[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15983-15984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7881]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (NTP); Report on Carcinogens (RoC); 
Availability of the Draft Background Document for Glass Wool Fibers; 
Request for Comments on the Draft Background Document; Announcement of 
the Glass Wool Fibers Expert Panel Meeting

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).

ACTION: Availability of Draft Background Document; Request for 
Comments; and Announcement of a Meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The NTP announces the availability of the draft background 
document for glass wool fibers by April 9, 2009, on the RoC Web site 
(http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29679) or in printed text from the RoC 
(see ADDRESSES below). The NTP invites the submission of public 
comments on the draft background document for glass wool fibers. An 
expert panel will meet on June 9-10, 2009, at the Sheraton Chapel Hill 
Hotel, One Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 to peer review the draft 
background document for glass wool fibers and, once completed, make a 
recommendation regarding the listing status (i.e., known to be a human 
carcinogen, reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, or not to 
list) for glass wool fibers or categories of glass wool fibers (that is 
``certain'' glass wool fibers) in the 12th RoC. The RoC expert panel 
meeting is open to the public with time scheduled for oral public 
comments. Attendance is limited only by the available meeting room 
space. Following the expert panel meeting and completion of the expert 
panel report, the NTP will post the final background document and the 
expert panel peer review report on the RoC Web site.

DATES: The expert panel meeting for glass wool fibers will be held on 
June 9-10, 2009. The draft background document for glass wool fibers 
will be available for public comment by April 9, 2009. The deadline to 
submit written comments is May 22, 2009, and the deadline for pre-
registration to attend the meeting and/or provide oral comments at the 
meeting is June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The RoC expert panel meeting on glass wool fibers will be 
held at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, One Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, 
NC 27514. Access to on-line registration and materials for the meeting 
are available on the RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29679). 
Comments on the draft background document should be sent to Dr. Ruth M. 
Lunn, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709, FAX: (919) 541-0144, or [email protected]. Courier address: 
Report on Carcinogens Center, 530 Davis Drive, Room 2006, Durham, NC 
27713. Persons needing interpreting services in order to attend should 
contact (301) 402-8180 (voice) or (301) 435-1908 (TTY). Requests should 
be made at least seven business days in advance of the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ruth M. Lunn, Director, RoC 
Center, (919) 316-4637, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The NTP announced the RoC review process for the 12th RoC on April 
16, 2007 in the Federal Register (72FR18999 available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/15208). An expert panel meeting is being convened 
on June 9-10, 2009, to review glass wool fibers for the 12th RoC. The 
draft background document for glass wool fibers will be available on 
the RoC website by April 9, 2009, or in printed text from the RoC 
Center (see ADDRESSES above). Persons can register free-of-charge with 
the NTP listserv (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/231) to receive 
notification when draft RoC background documents for candidate 
substances for the 12th RoC are made available on the RoC Web site.
    Glass wool refers to fine glass fibers forming a mass resembling 
wool and is most commonly used for insulation and filtration. Two 
categories of glass wool based upon commercial application are 
insulation glass wool and special-purpose fibers. Insulation glass 
wools are used for applications such as thermal, electrical, and 
acoustical insulation and in weatherproofing, while the term ``special-
purpose glass fibers'' is used to describe a category of fibers 
distinguished by their use in specialized products that include 
aircraft and aerospace insulation, battery separators, and high 
efficiency filters. Although having different uses, there is not a 
clear separation between the physico-chemical properties of insulation 
glass wools and special purpose fibers.
    Glass wool (respirable size) is currently listed in the 11th RoC as 
reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, and has been nominated 
for removal from the RoC. The draft background document reviews the 
literature on glass wool fibers. There are considerable differences in 
the chemical compositions and physical characteristics of glass fibers, 
which may influence the toxicology and potential carcinogenicity of the 
fibers. The expert panel will be asked to review glass wool fibers and 
make a recommendation on the listing status of glass wool fibers or 
categories of glass wool fibers in the RoC.

Preliminary Agenda and Registration

    Preliminary agenda topics include:
     Oral public comments on glass wool fibers.
     Peer review of the draft background document on glass wool 
fibers.
     Recommendation on the listing status of glass wool fibers 
in the 12th RoC and scientific justification.
    The meeting is scheduled for June 9-10, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 
adjournment each day. A copy of the preliminary agenda, expert panel 
roster, and any

[[Page 15984]]

additional information, when available, will be posted on the RoC Web 
site or may be requested from the Director of the RoC Center (see 
ADDRESSES above). Individuals who plan to attend the meeting are 
encouraged to register on-line by June 1, 2009, to facilitate planning 
for the meeting.

Request for Comments

    The NTP invites both written and oral public comments on the draft 
background document on glass wool fibers. Persons submitting written 
comments are asked to include their name and contact information 
(affiliation, mailing address, telephone and facsimile numbers, e-mail, 
and sponsoring organization, if any) and send them to Dr. Lunn (see 
ADDRESSES above) for receipt by May 22, 2009. All written comments 
identified by the individual's name, affiliation, and sponsoring 
organization (if applicable) will be posted on the RoC Web site prior 
to the meeting and distributed to the expert panel for their 
consideration in the peer review of the draft background document and/
or preparation for the meeting.
    Time will be set aside at the expert panel meeting for the 
presentation of oral public comments. Seven minutes will be available 
for each speaker (one speaker per organization). Persons wishing to 
present oral comments can register on-line or contact Dr. Lunn (see 
ADDRESSES above). When registering to comment orally, please provide 
your name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone and facsimile 
numbers, e-mail and sponsoring organization (if any). If possible, send 
a copy of the statement or talking points to Dr. Lunn by June 1, 2009. 
This statement will be provided to the expert panel to assist them in 
identifying issues for discussion and will be noted in the meeting 
record. Registration for presentation of oral comments will also be 
available at the meeting on June 9-10, 2009, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Time 
allowed for comments by on-site registrants may be less than for pre-
registered speakers and will be determined by the number of persons who 
register at the meeting to give oral comments. Persons registering at 
the meeting are asked to bring 25 copies of their statement or talking 
points for distribution to the expert panel and for the record.

Background Information on the RoC

    The RoC is a congressionally mandated document [Section 301(b)(4) 
of the Public Health Services Act, 42 U.S.C. 241(b)(4)], that 
identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure 
circumstances (collectively referred to as ``substances'') that may 
pose a hazard to human health by virtue of their carcinogenicity. 
Substances are listed in the report as either known or reasonably 
anticipated to be human carcinogens. The NTP prepares the RoC on behalf 
of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    Information about the RoC and the nomination process can be 
obtained from its homepage (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc) or by 
contacting Dr. Lunn (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). The 
NTP follows a formal, multi-step process for review and evaluation of 
selected substances. The formal evaluation process is available on the 
RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/15208) or in printed copy 
from the RoC Center.

    Dated: March 30, 2009.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. E9-7881 Filed 4-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P