[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47478-47479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22760]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00740; FRL-6801-6]


FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: There will be a 1-day meeting of the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to review a set of issues being 
considered by the Agency pertaining to the regulatory applicability of 
the local lymph node assay. Seating at the meeting will be on a first-
come basis. Individuals requiring special accommodations at this 
meeting, including wheelchair access, should contact Paul Lewis at the 
address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 
business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can 
be made.

DATES: The meeting will be held on October 22, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 
5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 
1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. The telephone number 
for the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel is (703) 486-1111.
    Requests to participate may be submitted by mail, electronically, 
or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method 
as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure 
proper receipt by EPA, your request must identify docket control number 
OPP-00740 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Lewis, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of Science Coordination and Policy, (7202), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 305-5369; fax number: 
(703) 605-0656; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, 
however, be of interest to persons who are or may be required to 
conduct testing of chemical substances under the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), FIFRA, and FQPA. Since other entities may also be 
interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific 
entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions 
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, 
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This 
Document and Other Related Documents?

    1. Electronically. A meeting agenda and several background 
documents relevant to this meeting are now available. EPA's primary 
position paper and questions to the FIFRA SAP should be available as 
soon as possible, but no later than late September. In addition, the 
Agency may provide additional background documents as the materials 
becomes available. You may obtain electronic copies of these documents, 
and certain other related documents that might be available 
electronically, from the FIFRA SAP Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap. To access this document on the Home Page 
select Federal Register notice announcing this meeting. You can also go 
directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    2. In person. The Agency has established an administrative record 
for this meeting under docket control number OPP-00740. The 
administrative record consists of the documents specifically referenced 
in this notice, any public comments received during an applicable 
comment period, and other material information, including any 
information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This 
administrative record includes the documents that are physically 
located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in 
those documents. In addition, the Agency may provide additional 
background documents as the material becomes available. The public 
version of the administrative 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 Public 
Information and Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 
#2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA, from 8:30

[[Page 47479]]

a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.

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 is considered CBI. To ensure proper receipt by 
EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control number OPP-00740 
in the subject line on the first page of your request. Interested 
persons are permitted to file written statements before the meeting. To 
the extent that time permits, and upon advance written request to the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, interested persons 
may be permitted by the Chair of the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel to 
present oral statements at the meeting. The request should identify the 
name of the individual making the presentation, the organization (if 
any) the individual will represent, and any requirements for 
audiovisual equipment (e.g., overhead projector, 35 mm projector, 
chalkboard, etc.). There is no limit on the extent of written comments 
for consideration by the Panel, but oral statements before the Panel 
are limited to approximately 5 minutes. The Agency also urges the 
public to submit written comments in lieu of oral presentations. 
Persons wishing to make oral and/or written statements at the meeting 
should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
and submit 30 copies of their presentation and/or remarks to the Panel. 
The Agency encourages that written statements be submitted before the 
meeting to provide Panel Members the time necessary to consider and 
review the comments.
    1. By mail. You may submit a request to: Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services 
Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. In person or by courier. Public Information and Records 
Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Information Resources and Services Division 
(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection 
Agency, Rm. 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, 
VA. The PIRIB is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The PIRIB telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    3. Electronically. You may submit your request electronically by e-
mail to: [email protected]. Do not submit any information 
electronically that you consider to be CBI. Use WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or 
ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters and any form 
of encryption. Be sure to identify by docket control number OPP-00740. 
You may also file a request online at many Federal Depository 
Libraries.

IV. Background

A. Purpose of the Meeting

    The purpose of this meeting is to seek the SAP's comments on the 
regulatory applicability of the local lymph node assay (LLNA). The LLNA 
is a test method for assessing the allergic contact dermatitis (skin 
sensitization) potential of chemicals and compounds. The assay was 
found to be scientifically valid by an Interagency Coordinating 
Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) external 
peer review as an alternative to traditional guinea pig tests (e.g., 
Buehler test and Guinea Pig Maximization test). It was also found to 
provide animal welfare advantages.
    In 1996, the SAP gave approval to the incorporation of the LLNA in 
the Agency's harmonized OPPTS test guidelines (e.g., 870.200 Skin 
Sensitization) as a screening method. The Agency has now revised its 
harmonized OPPTS test guidelines to incorporate the LLNA for use as a 
stand alone method for assessing skin sensitization potential under the 
appropriate circumstances. These revisions and details of how the LLNA 
is proposed to fit into both EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs and EPA, 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics evaluations of skin 
sensitization will be presented to the SAP for comment.

B. Panel Report

    The Panel will prepare a report of its recommendations to the 
Agency in approximately 60 days. The report will be posted on the FIFRA 
SAP web site or may be obtained by contacting the PIRIB at the address 
or telephone number listed in Unit I.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.

    Dated: August 31, 2001.

Vanessa Vu,
Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy.
[FR Doc. 01-22760 Filed 9-11-01;8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S