[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61016-61017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8727]


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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, Iowa

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

DATES: October 18, 2006, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. or noon central time.

ADDRESSES: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, 
Iowa 50010 (access to a monitor of the conference call).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Shafer, Midwest Area Director, 
USDA-ARS, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604; 
Telephone (309) 681-6602; Fax (309) 681-6684; E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 4, 2006, the City of Ames, Iowa, 
received allegations that wastes from areas at the National Animal 
Disease Center (NADC)

[[Page 61017]]

with animals challenged with prions were not properly treated prior to 
discharge to the City wastewater plant. An expert panel was convened 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). The 
panel had its first meeting on August 23, 2006, at the Ames City Hall, 
followed by preparatory work on August 23, August 24, and September 20. 
The conference call meeting on October 18, 2006, will continue 
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. The meeting on October 18 will be held by conference call. 
The public may monitor the panel's discussion via a speaker phone in 
the Ames City Hall's Council Chamber. No oral comments will be accepted 
from the public during the call, however, written public comment 
received by letter, fax, or e-mail to the contact person named above by 
close of business on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, will be provided to 
the panel members. Although access to the conference call monitor will 
be open to the public, 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: October 6, 2006.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8727 Filed 10-12-06; 12:44 pm]
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