[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47163-47164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6987]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics; Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal 
Disease Center, Ames, IA

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease 
Center, Ames, Iowa.

DATES: August 23, 2006, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Central Time. Written 
requests to make oral comments at the meeting must be received by the 
contact person identified herein at least three business days before 
the meeting.

ADDRESSES: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, 
Iowa 50010. Requests to make oral comments at the meeting may be sent 
to the contact person at USDA-ARS, Midwest Area Director, 1815 North 
University

[[Page 47164]]

Street, Room 2006, Peoria, Illinois 61604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Shafer, Midwest Area Director, 
USDA-ARS, Telephone (309) 681-6602; Fax (309) 681-6684; E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 4, 2006, the City of Ames received 
allegations that wastes from areas at the National Animal Disease 
Center (NADC) with animals challenged with prions were not properly 
treated prior to discharge to the City wastewater plant. USDA, in 
cooperation with the City of Ames, is convening an expert panel to 
review scientific information about deactivation of prions and assess 
practices used at NADC to treat liquid wastes from areas where animals 
with prions are housed and handled that enter the Ames wastewater 
treatment system. (Note: For the purposes of this panel and its review, 
prions are defined as specific proteins that are abnormally shaped and 
can cause transmissible diseases associated with the allegations). This 
meeting will initiate implementation of the panel's charge to evaluate 
four main issues related to the handling and disposal of potentially 
prion-contaminated materials in wastewater from the NADC: (1) Identify 
scientifically accepted methods for effectively destroying prions; (2) 
Assess the concerns raised regarding NADC's current and past methods 
for the destruction of prions; (3) Determine the risk posed to humans 
and the environment from the current, as well as previous, methods for 
the destruction of prions utilized at NADC; and (4) If remediation is 
needed, provide scientifically sound approaches for corrective 
action(s) that may be taken. Final conclusions of the review will be 
developed during a meeting at a later date, also to be announced. At 
the conclusion of its review, the panel will prepare a written report 
that documents the panel's findings for the four main issues being 
evaluated. On August 23, 2006, between 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon Central 
Time, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for verbal 
comments of no more than three minutes each in duration. The meeting 
will be open to the public, but space is limited. If you want to be 
assured of a seat at this meeting, you must register by contacting the 
contact person named above at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Please 
provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, and telephone 
and fax numbers when you register. If you require a sign language 
interpreter or other special accommodation due to disability, please 
indicate those needs at the time of registration. Pre-registrations 
will be limited to 80 people; others may be able to attend on a space-
available basis.

    Dated: August 7, 2006.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6987 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P