[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58015-58016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27048]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8978-6; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0203]


Draft Toxicological Review of Trichloroacetic Acid: In Support of 
the Summary Information in the Integrated Risk Information System 
(IRIS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

[[Page 58016]]


ACTION: Notice of peer-review workshop.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Versar, Inc., 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 Trichloroacetic Acid: In Support of Summary Information on 
the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/635/R-09/003A). 
The draft document was prepared by the National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and 
Development. EPA previously announced the 60-day public comment period 
(ending November 23, 2009) for the draft document in the Federal 
Register on September 24, 2009 (74 FR 48735). 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 September 24, 2009, Federal 
Register notice (74 FR 48735) to Versar, Inc. 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.
    Versar, Inc. invites the public to register to attend this workshop 
as observers. In addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public to give oral 
and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft 
document under review. Space is limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The draft document and 
EPA's peer-review charge are available primarily via the Internet on 
NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at 
http://www.epa.gov/ncea. In preparing a final report, EPA will consider 
Versar's report of the comments and recommendations from the external 
peer-review workshop and any public comments that EPA receives.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will be held on December 10, 
2009, at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at the Marriott 
Courtyard Arlington Crystal City/Reagan National Airport, 2899 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202; phone: 703-549-3434. The 
EPA contractor, Versar, Inc., is organizing, convening, and conducting 
the peer-review workshop. To attend the workshop, register by December 
4, 2009, by e-mail: [email protected] (subject line: Trichloroacetic 
Acid Peer Review Workshop), by phone: 703-750-3000, ext. 579 or toll 
free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (1-800-283-7727), ext. 579, ask for the 
Trichloroacetic Acid Peer Review Workshop Coordinator, Karie Riley, or 
by faxing a registration request to 703-642-6954 (please reference the 
``Trichloroacetic Acid Peer Review Workshop'' and include your name, 
title, affiliation, full address, and contact information).
    The draft ``Toxicological Review of Trichloroacetic Acid: In 
Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS)'' is available primarily via the Internet on the National 
Center for Environmental Assessment's home page under the Recent 
Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited 
number of paper copies are available from the Information Management 
Team, NCEA; 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, ``Toxicological Review of Trichloroacetic Acid: 
In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS).'' Copies are not available from Versar, Inc.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the ``trichloroacetic acid peer-review 
workshop'' and will make every effort to accommodate persons with 
disabilities. For information on access or services for individuals 
with disabilities, please contact Versar, Inc. by phone at 703-750-3000 
ext. 579 or by e-mail at [email protected], preferably at least 10 days 
prior to the meeting, to give as much time as possible to process your 
request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, access or services for individuals with disabilities, or 
logistics for the external peer-review workshop should be directed to 
Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151; by e-mail: 
[email protected] (subject line: Trichloroacetic Acid Peer Review 
Workshop), by phone: 703-750-3000, ext. 579 or toll free at 1-800-2-
VERSAR (1-800-283-7727), ext. 579, or ask for the Trichloroacetic Acid 
Peer Review Workshop Coordinator, Karie Riley). To request 
accommodation of a disability, please contact Ms. Karie Riley of 
Versar, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give as 
much time as possible to process your request.
    If you have questions about the document, contact Diana Wong, 
National Center for Environmental Assessment, (8601P), U.S. EPA, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-
8633; facsimile: 703-347-8689; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information About 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.

    Dated: October 29, 2009.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E9-27048 Filed 11-9-09; 8:45 am]
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