[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76897-76899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28094]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 141

[FRL-7854-3]


Notice of a Public Meeting To Discuss Research Related to the 
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public 
meeting to discuss recent research related to the proposed Stage 2 
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR).

DATES: The public meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern 
time, on Tuesday, January 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held on the first floor of the East 
Building of EPA Headquarters in Room 1153. The address is EPA East, 
1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this 
meeting, contact Sarah Bahrman by phone at (202) 564-2335, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by mail at: U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code 4607M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460. For technical inquiries regarding the Stage 2 Disinfectants and 
Disinfection Byproducts Rule, contact Tom Grubbs at (202) 564-5262, or 
by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the public meeting is to 
discuss recent research related to the Stage 2 DBPR. EPA proposed the 
Stage 2 DBPR on August 18, 2003 (68 FR 49547) and is currently working 
on the final rule. The proposed Stage 2 DBPR was developed based on 
recommendations from a Federal Advisory Committee, which consisted of a 
broad range of stakeholders. EPA will build on this collaborative 
process by way of this public meeting.
    Research areas and examples of recent studies that the Agency plans 
to discuss at the meeting are listed at the end of this notice. This is 
not a comprehensive list of all recent disinfection byproduct research. 
A longer list of recent research can be found on the Agency's Web site 
at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/stage2/index.html. All copyrighted 
studies are available only in hard copy form and are accessible at the 
Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 
1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is 
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 
(202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 
566-2426.
    Attendees will have an opportunity to make oral remarks at specific 
points during the meeting. EPA also welcomes written remarks received 
by February 17, 2005, which can be sent to Sarah Bahrman by e-mail or 
by mail at the address listed in the previous section.
    The main entrance to the building on Constitution Avenue is a short 
distance from the Federal Triangle Metro Station, which is located on 
12th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues and is served 
by the Blue and Orange Lines. Please note that attendees will be 
required to pass through security checks at the front desk and obtain a 
visitor's badge. All attendees will need to present a photo I.D. The 
building is accessible to persons using wheelchairs or scooters. Any 
person needing special accommodations at this meeting, including 
wheelchair access, should contact Sarah Bahrman (contact information 
provided in the previous section) at least five business days before 
the meeting so that the Agency can make appropriate arrangements.

Examples of Recent Research

Reproductive and Developmental Epidemiology

Cedergren, M.I., A.J. Selbing, O. Lofman, et al. 2002. Chlorination 
byproducts and nitrate in drinking water and risk for congenital 
cardiac defects. Environmental Research. 89(2): 124-130
Dodds, L., W. King, A.C. Allen, B.A. Armson, D.B. Deshayne and C. 
Nimrod. 2004. Trihalomethanes in public water supplies and risk of 
stillbirth. Epidemiology. 15(2):179-186
Fenster L., K. Waller, G. Windham, T. Henneman, M. Anderson, P. 
Mendola, J.W. Overstreet and S.H. Swan. 2003. Trihalomethane levels in 
home tap water and semen quality. Epidemiology. 14:650-658
Hwang B.F. and J.J.K. Jaakkola. 2003. Water chlorination and birth 
defects: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of 
Environmental Health. 58(2):83-91
Infante-Rivard, C. 2004. Drinking water contaminants, gene 
polymorphisms, and fetal growth. Environmental Health Perspectives. 
112(11):1213-1216

[[Page 76898]]

Shaw, G.M., D. Ranatunga, T. Quach, E. Neri, A. Correa and R.R. Neutra. 
2003. Trihalomethane exposure from municipal water supplies and 
selected congenital malformations. Epidemiology. 14(2):191-199
Toledano, M.B., M.J. Nieuwenhuijsen, N. Best, H. Whitaker, P. Hambly, 
C. de Hoogh, J. Fawell, L. Jarup and P. Elliott. 2004. Relation of 
trihalomethane concentrations in public water supplies to stillbirth 
and birth weight in three water regions in England. Environmental 
Health Perspectives. In Press (Online 21 October 2004)
Wright J.M., J. Schwartz and D.W. Dockery. 2003. Effect of 
trihalomethane exposure on fetal development. Occup. Environ. Med. 
Mar;60(3):173-80
Wright, J.M., J. Schwartz and D.W. Dockery. 2004. The effect of 
disinfection by-products and mutagenic activity on birth weight and 
gestational duration. Environmental Health Perspectives. 112(8):920-925
Yang, C.-Y. 2004. Drinking water chlorination and adverse birth 
outcomes in Taiwan. Toxicology. 198(2004): 249-254

