[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15574-15575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7878]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-180]


Availability of the Draft Document, Public Health Assessment 
Guidance Manual (Update), Public Comment Draft

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment of the 
draft document, Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update). The 
draft is a revision and update of the 1992 Public Health Assessment 
Guidance Manual.

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SUMMARY: ATSDR is mandated to conduct public health assessments under 
Section 104(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)] 
and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) [42 U.S.C. 
6939a(c)].
    The general procedures for the conduct of public health assessments 
are included in the ATSDR Final Rule on Health Assessments and Health 
Effects Studies of Hazardous Substances Releases and Facilities (55 FR 
5136, February 13, 1990, codified at 42 CFR part 90). The revision of 
the 1992 Guidance Manual sets forth in detail the public health 
assessment process as developed and modified by ATSDR since 1992 and 
presents the methodologies and guidelines that will be used by ATSDR 
staff and agents of ATSDR in conducting public health assessments. 
Areas emphasized in this updated guidance include community 
involvement, exposure assessment, and weight-of-evidence (WOE) 
approaches to decision making about hazards associated with sites.

Availability

    The draft Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update) will be 
available to the public on or about March 25, 2002. A 60-day public 
comment period will be provided for the draft manual, which will begin 
on the date of this publication. The close of the comment period will 
be indicated on the front of the draft manual. Comments received after 
close of the public comment period will be considered at the discretion 
of ATSDR based upon what is deemed to be in the best interest of the 
general public.

[[Page 15575]]


ADDRESSES: Requests for the draft manual should be sent to: Chief, 
Program Evaluation, Records, and Information Services Branch, Agency 
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., MS 
E-56, Atlanta, GA 30333. Upon receipt of the request, one copy of the 
report will be forwarded free of charge. ATSDR reserves the right to 
provide only one copy of this draft document free of charge. The 
document may also be accessed at the ATSDR home page News section at 
www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
    One copy of all comments and supporting documents should be sent to 
the above address by the end of the comment period noted above. All 
written comments and data submitted in response to this notice and the 
draft manual should bear the docket control number ATSDR-180.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained by 
contacting Dr. Allan S. Susten, ATSDR (Mailstop E-32), 1600 Clifton 
Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 498-0007 or (toll 
free) 1-888-42-ATSDR, 1-888-422-8737, or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ATSDR is required by CERCLA to conduct 
public health assessments at all sites on, or proposed for inclusion 
on, the National Priorities List [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(6)(A)] and may also 
conduct public health assessments in response to a request from the 
public [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(6)(B)]. In addition, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) may request the conduct of a public health 
assessment under RCRA [42 U.S.C. 6939a(b)].
    The ATSDR public health assessment is the evaluation of data and 
information on the release of hazardous substances into the environment 
in order to assess any past, current or future impact on public health 
and develop or recommend appropriate public health actions which could 
include health studies or actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or 
prevent human health effects.
    The ATSDR public health assessment includes an analysis and 
statement of the public health implications posed by the site under 
consideration. This analysis generally involves an evaluation of 
relevant environmental data, the potential for exposures to substances 
related to the site, available toxicologic, epidemiologic and health 
outcome data, and community concerns associated with a site where 
hazardous substances have been released. The public health assessment 
also identifies populations living or working on or near hazardous 
waste sites for which more extensive public health actions or studies 
are indicated.
    This notice announces the projected availability of the draft 
Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update). The manual has 
undergone extensive internal review and will be subjected to scientific 
and technical review by the ATSDR Board of Scientific Counselors. ATSDR 
encourages the public's participation and comment on the further 
development of this manual.

    Dated: March 27, 2002.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 02-7878 Filed 4-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P