[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60685-60686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24414]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-185]


Availability of Draft Interaction Profiles

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of three draft 
interaction profiles prepared by ATSDR for review and comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments on these draft documents must 
be received on or before November 30, 2002. Comments received after the 
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.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft interaction profiles should 
be sent to the attention of Ms. Franchetta Stephens, Division of 
Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop 
E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
    Requests for the draft interaction profiles must be in writing, and 
must specifically identify the interaction profile(s) that you wish to 
receive. The documents will be primarily available in pdf files. If you 
do not have a computer, you can ask for a hard copy. ATSDR reserves the 
right to provide only one copy of each profile requested, free of 
charge. In case of extended distribution delays, requestors will be 
notified.
    Interaction profiles will also be available on ATSDR's Web site at 
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
    Written comments and other data submitted in response to this 
notice and the draft interaction profiles should bear the docket 
control number ATSDR-185. Send one copy of all comments and three 
copies of all supporting documents to Dr. Hana Pohl, ATSDR, Division of 
Toxicology, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 by 
the end of the comment period. Because all public comments regarding 
ATSDR interaction profiles are available for public inspection after 
the documents are published in final, no confidential business 
information or other confidential information should be submitted in 
response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Franchetta Stephens, Division of 
Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop 
E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 
(888)422-8737 or (404)498-0720.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These interaction profiles were developed by 
ATSDR for hazardous substances at Department of Energy (DOE) and 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) waste sites under 
section 104(i)(3) and (5) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). This public law 
mandates that ATSDR shall assess whether adequate information on health 
effects is available for the priority hazardous substances. Where such 
information is not available or under development, ATSDR shall, in 
cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, initiate a program of 
research to determine these health effects. The Act further directs 
that where feasible, ATSDR shall develop methods to determine the 
health effects of substances in combination with other substances with 
which they are commonly found. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) 
of 1996 requires that factors to be considered in establishing, 
modifying, or revoking tolerances for pesticide chemical residues shall 
include the available information concerning the cumulative effects of 
substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity, and combined 
exposure levels to the substance and other related substances. The FQPA 
requires that the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency consult with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services (which includes ATSDR) in implementing some of the provisions 
of the act.
    To carry out these legislative mandates, ATSDR has developed a 
chemical mixtures program. As part of the mixtures program, ATSDR 
developed a guidance manual that outlines the latest methods for 
mixtures health assessment. In addition, a series of documents called 
interaction profiles are being developed for certain priority mixtures 
that are of special concern to

[[Page 60686]]

ATSDR. The purpose of an interaction profile is to evaluate data on the 
toxicology of the ``whole'' priority mixture (if available) and on the 
joint toxic action of the chemicals in the mixture in order to 
recommend approaches for the exposure-based assessment of the potential 
hazard to public health.
    Although key studies for each of the mixtures were considered 
during the profile development process, this Federal Register notice 
seeks to solicit any additional studies, particularly unpublished data 
and ongoing studies, which will be evaluated for possible addition to 
the profiles now or in the future.
    The following draft documents will be available to the public on or 
about, September 1, 2002.
    Document 1: Interaction profile for cesium, cobalt, polychlorinated 
biphenyls, strontium, and trichloroethylene.
    Document 2: Interaction profile for arsenic, hydrazines, jet fuels, 
strontium, trichloroethylene.
    Document 3: Interaction profile for cyanide, fluoride, nitrate, and 
uranium.
    All documents issued as ``Drafts for Public Comment'' represent 
ATSDR's best efforts to provide important toxicological information on 
interactions of priority hazardous substances. We are seeking public 
comments and additional information which may be used to supplement 
these documents. ATSDR remains committed to providing a public comment 
period for these documents as a means to best serve public health and 
our clients.

    Dated: September 19, 2002.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 02-24414 Filed 9-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P