[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 216 (Thursday, November 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66047-66048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26472]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-247]


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 22nd set of toxicological 
profiles, which consists of four updated drafts prepared by ATSDR for 
review and comment. The toxicological profiles for formaldehyde and 
perfluoroalkyls are on a modified schedule pending additional review.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on these draft toxicological 
profiles must be received on or before February 26, 2009. Comments 
received after the public comment period will be considered at the 
discretion of ATSDR based on 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 free of charge only one copy of each profile 
requested. 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-247. 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 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 number (800) 232-4636 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 ATSDR 
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to 
hazardous substances most commonly found at facilities on the CERCLA 
National Priorities List (NPL). As part of these responsibilities, the 
ATSDR Administrator must prepare toxicological profiles for substances 
included on the priority lists of hazardous substances. These lists 
identify 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 March 6, 2008 (73 FR 12178). 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); 
November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63098); and December 7, 2005 (70 FR 72840). 
[CERCLA also requires ATSDR ensure the initiation of a research program 
to satisfy data needs associated with the substances.] Section

[[Page 66048]]

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 ensure 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 
solicits 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, 2008.

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              Document/Hazardous substance                    CAS No.
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1. Cadmium..............................................     007440-43-9
2. Chromium.............................................     007440-47-3
3. Manganese............................................     007439-96-5
4. Radon................................................     010043-92-2
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    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 the best means to serve public health and our clients.

    Dated: November 3, 2008.
Ken Rose,
Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, National Center 
for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. E8-26472 Filed 11-5-08; 8:45 am]
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