[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 45858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21910]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Announces the 
Following Meeting

    Name: Public Meeting to Review and Re-evaluate Safe Airborne 
Exposure Limits (AELs) of Chemical Agent Sulfur Mustard (HD).
    Time and Dates: 8 am-5 pm, September 11, 2001. 8 am-12 pm, 
September 12, 2001.
    Place: Sheraton Colony Square Hotel, 188 14th Street NE at 
Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30361, Tel: (404) 892-6000 or (800) 
422-7895.
    Status: Open to the public, limited only by space available. The 
meeting room accommodates approximately 50 people.
    Background: The chemical warfare material agent HD is no longer 
manufactured in the United States; however, it is currently stored at 
seven locations in the continental United States by the Department of 
Defense (DOD). Public Law 99-145 (50 U.S.C. 1521) mandates that these 
stockpiled lethal chemical agents be destroyed. In 1970, Public Law 91-
121 and Pubic Law 91-441 (50 U.S.C. 1521) mandated that the Department 
of Health and Human Services must review DOD plans for disposing of the 
munitions and make recommendations to protect human health. In 1987, 
CDC requested public comment on recommendations for protecting human 
health and the environment against potential adverse effects of long-
term exposure to low doses of agents G, GB, VX, mustard (H, HD, T) and 
lewisite (L). CDC incorporated the public comments and in 1988 
recommended control limits for airborne exposures to agents G, GB, VX, 
H, HD, T and L for protection of workers involved in the 
demilitarization process and for the general public living in areas 
adjacent to demilitarization facilities. The U.S. Army adopted these 
control limits into policy in 1990. CDC held a public meeting in 
August, 2000 to re-evaluate the limits for agents G, GB, and VX based 
on newly developed risk models and any updated scientific data. CDC 
will soon publish its final recommendations for these levels in the 
Federal Register. As a follow-up to the August, 2000 public meeting, 
CDC will host a meeting this September to discuss how to conduct a 
similar re-evaluation of the exposure limits for agent HD in a 
demilitarization operational setting.
    Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to review the AELs set for 
HD, based on CDC's 1988 recommendations and to determine any 
modifications required to update these limits to reflect current 
findings. Based on newly available scientific studies and data, CDC 
will engage HD agent experts and the public in an evaluation of the 
current limits and recommend updated limits based on the public 
comments. To facilitate the public dialogue, CDC will provide a forum 
for general public interaction and serve as a vehicle for members of 
the public to provide their individual concerns.
    Matters to be Discussed: Agenda items include (1) presentation of 
newly available scientific studies and data, (2) panel discussion by HD 
agent specialists, (3) recommended modifications to existing levels 
based on panel comments, and (4) collect public comments. There will be 
time for public input, questions, and comments.
    Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sascha Beck, Chemical Demilitarization 
Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, NCEH, 
CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE (F-16), Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-3724, 
telephone 770/488-4078, fax 770/488-4127.
    The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been 
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to 
announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, 
for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency 
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

    Dated: August 23, 2001.
Carolyn J. Russell,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-21910 Filed 8-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P