[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56191-56192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28184]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[ATSDR-137]


Availability of Draft Toxicological Profiles

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 104(i)(3) [42 U.S.C. 
9604(i)(3)] directs the Administrator of ATSDR to prepare toxicological 
profiles of priority hazardous substances and to revise and publish 
each updated toxicological profile as necessary. This notice announces 
the availability of the 12th set of toxicological profiles, one being a 
new draft and five updated drafts, prepared by ATSDR for review and 
comment.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on these draft toxicological 
profiles must be received on or before February 22, 1999. Comments 
received after the close of the public comment period will be 
considered at the discretion of ATSDR based upon what is deemed to be 
in the best interest of the general public.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft toxicological profiles 
should be sent to the attention of Ms. Loretta Norman, Division of 
Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop 
E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Comments 
regarding the draft toxicological profiles should be sent to the 
attention of Dr. Ganga Choudhary, Division of Toxicology, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton 
Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
    Requests for the draft toxicological profiles must be in writing, 
and must specifically identify the hazardous substance(s) profile(s) 
that you wish to receive. ATSDR reserves the right to provide only one 
copy of each profile requested, free of charge. In case of extended 
distribution delays, requestors will be notified.
    Written comments and other data submitted in response to this 
notice and the draft toxicological profiles should bear the docket 
control number ATSDR-137. Send one copy of all comments and three 
copies of all supporting documents to Dr. Ganga Choudhary at the above 
stated address by the end of the comment period. Because all public 
comments regarding ATSDR toxicological profiles are available for 
public inspection [after the profile is published in final], no 
confidential business information should be submitted in response to 
this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Loretta Norman, Division of 
Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop 
E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 
639-6322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization 
Act (SARA) (Pub. L. 99-499) amends the Comprehensive

[[Page 56192]]

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or 
Superfund) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) by establishing certain 
responsibilities for the ATSDR and the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) with regard to hazardous substances which are most commonly found 
at facilities on the CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL). Among these 
responsibilities is that the Administrator of ATSDR prepare 
toxicological profiles for substances included on the priority lists of 
hazardous substances. These lists identified 275 hazardous substances 
that ATSDR and EPA determined pose the most significant potential 
threat to human health. The availability of the revised priority list 
of 275 hazardous substances was announced in the Federal Register on 
November 17, 1997 (62 FR 61332). For prior versions of the list of 
substances see Federal Register notices dated April 17, 1987 (52 FR 
12866); October 20, 1988 (53 FR 41280); October 26, 1989 (54 FR 43619); 
October 17, 1990 (55 FR 42067); October 17, 1991 (56 FR 52166); October 
28, 1992 (57 FR 48801); February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9486); and April 29, 
1996 (61 FR 18744). [CERCLA also requires ATSDR to assure the 
initiation of a research program to fill data needs associated with the 
substances.]
    Section 104(i)(3) of CERCLA [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(3)] outlines the 
content of these profiles. Each profile will include an examination, 
summary and interpretation of available toxicological information and 
epidemiologic evaluations. This information and these data are to be 
used to identify the levels of significant human exposure for the 
substance and the associated health effects. The profiles must also 
include a determination of whether adequate information on the health 
effects of each substance is available or in the process of 
development. When adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in 
cooperation with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is required to 
assure the initiation of research to determine these health effects.
    Although key studies for each of the substances were considered 
during the profile development process, this Federal Register notice 
seeks to solicit any additional studies, particularly unpublished data 
and ongoing studies, which will be evaluated for possible addition to 
the profiles now or in the future.
    The following draft toxicological profiles will be made available 
to the public on or about October 17, 1998.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Document                 Hazardous substance          CAS No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................  Arsenic.......................   007440-38-2
                            Dimethylarsenic Acid..........   000075-60-5
2.........................  Chromium......................   007440-47-3
                            Chromium, Hexavalent..........   018540-29-9
                                                             007789-09-5
                                                             013765-19-0
                                                             001333-82-0
                                                             007758-97-6
                                                             007789-00-6
                                                             007778-50-9
                                                             007775-11-3
                                                             007789-06-2
                                                             013530-65-9
3.........................  Endosulfan....................   000115-29-7
                            Endosulfan, alpha.............   000959-98-8
                            Endosulfan, sulfate...........   001031-07-8
                            Endosulfan, beta..............   033213-65-9
4.........................  Ethion........................   000563-12-2
5.........................  Methylene Chloride............   000075-09-2
6.........................  Toluene.......................   000108-88-3
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All profiles issued as ``Drafts for Public Comment'' represent 
ATSDR's best efforts to provide important toxicological information on 
priority hazardous substances. We are seeking public comments and 
additional information which may be used to supplement these profiles. 
ATSDR remains committed to providing a public comment period for these 
documents as a means to best serve public health and our clients.

    Dated: October 15, 1998.
Donna Garland,
Acting Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 98-28184 Filed 10-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P