[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5844-5845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2906]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


National Toxicology Program (NTP); The NTP Annual Plan for Fiscal 
Year 2001; Notice of Availability and Request for Public Comments

SUMMARY: The NTP Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2001 outlines the NTP 
research program for studying the toxicity of physical and chemical 
agents and for developing methods for toxicological evaluations. The 
Report also provides information about efforts to develop and validate 
alternative and improved methods and identifies NTP resource 
allocations.

Background

    The NTP was established within the Public Health Service of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in November 1978. The 
NTP is an interagency program whose mission is to evaluate agents of 
public health concern by developing and applying the tools of modern 
toxicology and molecular biology. In carrying out its mission, the NTP 
has several goals to:
     Broaden the spectrum of toxicological information obtained 
on selected chemicals;
     Develop and validate more sensitive and specific test 
methods;
     Develop improved strategies for generating scientific data 
that strengthen the scientific foundation for risk assessments; and
     Communicate NTP plans and results to government agencies, 
the medical and scientific communities, and the public.
    A balanced program was created that uses chronic exposure studies, 
short-term exposure studies, the collection and application of 
mechanistic information, model development, alternative methods, and 
human studies. Scientific activities are divided into several major 
program areas: Carcinogenesis, risk assessment research, alternative 
test systems, and toxicology. Toxicology covers activities in 
immunotoxicology, neurobehavioral toxicology, reproductive and 
developmental toxicology, respiratory toxicology and phototoxicology. 
Program and project leaders along with contact information are provided 
in the plan.
    The NTP is an interagency program headquartered at the National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National 
Institutes of Health. The NIEHS along with the National Center for 
Toxicological Research of the Food and Drug Administration and the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention are NTP core agencies. The Director 
of the NIEHS is also the NTP Director.
    The NTP receives advice from two primary external advisory groups. 
The NTP Executive Committee provides primary program oversight and 
links DHHS health research institutes and centers with Federal health 
regulatory agencies. This effort helps to ensure that the NTP's basic 
and applied toxicology research and development activities are 
responsive to regulatory and public health needs.
    The NTP Board of Scientific Counselors provides scientific 
oversight

[[Page 5845]]

by advising the NTP Director on scientific content and evaluating the 
merit and overall quality of NTP science. The Board has two standing 
subcommittees, the Report on Carcinogens Subcommittee and the Technical 
Reports Review Subcommittee. The Secretary, DHHS, appoints the members.

Availability of the NTP Annual Plan

    The NTP Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2001 is available 
electronically on the NTP Web site, http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov. 
The report is also in the process of being printed and hard copies will 
be available from NTP Central Data Management (NIEHS, PO Box 12233, MD 
E1-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone 919-431-3419; fax 
919-541-3687; [email protected]).

Solicitation of Public Comments

    The NTP welcomes comments on the NTP Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 
2001. Written comments should be submitted to Dr. Mary S. Wolfe, NTP 
Executive Secretary (NIEHS, PO Box 12233, MD A3-07, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27709; fax 919-541-0295; [email protected]). 
Persons submitting comments are asked to provide their name, contact 
information, and sponsoring organization, if any.

    Dated: January 11, 2002.
Kenneth Olden,
Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 02-2906 Filed 2-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P