[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23133-23134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10650]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRN-7490-7]


Workshop on Asbestos Mechanisms of Toxicity

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a workshop to address the mechanisms of 
asbestos toxicity and to review the most

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recent state of science on asbestos. The purpose of the workshop is to 
discuss the molecular induction of asbestos related disease, lung/
pleural pathogenesis, and the extrapolation of a dose response 
relationship. Expert panelists will discuss the following topic areas: 
Molecular, chemical and biochemical mechanisms of asbestos fiber 
toxicity; mechanisms of fiber-inducing lung and pleural disease; and 
exposure and dose response relationships. A summary report will be 
prepared documenting the discussions of the workshop, and this report 
will be publicly available and will support EPA's administrative record 
for IRIS. This meeting is being sponsored by EPA's Office of Solid 
Waste and Emergency Response and by EPA's Office of Research and 
Development.

DATES: The workshop will be held on June 12-13, 2003. The workshop 
hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, and from 8 
a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Observers will be encouraged to 
submit comments on panel discussions currently scheduled on Thursday 
and Friday.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in 
Chicago, Illinois. To attend the workshop as an observer, contact the 
MNG Center of SRA International (MNG) either in writing, by electronic 
mail, or by telephone. MNG's contact information for this workshop is: 
MNG Center, Asbestos Workshop Registration, 2801 Clarendon Boulevard, 
Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22201. Phone Number: (703) 292-5939. E-
mail: [email protected]. Web link: http://www.epa.gov/swerrims/asbestos_ws/index.htm.
    There is no charge for attending this workshop as an observer, but 
observers are encouraged to register early as the number of seats will 
be limited. Each registrant will receive a confirmation notice, a 
preliminary agenda, and a logistical fact sheet that contains 
directions to the meeting location. Copies of the presentation material 
can be obtained prior to the meeting from the EPA, Web page http://www.epa.gov/swerrims/asbestos_ws/index.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA's current assessment of asbestos 
toxicity is based primarily on an asbestos assessment completed in 
1986, and EPA's assessment has not changed substantially since that 
time. However, since 1986, there have been substantial improvements in 
asbestos measurement techniques and in the understanding of how 
asbestos exposure contributes to disease. To incorporate the knowledge 
gained over the last 17 years into the agency's toxicity assessment for 
asbestos, EPA is interested in reviewing the most up-to-date peer 
review literature on the mechanisms of asbestos toxicity. The experts 
will include scientists with extensive expertise in relevant fields, 
such as mechanistic toxicology, pulmonology toxicology, and risk 
assessment. The panelists will be asked to respond to several questions 
that address key issues, including interpretations of epidemiology and 
toxicology literature, mechanistic toxicity and general topics. The 
product of the workshop will be a report that summarizes the panelists' 
and observers' comments, conclusions, and recommendations on the 
proposed methodology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA/CERCLA Call Center at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672 (hearing 
impaired). In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, call 703-412-9810 
or TDD 703-412-3323.
    For more detailed technical information on this conference call 
Anna Treinies (202-566-1039) Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0002, Mail Code 5103T.

    Dated: April 24, 2003.
Devereaux Barnes,
Director, Office of Program Management, Office of Solid Waste and 
Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 03-10650 Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P