[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 152 (Monday, August 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48238-48239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19914]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6847-4]


Science Advisory Board; Notification of Public Advisory Committee 
Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 
notice is hereby given that the Environmental Health Committee (EHC) of 
the US EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB), will meet on August 30, 2000 
in Courtroom B, at the International Trade Commission building, 400 E 
Street, SW., Washington DC. The meeting will begin 9:00 am and adjourn 
no later than 5 pm. All times noted are Eastern Daylight Time. The 
meeting is open to the public, however, seating is limited and 
available on a first come basis. Important Notice: Documents that are 
the subject of SAB reviews are normally available from the originating 
EPA office and are not available from the SAB Office--information 
concerning availability of documents from the relevant Program Office 
is included below.

Purpose of the Meeting

    The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) data base contains 
EPA's consensus scientific position on potential adverse human health 
effects that may result from chronic exposure to specific agents in the 
environment. First publically available in 1988, the earliest IRIS 
assessments provided the results of the EPA deliberations culminating 
in consensus health hazard conclusions. Gradually the assessments 
included more of the details of the data and of the considerations 
which led to the consensus conclusions. Since 1995 (when the IRIS Pilot 
program was undertaken), EPA has taken several steps to ensure that the 
best available scientific information is included in IRIS assessments, 
including public requests for all relevant information to be submitted 
to EPA for consideration in the assessments, and external peer reviews 
of the assessments.
    In response to a directive contained in an October 1999 report from 
Congress (HR 106-379) regarding EPA's appropriations for FY2000, EPA 
has evaluated the characterization of data variability and uncertainty 
in IRIS assessments. EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) 
National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) first consulted 
with the SAB Executive Committee (EC) on Nov. 29, 1999, about a 
proposed approach to this study. This approach involved assembling a 
team of independent, qualified individuals, external to EPA, to 
evaluate a representative set of IRIS assessments. ORD/NCEA provided a 
progress report to the SAB at their March 2000 meeting (at which the EC 
suggested further enhancements to the study approach), and at the EC's 
July 12, 2000 meeting. The study undertaken reflects the SAB's advice 
on how best to proceed, given available resources and the Congress's 
deadline of October 2000.

Charge to the Committee

    The Charge asks the EHC to respond to the following three 
questions:
    (a) How well did the study conform to the study plan developed with 
the SAB EC (November 1999 and March 2000)?
    (b) Does the SAB concur with the findings of the reviewers?
    (c) What further improvements, if any, might the Agency make in 
IRIS documentation in response to the study results?

Availability of Review Materials

    The principal review document, Characterization of Data Uncertainty 
and Variability in IRIS Assessments, Pre-Pilot vs Pilot/post-Pilot, is 
available on the Internet at the SAB website (http://www.epa.gov/sab), 
or by request to Ms. Karen Hogan, phone (202) 564-3403, or by email to 
[email protected].

For Further Information

    Any member of the public wishing further information concerning 
this meeting or wishing to submit brief oral comments (10 minutes or 
less) must contact Samuel Rondberg, Designated Federal Officer, Science 
Advisory Board (1400A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone (301) 812-
2560, FAX (410) 286-2689; or via e-mail at [email protected]. Requests 
for oral comments must be in writing (e-mail, fax or mail) and received 
by Mr. Rondberg no later than noon (EDT) on August 21, 2000.

Providing Oral or Written Comments at SAB Meetings

    It is the policy of the Science Advisory Board to accept written 
public comments of any length, and to accommodate oral public comments 
whenever possible. The Science Advisory Board expects that public 
statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of 
previously submitted oral or written statements. Oral Comments: In 
general, each individual or group requesting an oral presentation at a 
face-to-face meeting will be limited to a total time of ten minutes. 
For teleconference meetings, opportunities for oral comment will 
usually be limited to no more than three minutes per speaker and no 
more than fifteen minutes total. Deadlines for getting on the public 
speaker list for a meeting are given above. Speakers should bring at 
least 35 copies of their comments and presentation slides for 
distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting. Written 
Comments: Although the SAB accepts written comments until the date of 
the meeting (unless otherwise stated), written comments should be 
received in the SAB Staff Office at least one week prior to the meeting 
date so that the comments may be made available to the committee for 
their consideration. Comments should be supplied to the appropriate DFO 
at the address/contact information noted above in the following 
formats: one hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy 
via e-mail (acceptable file format:

[[Page 48239]]

WordPerfect, Word, or Rich Text files (in IBM-PC/Windows 95/98 format). 
Those providing written comments and who attend the meeting are also 
asked to bring 25 copies of their comments for public distribution.

General Information

    Additional information concerning the Science Advisory Board, its 
structure, function, and composition, may be found on the SAB Website 
(http://www.epa.gov/sab) and in The FY1999 Annual Report of the Staff 
Director which is available from the SAB Publications Staff at (202) 
564-4533 or via fax at (202) 501-0256. Committee rosters, draft Agendas 
and meeting calendars are also located on our website.

Meeting Access

    Individuals requiring special accommodation at this meeting, 
including wheelchair access to the conference room, should contact the 
DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting so that 
appropriate arrangements can be made.

    Dated: July 31, 2000.
A. Robert Flaak,
Acting Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. 00-19914 Filed 8-4-00; 8:45 am]
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