[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19063-19064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7350]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8552-7; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0057]
Draft Toxicological Review of Thallium: In Support of the Summary
Information in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Peer Review Workshop.
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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), an
EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an
independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer
review workshop to review the external review draft document titled,
``Toxicological Review of Thallium: In Support of Summary Information
on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (NCEA-S-2949; EPA/
635/R-08/001). EPA previously announced the 60-day public comment
period (ending April 15, 2008) for the draft document in the Federal
Register on February 15, 2008 (73 FR 8867). EPA will consider public
comments and recommendations from the expert panel workshop as EPA
finalizes the draft document.
The public comment period and the external peer review workshop are
separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested
parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward public
comments submitted in accordance with the Federal Register notice (73
FR 8867) to ERG for consideration by the external peer review panel
prior to the workshop.
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.
The public may attend this workshop as observers through a
registration process, and time will be set aside for observers to give
brief oral comments at the workshop regarding the draft document under
review. Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space is limited,
and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The deadline for pre-registration is Monday, May 12, 2008. If space
allows, registrations will continue to be accepted after this date,
including on-site registrations. Time will be set aside to hear
comments from observers, and individuals will be limited to a maximum
of five minutes during the morning session of peer review workshop.
When you register, please indicate that you wish to make oral comments
during the comment period.
The draft document and EPA's peer review charge are available via
the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and the
Data and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. When finalizing
the draft document, EPA intends to consider the comments and
recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any public
comments that EPA receives in accordance with 73 FR 8867, February 15,
2008. Public comments submitted during the 60-day public comment period
ending April 15, 2008, may be observed at http://www.regulations.gov
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0057.
[[Page 19064]]
DATES: The peer review workshop will begin on Monday, May 19, 2008, at
approximately 8:30 a.m. and end at no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern
time. Observers must register by May 12, 2008, and indicate that you
wish to make brief oral comments at the workshop.
ADDRESSES: The peer review workshop will be held at the Navy League
Building, 2300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22201. ERG is
organizing, convening, and conducting the peer review workshop. To
attend the workshop as an observer, register by May 12, 2008, via the
Internet at http://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-thallium.htm. You may also register by e-mail at
[email protected] (subject line: Thallium), by phone: 781-674-7374 or
toll free at 800-803-2833, or by faxing a registration request to 781-
674-2906 (please reference the ``Thallium Peer Review Workshop'' and
include your name, title, affiliation, full address and contact
information).
The draft ``Toxicological Review of Thallium: In Support of Summary
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' is
available via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental
Assessment's (NCEA) 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 NCEA's Information Management Team,
telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-8691. If you are requesting
a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the
document title. Copies are not available from ERG. The 1988 Midwest
Research Institute (MRI) study referenced in the draft Toxicological
Review of Thallium is available by contacting EPA's IRIS Hotline (by
phone at 202-566-1676, by facsimile at 202-566-1749, or by e-mail at
[email protected]), via the docket at http://www.regulations.gov
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0057, or at the NCEA home page
under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at
http://www.epa.gov/ncea.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the peer review
workshop, contact ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136;
telephone: 781-674-7374; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail:
[email protected] (subject line: Thallium). If you have questions about
the document, contact Susan Rieth, IRIS Staff, National Center for
Environmental Assessment, (8601D), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8582; facsimile: 703-347-
8689; or e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary of Information About the Integrated Risk Information System
(IRIS)
IRIS is a database that contains potential adverse human health
effects information that may result from chronic (or lifetime) exposure
to specific chemical substances found in the environment. The database
(available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/iris) contains
qualitative and quantitative health effects information for more than
540 chemical substances that may be used to support the first two steps
(hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of a risk
assessment process. When supported by available data, the database
provides oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference
concentrations (RfCs) for chronic health effects, and oral slope
factors and inhalation unit risks for carcinogenic effects. Combined
with specific exposure information, government and private entities can
use IRIS data to help characterize public health risks of chemical
substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk
management decisions designed to protect public health.
II. Workshop Information
Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers, and
there will be a limited time for oral comments from the public. Please
let ERG know if you wish to make comments during the workshop by
registering on the Web site at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-thallium.htm and indicating your intent
to make oral comments. Space is limited, and reservations will be
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dated: April 1, 2008.
Rebecca Clark,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E8-7350 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]
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