[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56447-56449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19253]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7974-6; E-Docket No. ORD-2005-0026]


Draft All-Ages Lead Model

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of external review draft for public review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of 
Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment 
(NCEA) is announcing the availability of an external review draft of 
the newly developed All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, for public 
review and comment. EPA is releasing this draft model solely for the 
purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information 
quality guidelines. This model has not been formally disseminated by 
EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any 
Agency policy or determination.

DATES: The period for submission of comments on the external review 
draft of the AALM begins September 27, 2005, and ends October 27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The external review draft of the AALM will be available on 
or about September 27, 2005. Internet users will be able to access this 
model and the accompanying user's guide on the NCEA home page under 
Recent Additions; the URL is http://www.epa.gov/ncea/. The EPA numbers 
are: EPA/600/C-05/013 for the model and EPA/600/R-05/102 for the user's 
guide. A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be available. For 
information on copies of the draft documents, contact Ms. Diane Ray by 
phone (919-541-3637), facsimile (919-541-1818), or e-mail 
([email protected]) to request a CD-ROM copy. Please provide the 
draft's title, All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, the EPA 
numbers, EPA/600/C-05/013 and EPA/600/R-05/102, and your name and 
address to facilitate processing of your request. Public comments on 
the external review

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draft of the AALM may be submitted electronically, by mail, by 
facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed 
instructions as provided in the section of this notice entitled 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details on the period for 
submission of comments from the public, contact the Office of 
Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 
202-566-1753; or e-mail: [email protected].
    For technical information, contact Robert Elias, Ph.D., NCEA, 
facsimile: 919-541-1818, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AALM represents EPA's latest efforts to 
develop tools to model human lead exposure, and it builds on EPA's 
prior experience in lead modeling. EPA's Uptake Biokinetic (UBK) Model 
for Lead underwent peer review by the Science Advisory Board's (SAB) 
Indoor Air Quality and Total Human Exposure Committee in November 1991 
(56 FR 55127, October 24, 1991). Subsequently, the Integrated Exposure 
Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) Model for Lead in Children Version 0.99d was 
released in March 1994 (U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response; available from NTIS, PB94-501517). The purpose of the IEUBK 
model is to provide risk assessors and risk managers with a tool for 
rapidly evaluating the impact of possible sources of lead in a specific 
human setting where there is a concern for human exposure to lead. The 
IEUBK model has been widely accepted in the risk assessment community 
as a tool for implementing the site specific risk assessment process 
when the issue is childhood lead exposure. Version 1.0 of IEUBK is 
currently available at the following URL, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/lead/ieubk.htm.
    Recognizing the need to expand the IEUBK model to include older 
childhood and adult lead exposure and to add several features not 
available with the model, EPA initiated work on the AALM in 1998, when 
the exposure module was expanded to a full age range (0-90 years) and 
revised to incorporate several new model features and user options. In 
1999, additional AALM development was accomplished with the expansion 
of the uptake and biokinetic modules. Since then, further refinement 
and preliminary testing of the AALM software has been carried out. The 
goal is to reduce uncertainty in lead exposure assessments for adults 
and children.
    After the end of the comment period on the external review draft of 
the All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, EPA will present the draft 
at a public meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2005, 
for review by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Ad Hoc All-Ages Lead 
Model (AALM) Review Panel. Public comments received during the external 
review comment period will be provided to the SAB review panel. There 
will be a subsequent Federal Register notice informing the public of 
the exact date and time of that SAB review panel meeting.

How To Submit Comments to EPA's E-Docket

    EPA has established an official public docket for information 
pertaining to the external review draft of the AALM, Docket ID No. ORD-
2005-0026. The official public docket is the collection of materials, 
excluding Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute that is available for public 
viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the 
Headquarters EPA Docket Center, 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 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 official public docket is available 
through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, E-Docket. 
You may use E-Docket at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view 
public comments, to access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to view those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select 
search, then key in the appropriate docket identification number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in E-Docket. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information with disclosure 
restricted by statute, also not included in the official public docket, 
will not be available for public viewing in E-Docket. Copyrighted 
material also will not be placed in E-Docket but will be referenced 
there and available as printed material in the official public docket.
    Persons submitting public comments should note that EPA's policy 
makes the information available as received and at no charge for public 
viewing at the EPA Docket Center or in E-Docket. This policy applies to 
information submitted electronically or in paper form, except where 
restricted by copyright, CBI, or statute.
    Unless restricted as above, public comments submitted on computer 
disks that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be transferred to 
E-Docket. Physical objects will be photographed, where practical, and 
the photograph will be placed in E-Docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.
    You may submit public comments electronically, by mail, by 
facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by 
EPA, include the appropriate docket identification number with your 
submission. Please adhere to the specified submitting period. Public 
comments received or submitted past the closing date will be marked 
``late'' and may only be considered if time permits.
    If you submit public comments electronically, EPA recommends that 
you include your name, mailing address, and an e-mail address or other 
details for contacting you. Also include these contact details on the 
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter 
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be 
identified as the person submitting the public comments and allows EPA 
to contact you in case the Agency cannot read what you submit due to 
technical difficulties or needs to clarify issues raised by what you 
submit. If EPA cannot read what you submit due to technical 
difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, it may delay or 
prohibit the Agency's consideration of the public comments.
    To access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet Home 
Page, select ``Information Sources,'' ``Dockets,'' and ``EPA Dockets.'' 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and key in Docket ID No. ORD-
2005-0026. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means 
EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other contact 
details unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    Public comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected], Attention Docket ID No. ORD-2005-0026. In contrast 
to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an 
``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail directly to the 
docket without going through EPA's E-Docket, EPA's e-mail system 
automatically captures your email address, and it becomes part of the 
information in the official public

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docket and is made available in EPA's E-Docket.
    You may submit public comments on a disk or CD ROM mailed to the 
OEI Docket mailing address. Files will be accepted in WordPerfect, 
Word, or PDF file format. Avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption.
    If you provide public comments in writing, please submit one 
unbound original, with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies. 
For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the 
main text, and submit an unbound original and three copies.

    Dated: September 21, 2005.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 05-19253 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P