[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1888-1889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-500]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7860-6 ]


Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office; Notification of 
Upcoming Meetings of the Science Advisory Board Metals Risk Assessment 
Framework Review Panel

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is 
announcing a public teleconference and meeting of the SAB Metals Risk 
Assessment Framework Review Panel (Panel).

DATES: January 26, 2005: The Panel will hold a public teleconference on 
January 26, 2005, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EST).
    February 1-3, 2005: The Panel will hold a public face-to-face 
meeting starting February 1, 2005, at 9 a.m., adjourning at 
approximately 3 p.m. (EST) on February 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The public teleconference will take place via telephone 
only. The public face-to-face meeting of the Panel will be held at the 
Science Advisory Board Conference Center located at 1025 F Street, NW., 
Room 3705, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information regarding the public teleconference and meeting may 
contact Dr. Thomas Armitage, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), U.S. EPA 
Science Advisory Board by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9995, fax 
at (202) 233-0643, by e-mail at [email protected], or by mail at 
U.S. EPA SAB (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460. General information about the SAB and the meeting location may 
be found on the SAB Web site, http://www.epa.sab.
    For technical inquiries concerning EPA's Framework for Inorganic 
Metals Risk Assessment, please contact Dr. William Wood, U.S. EPA 
Office of Research and Development, Risk Assessment Forum by telephone/
voice mail at (202) 564-3361, fax at (202) 564-0062, by e-mail at 
[email protected] or

[[Page 1889]]

by mail at Office of Research and Development, Risk Assessment Forum 
(8601-D), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summary: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, Notice is hereby given that the Panel 
will hold a public teleconference and meeting to conduct a peer review 
of EPA's Framework for Inorganic Metals Risk Assessment. The dates and 
times for the teleconference and meeting are provided above.
    Background: Background on the meeting described in this notice was 
provided in a Federal Register Notice published on July 29, 2004 (69 FR 
45314-45315). EPA has been undertaking an effort to develop cross-
Agency guidance for assessing the human health and ecological hazards 
and risks of metals and metal compounds. EPA developed the draft 
guidance document entitled, ``Framework for Inorganic Metals Risk 
Assessment,'' to supplement previous EPA guidance for use in site-
specific risk assessments, criteria derivation, and other similar 
Agency activities related to metals. The guidance is organized around 
the risk assessment paradigm. The document provides a conceptual model 
that highlights areas where consideration of metal-specific information 
is necessary and advantageous when conducting risk assessments. It 
outlines recommendations for conducting risk assessment for metals and 
metal compounds based on the unique attributes of these compounds. The 
guidance document also discusses metal-specific issues related to 
environmental chemistry, exposure, bioaccumulation and bioavailability, 
ecological effects, and human health effects. In addition, the guidance 
discusses research underway, planned, and needed to reduce uncertainty 
in metals risk assessment.
    The Panel will meet with Agency Program representatives by 
teleconference prior to the face-to-face meeting to discuss charge 
questions and ask clarifying questions about the Framework for 
Inorganic Metals Risk Assessment. At the face-to-face meeting, the 
Panel will conduct a peer review of the Framework for Inorganic Metals 
Risk Assessment.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: A roster of Panel members, their 
biosketches, the charge to the SAB panel, and the meeting agendas will 
be posted on the SAB Web site prior to the meetings. EPA's Framework 
for Metals Risk Assessment may be found at: http://cfpub2.epa.gov/ncea/raf/recordisplay.cfm?deid=88903.
    Procedures for Providing Public Comments: It is the policy of the 
EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) to accept written public comments of 
any length, and to accommodate oral public comments whenever possible. 
The SAB Staff Office expects that public statements presented at SAB 
Metals Risk Assessment Review Panel meetings will not be repetitive of 
previously submitted oral or written statements. Oral Comments: In 
general, each individual or group requesting an oral presentation at a 
face-to-face meeting will be limited to a total time of ten minutes 
(unless otherwise indicated). In general, for teleconference meetings, 
opportunities for oral comment will be limited to no more than three 
minutes per speaker and no more than fifteen minutes total. Interested 
parties should contact the DFO in writing (e-mail, fax or mail--see 
contact information above) by close of business January 19, 2004 in 
order to be placed on the public speaker list for the teleconference, 
and by close of business January 24, 2004 in order to be placed on the 
public speaker list for the face-to face meeting. Speakers should bring 
at least 35 copies of their comments and presentation slides for 
distribution to the participants and public at the meeting. Written 
Comments: Although the SAB Staff Office accepts written comments until 
the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), written comments 
should be received in the SAB Staff Office at least seven business days 
prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be made available to 
the panel for their consideration. Comments should be supplied to the 
DFO at the address/contact information noted above in the following 
formats: one hard copy with original signature, and one electronic copy 
via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat, WordPerfect, Word, 
or Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). Those 
providing written comments and who attend the meeting are also asked to 
bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution.
    Meeting Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodation 
to access the public meetings listed above should contact the DFO at 
least five business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate 
arrangements can be made.

    Dated: January 5, 2005.
Vanessa Vu,
Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
[FR Doc. 05-500 Filed 1-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P