[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 46485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19149]



[[Page 46485]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Vietnamese 
Studies Ad Hoc Advisory Meeting

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting to be convened by the 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to discuss 
and receive input on scientific issues relating to possible studies in 
Vietnam relating to health and environmental aspects of Agent Orange 
exposure. Agent Orange was used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War 
and included, as contaminants, dioxin and related compounds. The format 
for the meeting is being developed; however, it is anticipated that (1) 
A panel of invited experts will identify, in public session, issues 
related to conducting studies in Vietnam and (2) time will be reserved 
for attendees to contribute issues and recommendations and/or comment 
on the panel's discussions.
    The meeting will be held on Friday, August 18, 2000, from 
approximately 10 am to 5 pm at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort and 
Conference Center, One Golf Course Drive, Monterey, California, USA 
93940, phone (831) 372-1234. The date and location of the meeting 
coincide with the 20th International Symposium on Halogenated 
Environmental Organic Pollutants and POP's, an annual conference of 
dioxin researchers, to take advantage of the attendance at that meeting 
of dioxin experts and the public interested in issues related to dioxin 
and Agent Orange.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FY2000 Appropriations Conference Report 
included the following language: ``* * * NIEHS is strongly urged to 
conduct research on the health and environmental aspects of agent 
orange and dioxin in Southeast Asia, in particular, Vietnam provided 
that the Vietnamese government supports collaborative research between 
U.S. and Vietnamese scientists * * *'' The Vietnamese government has 
agreed to discuss these issues with the NIEHS at a time and place to be 
decided. Therefore, the NIEHS is seeking advice on the feasibility of 
conducting studies in Vietnam to learn more about the health and 
environmental aspects of Agent Orange and dioxin in Vietnam resulting 
from environmental exposure to Agent Orange. The Institute is convening 
the ad hoc public meeting on August 18 to solicit advice from 
scientific experts and other stakeholders and to learn what scientific 
issues and concerns would be associated with such studies. The NIEHS 
will use this information as it develops a dialog with the Vietnamese 
government and Vietnamese researchers about possible research agendas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NTP Liaison and Scientific Review 
Office, NIEHS, PO Box 12233, A3-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 
phone (919) 541-0530 or email: [email protected]

    Dated: July 19, 2000.
Kenneth Olden,
Director, NIEHS/NTP.
[FR Doc. 00-19149 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P