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology

Bielmeier, S.R., D.S. Best and M.G. Narotsky. 2004. Serum hormone 
characterization and exogenous hormone rescue of bromodichloromethane-
induced pregnancy loss in the F344 rat. Toxicol. Sci. 77(1):101-108
Bodensteiner K.J., H.R. Sawyer, C.L. Moeller, C.M. Kane, K.-Y.F. Pau, 
G.R. Klinefelter and D.N.R. Veeramachaneni. 2004. Chronic exposure to 
dibromoacetic acid, a water disinfection byproduct, diminishes 
primordial follicle populations in the rabbit. Toxicological Sciences. 
80(1):83-91
Goldman, J.M. and A.S. Murr. 2003. Dibromoacetic acid-induced 
elevations in circulating estradiol: effects in both cycling and 
ovariectomized/steroid-primed female rats. Reproductive Toxicology. 
17(5):585-592
Klinefelter, G.R., L.F. Strader, J.D. Suarez, N.L. Roberts, J.M. 
Goldman and A.S. Murr. 2004. Continuous exposure to dibromoacetic acid 
delays pubertal development and compromises sperm quality in the rat. 
Toxicological Sciences. 81(2):419-429
Klinefelter, G.R., L.F. Strader, J.D. Suarez and N.L. Roberts. 2002. 
Bromochloroacetic acid exerts qualitative effects on rat sperm: 
implications for a novel biomarker. Toxicological Sciences. 68:164-173
Tully, D.B., J.C. Luft, J.C. Rockett, H. Ren, J.E. Schmid, C.R. Wood 
and D.J. Dix. 2004. Reproductive and genomic effects in testes from 
mice exposed to the water disinfectant byproduct bromochloroacetic 
acid. Reproductive Toxicology. In Press (Online 2 September 2004)

Health Effects Reviews

Graves, C.G., G.M. Matanoski and R.G. Tardiff. 2001. Weight of evidence 
for an association between adverse reproductive and developmental 
effects and exposure to disinfection by-products: a critical review. 
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 34:103-124

Cancer Epidemiology

Chevrier, C., B. Junod and S. Cordier. 2004. Does ozonation of drinking 
water reduce the risk of bladder cancer? Epidemiology. 15(5):605-614
Goebell, P.J., C.M. Villanueva, A.W. Rettenmeier, et al. 2004. 
Environmental exposure, chlorinated drinking water, and bladder cancer. 
World Journal of Urology. 21(6):424-432
Ranmuthugala, G., L. Pilotto, W. Smith, T. Vimalasiri, K. Dear and R. 
Douglas. 2003. Chlorinated drinking water and micronuclei in urinary 
bladder epithelial cells. Epidemiology. 14(5):617-622
Villanueva, C., M. Kogevinas and J. Grimalt. 2001. Chlorination of 
drinking water in Spain and bladder cancer. Gac Sanit. 15(1):48-53
Villanueva, C.M., K.P. Cantor, S. Cordier, J.J.K. Jaakkola, W.D. King, 
C.F. Lynch, S. Porru and M. Kogevinas. 2004. Disinfection byproducts 
and bladder cancer a pooled analysis. Epidemiology. 15(3):357-367

