[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11240-11241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4472]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7882-1]


Peer Consultation Workshop on Research Needs Related to the IRIS 
Draft Toxicological Review of Naphthalene

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of peer consultation workshop.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
that the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE), 
Department of Energy, under an Interagency Agreement with EPA, will 
organize and conduct a workshop to seek expert opinion on the research 
needs related to the mode of action of the inhalation carcinogenicity 
of naphthalene. Meeting participants will be provided with the ``Final 
Report on the External Peer Review for the IRIS Reassessment of the 
Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Naphthalene (August 2004),'' 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), and a list of recent naphthalene 
publications. Members of the public may attend as observers. EPA will 
consider the comments and recommendations from the expert panel in 
determining a future course of action for assessing potential health 
risks associated with naphthalene exposure.

DATES: The workshop will begin on April 7, 2005, at 9 a.m. and end at 4 
p.m. To attend the meeting, register by April 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Graduate School of Public 
Health, 130 DeSoto Street, Room 109 Parran Hall, University of 
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. Under an Interagency Agreement 
between EPA and the Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge Institute of 
Science and Education (ORISE) is organizing, convening, and conducting 
the workshop. To attend the meeting, register by April 1, 2005, by 
contacting ORISE, P.O. Box 117, MS 17, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117, at 
(865) 241-5784 or (865) 241-3168 (facsimile). Interested parties may 
also register on-line at: http://www.orau.gov/naphthalene. Space is 
limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis.
    The documents related to the workshop, ``Final Report on the 
External Peer Review for the IRIS Reassessment of the Inhalation 
Carcinogenicity of Naphthalene (August 2004)'', ``Draft Toxicological 
Review of Naphthalene: In Support of Summary Information on the 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (NCEA-S-1707),'' and ``List 
of Recent Naphthalene Literature,'' are available in limited paper 
copies by contacting the IRIS Hotline at (202) 566-1676 or (202) 566-
1749 (facsimile), [email protected] (e-mail). If you are requesting 
paper copies, please provide your name, mailing address, and the 
document title and number, if applicable. Copies are not available from 
ORISE.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    IRIS is a database that contains information on the potential 
adverse human health effects that may result from chronic (or lifetime) 
exposure to specific chemical substances found in the environment. The 
database (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 database 
provides oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference 
concentrations (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.
    EPA's IRIS program is developing a health assessment on naphthalene 
carcinogenicity. A draft assessment was peer reviewed in July, 2004. 
One of the topics discussed at the peer review workshop was the need 
for further research to elucidate naphthalene's carcinogenic mode of 
action. The Agency has decided to hold a peer consultation workshop on 
this topic before determining a course of action on the IRIS assessment 
of naphthalene. This action provides public notice of the workshop.

EPA's E-Docket

    EPA has established an official public docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. ORD-2005-0008. The official public docket consists of the 
documents specifically referenced in this action and other information 
related to this action. 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. The 
official public docket is the collection of materials that is available 
for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) 
Docket in the Headquarters EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West 
Building, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The 
EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal

[[Page 11241]]

holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-
1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is 202-566-1752; 
facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: [email protected].
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to access the index 
listing of the contents of the official public docket. Once in the 
system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket 
identification number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be 
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in 
printed, paper form in the official public docket.

    Dated March 2, 2005.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 05-4472 Filed 3-7-05; 8:45 am]
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