[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40903-40904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15348]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7783-2; E-docket No.: ORD-2004-0007]


Draft Toxicological Review of Naphthalene: In Support of Summary 
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

[[Page 40904]]


ACTION: Notice of an external peer review panel meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
an external peer review panel meeting to review the inhalation cancer 
assessment and selected text in the external review draft document 
entitled, ``Toxicological Review of Naphthalene: In Support of Summary 
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (NCEA-S-
1707). 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 one-day meeting will be held on July 30, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. 
until 5 p.m. Members of the public may attend as observers.

ADDRESSES: The external peer review panel meeting will be held at the 
American Geophysical Union (AGU) Headquarters, 2000 Florida Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20009. Under an Interagency Agreement with EPA and the 
Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education 
(ORISE) is organizing, convening, and conducting the peer review panel 
meeting. To attend the meeting, register by July 23, 2004, by visiting 
the ORISE Web site: http://www.orau.gov/naphthalene. Interested parties 
may also register by contacting Leslie Shapard (ORISE) at (865) 241-
5784. Space is limited and reservations will be accepted on a first-
come, first-served basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding registration and 
logistics should be directed to Leslie Shapard, ORISE, PO Box 117, MS 
17, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117, (865) 241-5784 (telephone), (865) 241-
3168 (facsimile) or [email protected] (e-mail). If you have questions 
about the document (see Supplementary Information below regarding 
access to the document), contact Lynn Flowers, IRIS Staff, National 
Center for Environmental Assessment, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., MS-
8601D, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-1537 (telephone), (202) 565-0075 
(facsimile) or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: IRIS is a data base that contains Agency 
scientific 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 risk 
estimates for chronic noncancer health effects and 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.
    Naphthalene (CASRN 91-20-3) is a bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 
produced by distillation and fractionation of either petroleum or coal 
tar. Naphthalene's principal use is as an intermediate in the 
production of phthalic anhydride, which is important in the 
manufacturing of plasticizers, resins, dyes, and insect repellants. It 
has been used as a moth repellant and as a deodorizer for diaper pails 
and toilets and has been detected in soil and water at hazardous waste 
sites and in smoke from wood and cigarettes. The current IRIS 
assessment for naphthalene was placed on the data base in 1998 and 
contains quantitative risk estimates for noncancer effects, both from 
oral and inhalation exposure, and a cancer assessment. A reassessment 
of potential human carcinogenicity from inhalation exposure has been 
undertaken in response to newer studies that have become available. The 
assessment does not contain a reevaluation of noncancer effects or oral 
cancer assessment.
    EPA has established an official public docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0007. 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 the document 
and the charge are available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/. Once in the system, select ``advanced search,'' then key in 
the appropriate docket identification number [ORD-2004-0007]. A limited 
number of paper copies are available by contacting the IRIS Hotline at 
(202) 566-1676 or (202) 566-1749 (facsimile). If you are requesting a 
paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the document 
title and number, ``Draft Toxicological Review of Naphthalene: In 
Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS)'' (NCEA-S-1707). Copies are not available from ORISE.
    You may also find a copy of the document at the EPA Docket Center 
Reading Room. The address of the Public Reading Room is EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Room B102, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. Visitation is between 8:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744.
    Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not 
include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

    Dated: June 30, 2004.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 04-15348 Filed 7-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P