Cancer and Other Toxicology

Echigo, S., S. Itoh, T. Natsui, T. Araki and R. Ando. 2004. 
Contribution of brominated organic disinfection by-products to the 
mutagenicity of drinking water. Water Sci Technol. 50(5):321-8
George, M.H., G.R. Olson, D. Doerfler, et al. 2002. Carcinogenicity of 
bromodichloromethane administered in drinking water to male F344/N rats 
and B6C3F(1) mice. International Journal of Toxicology. 21(3):219-230
Geter, D.R., M.H. George, T.M. Moore, et al. 2004. Vehicle and mode of 
administration effects on the induction of aberrant crypt foci in the 
colons of male F344/N rats exposed to bromodichloromethane. Journal of 
Toxicology and Environmental Health--Part A. 67(1):23-29
Hooth, M.J., K.S. McDorman, S.D. Hester, M.H. George, L.R. Brooks, A.E. 
Swank and D.C. Wolf. 2002. The carcinogenic response of Tsc2 mutant 
Long-Evans (Eker) rats to a mixture of drinking water disinfection by-
products was less than additive. Toxicol Sci. 69(2):322-31
McDorman, K.S., M.J. Hooth, T.B. Starr and D.C. Wolf. 2003. Analysis of 
preneoplastic and neoplastic renal lesions in Tsc2 mutant Long-Evans 
(Eker) rats following exposure to a mixture of drinking water 
disinfection byproducts. Toxicology. 187(1):1-12
McDorman, K.S., S. Chandra, M.J. Hooth, S.D. Hester, R. Schoonhoven and 
D.C. Wolf. 2003. Induction of transitional cell hyperplasia in the 
urinary bladder and aberrant crypt foci in the colon of rats treated 
with individual and a mixture of drinking water disinfection by-
products. Toxicol Pathol. 31(2):235-242
Minear, R.A. and M.J. Plewa. 2003. Comparative genotoxicity assessment 
of DBPs in drinking water. Denver, Colo.: AwwaRF
Moser, V.C., P.M. Phillips, A.B. Levine, K.L. McDaniel, R.C. Sills, 
B.S. Jortner and M.T. Butt. 2004. Neurotoxicity produced by 
dibromoacetic acid in drinking water of rats. Toxicological Sciences. 
79(1):112-122
Pereira, M.A., W. Wang, P.M. Kramer and L. Tao. 2004. Prevention by 
Methionine of Dichloroacetic Acid Induced Liver Cancer and DNA 
Hypomethylation in Mice. Toxicological Sciences. 77(2):243-248
Pereira, M.A., P.M. Kramer, P.B. Conran and L.H. Tao. 2001. Effect of 
chloroform on dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid-induced 
hypomethylation and expression of the c-myc gene and on their promotion 
of liver and kidney tumors in mice. Carcinogenesis. 22(9):1511-1519
Plewa, M.J., E.D. Wagner, S.D. Richardson, A.D. Thruston Jr., Y.-T. Woo 
and A.B. McKague. 2004. Chemical and biological characterization of 
newly discovered iodo-acid drinking water disinfection by-products. 
Environmental Science & Technology. 38(18): 4713-4722
Plewa, M.J., S.D. Richardson and P. Jazwierska. 2004. Halonitromethane 
drinking water disinfection byproducts: chemical characterization and 
mammailian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Environmental Science & 
Technology. 38(1): 62-68
Poon, R., I. Chu, G. LeBel, A. Yagminas and V.E. Valli. 2003. Effects 
of dibromoacetonitrile on rats following

[[Page 76899]]

13-week drinking water exposure. Food Chem Toxicol. 41(8):1051-61
Sehata, S., T. Maejima, M. Watanabe, S. Ogata, T. Makino, K. Tanaka, S. 
Manabe and M. Takaoka. 2002. Twenty-six-Week carcinogenicity study of 
chloroform in CB6F1 rasH2-transgenic mice. Toxicol Pathol. 30(3):328-38
Torti, V.R., A.J. Cobb, V.A. Wong, et al. 2002. Induction of 
micronuclei in wild-type and p53(+/-) transgenic mice by inhaled 
bromodichloromethane. Mutation Research-Genetic Toxicology and 
Environmental Mutagenesis. 520(1-2):171-178

Cessation Lag

Brennan, P., O. Bogillot, S. Cordier, E. Greiser, W. Schill, P. Vineis, 
G. Lopez-Abente, A. Tzonou, J. Chang-Claude, U. Bolm-Audorff, K.H. 
Jockel, F. Donato, C. Serra, J. Wahrendorf, M. Hours, A. T'Mannetje, M. 
Kogevinas and P. Boffetta. 2000. Cigarette smoking and bladder cancer 
in men: a pooled analysis of 11 case-control studies. International 
Journal of Cancer. 86(2):289-294
Brennan, P., O. Bogillot, E. Greiser, J. Chang-Claude, J. Wahrendorf, 
S. Cordier, K.H. Jockel, G. Lopez-Abente, A. Tzonou, P. Vineis, F. 
Donato, M. Hours, C. Serra, U. Bolm-Audorff, W. Schill, M. Kogevinas 
and P. Boffetta. 2001. The contribution of cigarette smoking to bladder 
cancer in women (pooled European data). Cancer Causes and Controls. 
12(5):411-417
Hartge, P., D. Silverman, R. Hoove, C. Schairer, R. Altman, D. Austin, 
K. Cantor, M. Child, C. Key and L.D. Marrett. 1987. Changing cigarette 
habits and bladder cancer risk: a case-control study. J Natl Cancer 
Inst. 78(6):1119-1125
Zeegers, M.P., R.A. Goldbohm and P.A. van den Brandt. 2002. A 
prospective study on active and environmental tobacco smoking and 
bladder cancer risk (The Netherlands). Cancer Causes Control. 13(1):83-
90

