[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4514-4515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1973]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7615-6]


Draft Toxicological Review of Dichlorobenzenes and Integrated 
Risk Information System (IRIS) Summary for 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB and 1,4-DCB

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of external peer-review panel meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
an external peer-review panel meeting to review the external review 
draft documents entitled, ``Toxicological Review of Dichlorobenzenes 
and IRIS Summary for 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB and 1,4-DCB'' (NCEA-S-1618). The 
document was prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental 
Assessment (NCEA) of the Office of Research and Development. EPA will 
use comments and recommendations from the expert panel meeting to 
finalize the draft document.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on Thursday, February 
12, 2004, at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m Eastern Standard Time. The 30-day 
public comment period begins January 30, 2004, and ends March 1, 2004. 
Technical comments must be postmarked by March 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The external peer-review panel meeting will be held at the 
Andrew W. Briedenbach Environmental Research Center, U.S. EPA, 26 W. 
Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268. Under an Interagency 
Agreement with EPA and the Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge 
Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is organizing, convening, 
and conducting the peer-review panel meeting. To attend the meeting, 
register by February 5 by calling Ms. Rachel Smith, ORISE, PO Box 117, 
MS 17, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117; at 865-241-6428 or by facsimile at 
865-241-3168. She may also be reached via e-mail at [email protected]. 
Interested parties may also register on-line at: http://www.orau.gov/dichlorobenzenereview. Space is limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

[[Page 4515]]

    The document is available primarily on the NCEA web site at 
www.epa.gov/ncea under the What's New and Publications menus. A limited 
number of paper copies are available by contacting the IRIS Hotline at 
202-566-1676; facsimile: 202-566-1749. If you are requesting a paper 
copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the document title 
and number, ``Draft Toxicological Review of Dichlorobenzenes and IRIS 
Summary for 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB, and 1,4-DCB'' (NCEA-S-1618). Copies are 
not available from ORISE. Comments may be submitted electronically, by 
mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the 
detailed instructions as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding registration and 
logistics should be directed to Ms. Rachel Smith, ORISE, PO Box 117, MS 
17, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117; telephone: 865-241-6428; facsimile at 
865-241-3168. She may also be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
    If you have questions about the document, contact Chandrika 
Moudgal, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. EPA, 26 W. 
Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268; phone: 513-569-7078; 
facsimile: 513-569-7475; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information on the Document

    The draft report is a reassessment of the chronic health effects of 
dichlorobenzenes which were first entered into the IRIS data base in 
1989 (1,2-DCB), 1990 (1,3-DCB), and 1994 (1,4-DCB). The report provides 
the scientific basis for deriving or not deriving an oral reference 
dose (RfD) and inhalation reference concentration (RfC) for the 
noncancer health risk from exposure to each of the three DCB isomers. A 
cancer assessment for each is also included in the draft report.
    IRIS is a data base that contains scientific Agency consensus 
positions on potential adverse human health effects that may result 
from chronic (or lifetime) exposure to specific chemical substances 
found in the environment. The data base (available on the internet at 
http://www.epa.gov/iris) contains qualitative and quantitative health 
effects information for more than 500 chemical substances that may be 
used to support the first two steps (hazard identification and dose-
response evaluation) of the risk assessment process. When supported by 
available data, the data base provides RfDs and RfCs for chronic health 
effects, and oral slope factors and inhalation unit risks for 
carcinogenic effects. Combined with specific exposure information, 
government and private entities use IRIS to help characterize public 
health risks of chemical substances in a site-specific situation and 
thereby support risk management decisions designed to protect public 
health.
    Dichlorobenzenes (CAS Nos. 95-50-1, 541-73-1, and 106-46-7) are 
produced in an isomeric mixture from the reaction of liquid benzene 
with chlorine gas in the presence of a catalyst at moderate temperature 
and atmospheric pressure. Individual isomers of Dichlorobenzene are 
used primarily as reactants in chemical synthesis, as process solvents, 
and as formulation solvents. 1,2-Dichlorobenzene is used in the 
production of 3,4-dichloroaniline, a base material for herbicides; as a 
solvent for waxes, gums, resins, tars, rubbers, oils, and asphalts; as 
an insecticide for termites and locust borers; as a degreasing agent 
for metals, leather, paper, dry-cleaning, bricks, upholstery, and wool; 
as an ingredient in metal polishes; in motor oil additive formulations; 
and in paints. 1,3-Dichlorobenzene is used in the production of 
herbicides, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. 1,4-
Dichlorobenzene is used as an air freshener, as a moth repellent in 
moth balls or crystals, and in other pesticide applications. 1,4-
Dichlorobenzene is also used in the manufacture of 2,5-dichloroaniline 
and pharmaceuticals, polyphenylene sulfide resins, and in the control 
of mildew.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments

    EPA has established an official public docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0002. The official public docket consists of the 
document referenced in this notice and a list of charge questions that 
have been submitted to the external peer reviewers. Both documents are 
available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/. Once in the 
system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket 
identification number.
    Submit your comments, identified by docket ID number ORD-2004-0002, 
online at http://www.epa.gov/edocket (EPA's preferred method); by e-
mail to [email protected]; by mail to EPA Docket Center, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (mail code 2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; or by hand delivery or courier to 
EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. Comments on a disk or CD-ROM should be 
formatted in Wordperfect or ASCII file, avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption.
    EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted 
electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing 
in EPA's electronic public docket as EPA receives them and without 
change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential 
business information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute.

    Dated: January 23, 2004.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 04-1973 Filed 1-29-04; 8:45 am]
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