[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 115 (Friday, June 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33228-33229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11590]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (Ntp); Center for the Evaluation of 
Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR); Announcement of the Second 
Bisphenol A Expert Panel Meeting

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); 
National Institutes of Health.

ACTION: Meeting announcement and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: CERHR announces the second meeting of the CERHR Expert Panel 
on Bisphenol A on August 6-8, 2007, at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town 
in Alexandria, VA. This meeting is open to the public with time 
scheduled for oral public comment. Attendance is limited only by the 
available meeting space.

DATES: The second expert panel meeting on bisphenol A will be held 
August 6-8, 2007. The interim draft expert panel report containing 
sections 1-4 is currently available for public comment [Federal 
Register, May 1, 2007 (Vol. 72, No. 83, pages 23833-4)]. Written public 
comments on the interim draft report must be received by June 20, 2007. 
July 30, 2007 is the deadline for pre-registration to attend the 
meeting, to pre-register to provide oral comments, and to submit 
written materials intended to supplement the oral remarks.

ADDRESSES: The second expert panel meeting will be held at the Hilton 
Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, VA (located across 
the street from the King Street Metro Stop). Written comments should be 
sent to Dr. Michael D. Shelby, CERHR Director [NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, 
MD EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (mail), (919) 316-4511 
(fax), or [email protected] (e-mail)]. Courier address: CERHR, 79 
T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 4401, Room 103, Research Triangle Park, 
NC 27709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael D. Shelby, CERHR Director, 
919-541-3455, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    CERHR convened the expert panel on March 5-7, 2007 to complete its 
report on the potential reproductive and developmental hazards of 
bisphenol A. The panel discussed and made revisions to the draft expert 
panel report, but because of the length and complexity of this 
evaluation, the panel was unable to complete its task. Information 
about the meeting and the draft interim expert panel report, which 
shows all edits to date, are available on the CERHR Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/bisphenol.html).
    The expert panel will reconvene on August 6-8, 2007, for a second 
meeting at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King Street, 
Alexandria, VA. The meeting will begin each day at 8:30 a.m. and 
continue until adjournment. It is anticipated to adjourn by noon on 
August 8, although adjournment may occur earlier or later depending 
upon the time needed for the expert panel to complete its work. The 
expert panel will (1) continue its review, (2) finalize sections 1-4 of 
the draft report, (3) reach conclusions regarding whether exposure to 
bisphenol A is a hazard to human reproduction or development, and (4) 
write Section 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Critical Data Needs. The 
interim draft report will serve as the starting point for the expert 
panel's discussions at its August meeting.
    Bisphenol A (CAS RN: 80-5-07) is a high production volume chemical 
used in the production of epoxy resins, polyester resins, polysulfone 
resins, polyacrylate resins, polycarbonate plastics, and flame 
retardants. Polycarbonate plastics are used in food and drink 
packaging; resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as 
food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some polymers used in 
dental sealants and tooth coatings contain bisphenol A. Exposure to the 
general population can occur through direct contact to bisphenol A or 
by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with a material 
containing bisphenol A. CERHR selected this chemical for evaluation 
because of (1) high production volume, (2) widespread human exposure, 
(3) evidence of reproductive toxicity in laboratory animal studies, and 
(4) public concern.

Request for Comments

    The CERHR again invites written public comments on the interim 
draft expert panel report on bisphenol A. All

[[Page 33229]]

public comments received on the interim draft report will be posted on 
the CERHR Web site prior to the August meeting and distributed to all 
expert panel members for their consideration in revising the interim 
draft report and/or preparing for the second meeting. Persons 
submitting written comments are asked to include their name and contact 
information (affiliation, mailing address, telephone and facsimile 
numbers, e-mail, and sponsoring organization, if any) and send them to 
Dr. Shelby (see ADDRESSES above) for receipt by June 20, 2007.
    Time will be set aside on August 6, 2007, for the presentation of 
oral public comments at the expert panel meeting. Seven minutes will be 
available for each speaker (one speaker per organization). Persons 
wishing to make oral remarks are asked to contact CERHR by July 30 (see 
ADDRESSES above) and, if possible, send a copy of the PowerPoint 
slides, statement, or talking points by July 30. When registering to 
comment orally, please provide your name, affiliation, mailing address, 
telephone and facsimile numbers, e-mail and sponsoring organization (if 
any). Any written statement will be provided to the expert panel 
members to assist them in identifying issues for discussion and noted 
in the meeting record. Registration for presentation of oral comments 
will also be available at the meeting on August 6, 2007, from 7:30-8:30 
a.m. Persons registering at the meeting are asked to bring 20 copies of 
their statement or talking points for distribution to the expert panel 
and for the record.

Background Information on CERHR

    NTP established CERHR in June 1998 [Federal Register, December 14, 
1998 (Volume 63, Number 239, page 68782)]. CERHR is a publicly 
accessible resource for information about adverse reproductive and/or 
developmental health effects associated with exposure to environmental 
and/or occupational exposures. CERHR follows a formal, multi-step 
process for review and evaluation of selected chemicals. Expert panels 
conduct scientific evaluations of agents selected by the CERHR in 
public forums.
    CERHR invites the nomination of agents for review or scientists for 
its expert registry. Information about CERHR and the nomination process 
can be obtained from its homepage (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) or by 
contacting Dr. Shelby (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). 
CERHR selects chemicals for evaluation based upon several factors 
including production volume, potential for human exposure from use and 
occurrence in the environment, extent of public concern, and extent of 
data from reproductive and developmental toxicity studies.
    CERHR follows a formal, multi-step process for review and 
evaluation of selected chemicals. Information about the process and 
CERHR is available on the CERHR Web site under ``About CERHR'' or in 
printed copy from CERHR.

    Dated: June 6, 2007.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
 [FR Doc. E7-11590 Filed 6-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P