[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14205-14206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4066]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0504; FRL-8047-8]


Notice of Expert Peer Review Meeting on the Nanotechnology White 
Paper External Review Draft

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
that Versar, Inc., an EPA contractor for external peer review, will 
convene a panel of experts and will organize and conduct an independent 
expert external peer review meeting to review the draft document 
entitled ``Nanotechnology White Paper External Review Draft.'' The 
draft document was prepared by the Nanotechnology Workgroup of EPA's 
Science Policy Council and has recently undergone public review and 
comment. Versar, Inc. invites the public to register to attend this 
meeting as observers. In addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public to 
give oral comments or provide written comments at the external peer 
review meeting regarding the draft document under review. The panel 
will review the draft document and consider public comments received in 
the official public docket for this activity under docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-ORD-2005-0504 as well as comments made by the public at the 
meeting. The draft document and peer review charge are available 
through EPA's Science Inventory at http://cfpub.epa.gov/si/ and at 
http://www.epa.gov/osa/nanotech.htm. In preparing a final document, EPA 
will consider Versar, Inc.'s report of the comments and recommendations 
from the external peer-review meeting, as well as public comments. EPA 
plans to issue a final white paper on nanotechnology in mid-2006.

[[Page 14206]]

    This notice announces the independent expert external peer review 
meeting location and dates, and how to participate in the meeting.

DATES: Versar, Inc. will hold the independent expert external peer 
review meeting from April 19, 2006 to April 20, 2006. The meeting is 
scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on both 
days. The public may attend the expert external peer review meeting. 
Members of the public in attendance will be allowed to make brief (no 
longer than 5 minutes) oral statements during the meeting's public 
comment period.

ADDRESSES: The independent expert external peer review meeting will be 
held at the Marriott at Metro Center, located at 775 12th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20005; telephone 202-737-2200.

How Can I Request To Participate in This Meeting?

    Versar, Inc., an EPA contractor, is organizing, convening, and 
conducting the expert peer review meeting. To attend the meeting, 
register by April 15, 2006, by visiting http://epa.versar.com/nanotech. 
You may also contact Mr. Andrew Oravetz of Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar 
Center, Springfield, VA, 22151, at 703-642-6832 or via e-mail at 
[email protected], or by sending a facsimile to 703-642-6954 to his 
attention. You will be asked for your name, contact information, whom 
you represent, and your title. Please indicate if you intend to make an 
oral statement during the public comment period at the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding logistics for the 
external peer review meeting should be directed to Mr. Andrew Oravetz, 
Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA, 22151; telephone: 
703-642-6832; facsimile: 703-642-6954; or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. If you have questions about the draft document, 
please contact Dr. Kathryn Gallagher, Office of the Science Advisor, 
Mail Code 8105-R, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-1398; 
fax number: (202) 564-2070, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is submitting the Nanotechnology White 
Paper External Review Draft for independent, external peer review. On 
December 21, 2006, the draft document was announced in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 75812) and made available for a public comment period 
that ended January 31, 2006. The comment period was subsequently 
extended to March 1, 2006 (71 FR 6774, February 9, 2006). Public 
comments received in the docket will be shared with the external peer 
review panel for their consideration. Although EPA is under no 
obligation to do so, EPA may consider comments received after the close 
of the comment period. The public release of this draft document is 
solely for the purpose of seeking public comment and peer review. This 
draft white paper does not represent and should not be construed to 
represent any EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination.
    The Nanotechnology White Paper External Review Draft identifies 
data gaps that need to be filled and recommends research for both 
environmental applications and implications of nanotechnology that 
would inform the appropriate regulatory safeguards for nanotechnology. 
The draft white paper describes the technology and provides a 
discussion of potential environmental benefits of nanotechnology. Risk 
management issues and the Agency's statutory mandates are outlined, 
following an extensive discussion of risk assessment issues. The draft 
white paper concludes with recommendations on next steps for addressing 
science policy issues and research needs. Supplemental information is 
provided in a number of appendices. Following the expert external peer 
review, EPA plans to issue a final white paper on nanotechnology in 
mid-2006.

    Dated: March 15, 2006.
William H. Farland,
Chief Scientist, Office of the Science Advisor.
 [FR Doc. E6-4066 Filed 3-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P