the design and
implementation of the program. NEMFAC also provides recommendations to
the IAC.
Finally, the NIEHSA has an internal EMF Steering Committee (SC)
consisting of senior scientists with broad programmatic
responsibilities and a broad scientific perspective. The SC manages all
aspects of the EMFRAPID Research Program at the NIEHS.
NIEHS Report on Human Health Effects of EMF
The report development process combines a critical evaluation of
the scientific literature with an assessment of the strength of the
evidence for human health effects resulting from EMF exposures. To
accomplish the initial part of this process, the NIEHS is convening a
series of open, public symposia on science related to EMF exposures and
their biological effects for these study areas: theoretical/in vitro
research findings, epidemiological results, and in vivo/clinical
laboratory findings. The symposia (March 1997, January 1998, and April
1998) provide
[[Page 65815]]
a forum for the discussion and evaluation of the research findings in
the selected area. At each symposia the participants consider the
quality and reproducibility of the research findings for evaluating the
degree to which scientific evidence can support a causal linkage
between EMF and biological/health effects. Written reports summarizing
the deliberations of breakout group discussion sessions are publicly
available for the first symposium (send name and address to f:919-541-
0144 or from EMFRAPID Progrm/LCBRA, NIEHS, PO Box 12233, MD EC-16,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709). The participants for each symposium
include scientists studying EMF effects in the science area being
reviewed, experts on measuring and producing EMF exposures, risk
assessment experts, and recognized scientists in the area being
evaluated who may have little EMF experience but can contribute to a
broader understanding of the research findings.
Following the symposia a working group meeting is planned for June
1998. The working group will use information from the symposia's
discussions as well as perform on overall critical evaluation of the
literature and produce a report. This document will draw conclusions on
the strength and robustness of the data and its implications for human
health effects and disease etiology.
Per the request from Congress, the NIEHS will use the final report
of the working group, information obtained from the science review
symposia and other relevant information to prepare a report to Congress
on the potential for human health effects from exposure to EMF that
result from the production and distribution of electricity. This report
will be made publicly available at the time it is sent to Congress.
Detailed information about the EMFRAPID Program is available at the
time it is sent to Congress. Detailed information about the EMFRAPID
Program is available on the world wide web at www.niehs.nih.gov/
emfrapid/home.htm.
Science Review Symposium on Epidemiology: Open to the Public
In its series of science review symposia, the second EMF Science
Review Symposium is scheduled for January 12-14, 1998 at the Camberley
Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas. This meeting includes plenary
overview talks on exposure assessment, methodological issues and
problems in epidemiological studies as well as substantive talks on
disease endpoints. Breakout group sessions are planned for in-depth
discussions of the research findings from epidemiological studies as
well as methodological and exposure assessment issues. This meeting is
open to the public and the registration fee is $85; for registration
information contact t:919-541-7534 or f:919-541-0144.
Science Review Symposium on Clinical and In vivo Research Studies
Planning is underway for the third EMF Science Review Symposium,
April 6-9, 1998 at the Hyatt Regency at Civic Plaza, Phoenix, Arizona.
To receive additional information about this meeting, send your name
and address to f:919-541-0144 or EMFRAPID Program/LCBRA, NIEHS, PO Box
12233, MD EC-16, Research Triange Park, NC 27709.
Dated: December 2, 1997.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
[FR Doc. 97-32742 Filed 12-15-97; 8:45 am]
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