[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 24151-24153] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-11276] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPPTS-00270; FRL-6081-1] High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical Initiative; Periodic Update Meetings Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Action: Notice of public meetings. [[Page 24152]] SUMMARY: Over the next 6 months, EPA plans to hold several meetings on the High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical Initiative. The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for periodic updates on the Initiative's HPV Chemical Challenge program, as well as to provide a forum where interested parties can contribute information, discuss and give individual perspectives on various topics related to the HPV Chemical Challenge program. The HPV Chemical Challenge program, which was established in partnership with industry and environmental groups, is a voluntary program that is intended to make basic toxicity data on widely used industrial chemicals available to the public over the next 6 years. Prior to each meeting, EPA intends to develop an agenda for the meeting in consultation with the stakeholders. The meeting agenda will be made publicly available as early as possible prior to each of the meetings as described in Unit II. of this notice. Each meeting will be open to the public, but participation in discussions may be limited to those who pre-register with the Agency as described in Unit III. of this notice. DATES: The first meeting will be held on May 20, 1999, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Requests to participate in this meeting, submitted according to the instructions in Unit III. of this notice, must be received by EPA 5 working days before each meeting. As discussed in Unit VI. of this notice, subsequent meetings will be held in July, September, and November, with dates and/or times still to be determined. ADDRESSES: The first meeting, May 20, 1999, will be held at: API, 1220 L St. NW., 9th floor, Washington, DC 20005. Metro stop: McPherson Square. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information: Christine Augustyniak, Associate Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone numbers: 202-554-1404 and TDD: 202-554-0551; e-mail address: TSCA- H[email protected]. For technical information: David Sarokin, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7408), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone number: 202-260-6396; fax number: 202-260-2219; e-mail address: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Does this Notice Apply to Me? This notice applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe all the entities potentially affected by this notice. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this notice to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section. II. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of Documents Discussed in this Notice? 1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this document and various other documents related to the Agency's HPV Chemical Initiative and the HPV Chemical Challenge program from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. To access this document, on the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal Register - Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/homepage/fedrgstr/. To access information about the HPV Chemical Initiative, go to http:// www.epa.gov/chemrtk. 2. In person. If you have any questions or need additional information about this action, you may contact the technical person identified in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section. In addition, the Agency has established an official record for the HPV Chemical Challenge program under administrative record number AR- 201. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this document, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information related to the HPV Chemical Initiative, including any information claimed as confidential business information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments that may be submitted during an applicable comment period, is available for inspection in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number of the Center is (202) 260-7099. III. How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting? You may submit a request to participate in this meeting through the mail, in person, or electronically. Do not submit any information in your request that you consider to be CBI. Your request must be received by EPA no later than 5 working days before the meeting in which you would like to participate. EPA will make every attempt to accommodate requests received by this date, taking into account the time constraints of the agenda for the meeting, and on a first come basis. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify administrative record number AR-201 in the subject line on the first page of your request. 1. By mail. You may submit a written requests to: Irina Vaysman (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 517 East Tower, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. 2. In person or by courier. You may deliver a written request to: Irina Vaysman, Rm. 517 East Tower, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. Submissions can be delivered between 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. 3. Electronically. You may submit a request electronically by E- mail to: http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You must avoid the use of any special characters and any form of encryption in your E-mail. All E-mail must be identified by the administrative record number AR-201. IV. What is the HPV Chemical Challenge Program? The HPV Challenge Program, a key element of the Chemical Right-to- Know initiative was announced last year on the eve of Earth Day, by Vice President Gore and EPA Administrator Carol Browner. As part of this initiative, EPA, in partnership with industry and environmental groups, created a voluntary chemical testing program which will make basic toxicity data on about 2,800 widely used industrial chemicals (chemicals produced in excess of one million pounds annually) available to the public over the next 6 years. Testing will ensue only when existing data are not adequate. The testing will be carried out in a manner consistent with the internationally-recognized testing protocol (as developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and [[Page 24153]] Development (OECD) Screening Information Data Sets (SIDS) program) to ensure that testing can be contributed to the international effort and, conversely, that international SIDS testing and assessments can be used to fulfill the Challenge Program's requirements. V. What Will be Discussed at the Public Meetings? The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for periodic updates on the HPV Chemical Challenge program, as well as to provide a forum where interested parties can contribute information, discuss and give individual perspectives on various topics related to the HPV Chemical Challenge program. Each meeting will be open to the public, but participation in discussions may be limited to those who pre-register with the Agency as described in Unit III. of this notice. An agenda for each meeting, which EPA will develop in consultation with the stakeholders, will be made publicly available as early as possible prior to the meeting. The agenda for each meeting will be distributed to the participants who registered for that meeting and will be posted on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk. VI. Where Will Subsequent Public Meetings be Held? EPA intends to hold additional meetings in July, September, and November, the dates, times, and locations for which still need to be determined. When scheduled, EPA will announce and provide relevant information about the meeting on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/ chemrtk. The dates, times, and locations for these subsequent meetings will not be published in the Federal Register. Interested parties should consult the EPA Internet site indicated above for up-to-date information about these subsequent meetings. List of Subjects Environmental protection. Dated: April 30, 1999. Joseph A. Carra, Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. 99-11276 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F