[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 229 (Thursday, November 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67602-67603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23158]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8499-9; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0971]


An Exploratory Study: Assessment of Modeled Dioxin Exposure in 
Ceramic Art Studios

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Peer-Review Workshop.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
an external peer-review workshop to

[[Page 67603]]

review the external review draft document titled, ``An Exploratory 
Study: Assessment of Modeled Dioxin Exposure in Ceramic Art Studios'' 
(EPA/600/R-06/044A). The draft document was prepared by the National 
Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of 
Research and Development. The purpose of this report is to describe an 
exploratory investigation of potential dioxin exposures to artists/
hobbyists who use ball clay to make pottery and related products. 
Dermal, inhalation and ingestion exposures to clay were measured at the 
ceramics art department of Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. 
Estimates of exposure were made based on measured levels of clay in the 
studio air, deposited on surrogate food samples and on the skin of 
artists. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of 
pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It 
does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency 
policy or determination.
    On October 4, 2007, EPA announced a 45-day public comment period on 
the draft document (72 FR 56756). The public comment period has closed 
as of November 19, 2007. The public comment period and the external 
peer-review panel workshop are separate processes that provide 
opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. 
All public comments submitted have been forwarded to EPA's contractor, 
Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), and provided to the external peer-
review panel members prior to the workshop for consideration during 
discussions at the workshop.
    In preparing a final report, EPA will consider the public comments 
submitted to EPA's docket during the public comment period, and the 
comments and, recommendations from the external peer-review workshop, 
including any oral public comments made at the workshop.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on Wednesday, January 
16, 2008, at approximately 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Members of the 
public may attend the peer-review panel workshop. Time will be set 
aside on the morning of January 16, 2008 for registered attendees who 
wish to make brief oral comments (for more information refer to the 
instructions for registration below).

ADDRESSES: Eastern Research Group (ERG), an EPA contractor for external 
scientific review, will convene an independent panel of experts and 
organize and conduct the peer-review workshop to review this draft 
document. The peer-review workshop will be held at the Navy League 
Building, 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201.
    Observers may attend the peer-review workshop through a 
registration process by calling ERG's conference line between the hours 
of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST at (781) 674-7374 or toll free at (800) 
803-2833, or by faxing a registration request to (781) 674-2906 (please 
reference the ``Dioxin/Cermics Peer-Review Panel Workshop'' and include 
full address and contact information) or by sending an e-mail to 
[email protected] (Subject line: Dioxin/Ceramics Peer-Review Panel 
Workshop; Body: include full address and contact information). Pre-
registration is strongly recommended as space is limited, and 
registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The 
deadline for pre-registration is Monday, January 7, 2008. If space 
allows, registrations will continue to be accepted after this date, 
including on-site registration. Time will be set aside to hear comments 
from observers, and individuals will be limited to a maximum of five 
minutes during the morning of the day of the workshop. When you 
register, please inform ERG that you wish to make comments during the 
comment period.
    The draft document, ``An Exploratory Study: Assessment of Modeled 
Dioxin Exposure in Ceramic Art Studios,'' is available primarily via 
the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment(s home 
page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at 
http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available 
from the NCEA Information Management Team; telephone: 202-564-3261; 
facsimile: 202-565-0050.
    If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, 
mailing address, and the document title, ``An Exploratory Study: 
Assessment of Modeled Dioxin Exposure in Ceramic Art Studios''. Copies 
are not available from ERG and copies will not be available at the 
workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, and logistics for the external peer-review workshop 
should be directed to Eastern Research Group, 110 Hartwell Avenue, 
Lexington, MA 02421-3136; telephone: (781) 674-7374 or toll free at 
(800) 803-2833; facsimile: (781) 674-2906; e-mail: [email protected].
    If you need technical information about the document, please 
contact John Schaum, National Center for Environmental Assessment 
(NCEA); telephone: 202-564-3237; facsimile: 202-565-0078; e-mail 
[email protected].

    Dated: November 21, 2007.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
 [FR Doc. E7-23158 Filed 11-28-07; 8:45 am]
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