[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63279-63280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18189]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal 
Disease Center, Ames, IA

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics, Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

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: November 3, 2006, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. 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) 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, has convened 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). The 
panel had its first meeting on August 23, 2006, at the Ames City Hall; 
preparatory work on August 23, August 24, and September 20; and a 
conference call meeting on October 18, 2006. A conference call meeting 
on November 3, 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:

[[Page 63280]]

(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 November 3 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 Friday, November 10, 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 24, 2006.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18189 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
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