Exposure Routes

Miles, A.M., P.C. Singer, D.L. Ashley, M.C. Lynberg, P. Mendola, P.H. 
Langlois and J.R. Nuckols. 2002. Comparison of Trihalomethanes in Tap 
Water and Blood. Environ. Sci. Technology. 36(8):1692-1698

Formation of Disinfection Byproducts and Occurrence Studies

Bichsel, Y. and D. von Gunten. 2000. Formation of iodo-trihalomethanes 
during disinfection and oxidation of iodide-containing waters. Environ. 
Sci. Technol. 34:2784-2791
Cancho, B., F. Ventura, M. Galceran, A. Diaz and S. Ricart. 2000. 
Determination, synthesis and survey of iodinated trihalomethanes in 
water treatment processes. Wat. Res. 34(13):3380-3390
Chellam, S. and S.W. Krasner. 2001. Disinfection byproduct 
relationships and speciation in chlorinated nanofiltered waters. 
Environmental Science & Technology. 35(19):3988-3999
Choi, J. and R.L. Valentine. 2002. A kinetic model of N-
nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation during water chlorination/
chloramination. Journal of Water Science and Technology. 46(3):65-71
Choi, J. and R.L. Valentine. 2002. Formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine 
(NDMA) from reaction of monochloramine: a new disinfection by-product. 
Water Research. 36(4):817-824
Choi, J., S.E. Duirk and R.L. Valentine. 2002. Mechanistic studies of 
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation in chlorinated drinking water. 
Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 4(2):249-252
Choi, J. and R.L. Valentine. 2003. N-nitrosodimethylamine formation by 
free-chlorine-enhanced nitrosation of dimethylamine. Environmental 
Science & Technology. 37(21):4871-4876
Gerecke, A.C. and D.L. Sedlak. 2003. Precursors of N-
nitrosodimethylamine in natural waters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 
37(7):1331-1336
Mitch, W.A. and D.L. Sedlak. 2002. Formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine 
(NDMA) from dimethylamine during chlorination. Environmental Science & 
Technology. 36(4):588-595
Richardson, S.D., A.D. Thruston, Jr., C. Rav-Acha, L. Groisman, I. 
Popilevsky, O. Juraev, V. Glezer, A.B. McKague, M.J. Plewa and E.D. 
Wagner. 2003. Tribrompyrrole, brominated acids, and other disinfection 
byproducs produced by disinfection of drinking water rich in bromide. 
Environmental Science & Technology. 37(17):3782-3793
Singer, P.C., H.S. Weinberg, K. Brophy, L. Liang, M. Roberts, I. 
Grisstede, S. Krasner, H. Baribeau, H. Arora, and I. Najm. 2002. 
Relative dominance of haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes in treated 
drinking water. Denver, Colo.: AwwaRF
Speitel, G.E., P.G. Pope, M.R. Collins, and M. Martin-Doole. 
Disinfection by-product formation and control during chloramination. 
Denver, Colo.: AwwaRF
Von Gunten, U. 2003. Ozonation of drinkingwater: Part II. Disinfection 
and by-product formation in presence of bromide, iodide or chlorine. 
Water Research. 37:1469-1487
Weinberg, H.S., S.W. Krasner, S.D. Richardson and A.D. Thruston, Jr. 
2002. The Occurrence of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs) of Health 
Concern in Drinking Water: Results of a Nationwide DBP Occurrence 
Study, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research 
Laboratory, Athens, GA. EPA/600/R-02/068. http://www.epa.gov/athens/publications/ EPA600R02068.pdf
Westerhoff, P. and H. Mash. 2002. Dissolved organic nitrogen in 
drinking water supplies: a review. Journal of Water Supply Research and 
Technology-Aqua. 51(8):415-448

    Dated: December 17, 2004.
Clare Donaher,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 04-28094 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P