[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 45 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 12179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4332]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket Number NIOSH-120]


Notice of Draft Document Available for Public Comment

AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).
SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the availability of the following draft document available 
for public comment entitled ``NIOSH Alert: Preventing Chronic Beryllium 
Disease and Beryllium Sensitization.'' The document and instructions 
for submitting comments can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/120/.
    Public Comment Period: March 6, 2008 through May 12, 2008.
    Status: Written comments may be submitted to the NIOSH Docket 
Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Mailstop C-
34, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, (513) 533-8611. All material submitted to 
the Agency should reference NIOSH Docket number 120 and must be 
submitted by May 12, 2008, to be considered by the Agency. All 
electronic comments should be formatted as Microsoft Word.
    All information received in response to this notice will be 
available for public examination and copies available at the NIOSH 
Docket Office, Room 111, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
    Background: Beryllium is a lightweight metal with many remarkable 
properties, including heat resistance and conductance, electrical 
conductance, flexibility, formability, neutron moderation, x-ray 
transparency, and lubricity. Exposure to beryllium can lead to 
sensitization, a cell-mediated allergic-type response, and cause a 
granulomatous lung disease called chronic beryllium disease.
    The Alert describes the nature of the lung disease and other health 
effects that can occur from exposure to beryllium and beryllium-
containing materials and recommends steps companies and workers should 
take to minimize the health risk to workers. This guidance document 
does not have the force and effect of law.
    Contact Person for Technical Information: Christine R. Schuler, 
PhD, Research Epidemiologist, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 
NIOSH. To ask technical questions, please call (304) 285-6369 or send 
e-mail to [email protected]. All comments on the Alert must be submitted 
as stated in the Status section.
    Reference: NIOSH Alert: Preventing Chronic Beryllium Disease and 
Beryllium Sensitization http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/120/.

    Dated: February 29, 2008.
James D. Seligman,
Chief Information Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E8-4332 Filed 3-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P