[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60020-60021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20819]



[[Page 60020]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-236]


Availability of Draft Toxicological Profiles

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), section 104(i)(3) [42 U.S.C. 
9604(i)(3)] directs the Administrator of ATSDR to prepare toxicological 
profiles of priority hazardous substances and to revise and publish 
each updated toxicological profile as necessary. This notice announces 
the availability of the 21st set of toxicological profiles, which 
consists of one new draft and six updated drafts, prepared by ATSDR for 
review and comment.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on these draft toxicological 
profiles must be received on or before February 22, 2008. Comments 
received after the close of the public comment period will be 
considered at the discretion of ATSDR on the basis of what is deemed to 
be in the best interest of the general public.

ADDRESSES: Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological 
profiles should be sent to the attention of Ms. Olga Dawkins, Division 
of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, Agency for Toxic Substances 
and Disease Registry, Mailstop F-32, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333. Electronic access to these documents is also available 
at the ATSDR Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxpro2.html.
    Comments regarding the draft toxicological profiles should be sent 
to the attention of Ms. Nickolette Roney, Division of Toxicology and 
Environmental Medicine, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, Mailstop F-32, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 
30333.
    Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological profiles 
must be in writing, and must specifically identify the hazardous 
substance(s) profile(s) that you wish to receive. ATSDR reserves the 
right to provide only one copy of each profile requested, free of 
charge. In case of extended distribution delays, requestors will be 
notified.
    Written comments and other data submitted in response to this 
notice and the draft toxicological profiles should bear the docket 
control number ATSDR-236. Send one copy of all comments and three 
copies of all supporting documents to Ms. Roney at the above stated 
address by the end of the comment period. Because all public comments 
regarding ATSDR toxicological profiles are available for public 
inspection, no confidential business information or other confidential 
information should be submitted in response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Olga Dawkins, Division of 
Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry, Mailstop F-32, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333, telephone 1 (888) 422-8737 or (770) 488-3315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization 
Act (SARA) (Pub. L. 99-499) amends the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) (42 
U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) by establishing certain responsibilities for the 
ATSDR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to 
hazardous substances which are most commonly found at facilities on the 
CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL). Among these responsibilities is 
that the Administrator of ATSDR prepare toxicological profiles for 
substances included on the priority lists of hazardous substances. 
These lists identified 275 hazardous substances that ATSDR and EPA 
determined pose the most significant potential threat to human health. 
The availability of the revised priority list of 275 hazardous 
substances was announced in the Federal Register on December 7, 2005 
(70 FR 72840). For prior versions of the list of substances see Federal 
Register notices dated April 17, 1987 (52 FR 12866); October 20, 1988 
(53 FR 41280); October 26, 1989 (54 FR 43619); October 17, 1990 (55 FR 
42067); October 17, 1991 (56 FR 52166); October 28, 1992 (57 FR 48801); 
February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9486); April 29, 1996 (61 FR 18744); November 
17, 1997 (62 FR 61332); October 21, 1999 (64 FR 56792); October 25, 
2001 (66 FR 54014) and November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63098). [CERCLA also 
requires ATSDR to assure the initiation of a research program to fill 
data needs associated with the substances.] Section 104(i)(3) of CERCLA 
[42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(3)] outlines the content of these profiles. Each 
profile will include an examination, summary and interpretation of 
available toxicological information and epidemiologic evaluations. This 
information and these data are to be used to identify the levels of 
significant human exposure for the substance and the associated health 
effects. The profiles must also include a determination of whether 
adequate information on the health effects of each substance is 
available or in the process of development. When adequate information 
is not available, ATSDR, in cooperation with the National Toxicology 
Program (NTP), is required to assure the initiation of research to 
determine these health effects.
    Although key studies for each of the substances were considered 
during the profile development process, this Federal Register notice 
seeks to solicit any additional studies, particularly unpublished data 
and ongoing studies, which will be evaluated for possible addition to 
the profiles now or in the future.
    The following draft toxicological profiles will be made available 
to the public on or about October 17, 2007.

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            Document               Hazardous substance        CAS No.
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1..............................  Boron (Update).........     007440-42-8
2..............................  Chlorine*..............     007782-50-5
3..............................  1,4-Dioxane (Update)...     000123-91-1
4..............................  Ethylbenzene (Update)..     000100-41-4
5..............................  Ethylene glycol             000107-21-1
                                  (Update).
6..............................  Plutonium (Update).....     007440-07-5
                                    Plutonium -238......     013981-16-3
                                    Plutonium -239......     015117-48-3
                                    Plutonium -240......     014119-33-6

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7..............................  Styrene (Update).......     000100-42-5
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* Denotes new profile.

    All profiles issued as ``Drafts for Public Comment'' represent 
ATSDR's best efforts to provide important toxicological information on 
priority hazardous substances. We are seeking public comments and 
additional information which may be used to supplement these profiles. 
ATSDR remains committed to providing a public comment period for these 
documents as a means to best serve public health and our clients.

    Dated: October 17, 2007.
Ken Rose,
Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, National Center 
for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. E7-20819 Filed 10-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P