[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 229 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62771-62772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28697]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9087-2; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0217]


Draft Toxicological Review of Chloroprene: 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 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 Chloroprene: In Support of Summary Information in the 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/635/R-09/010A). 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 
30, 2009) for the draft document in the Federal Register on September 
29, 2009 (74 FR 49874). 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 29, 2009, Federal 
Register notice (74 FR 49874) 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 begin on January 6, 2010, at 
9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at 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 30, 2009, by 
calling Versar, Inc. at 703-750-3000, ext. 579 or toll free at 1-800-2-
VERSAR (1-800-283-7727), ask for Karie Riley, the Chloroprene Peer 
Review Workshop Coordinator; fax a registration request to 703-642-6954 
(please reference the Chloroprene Peer Review Workshop and include your 
name, title, affiliation, full address and contact information), or 
send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also register via the 
Internet at http://epa.versar.com/chloroprene/meeting.
    The draft ``Toxicological Review of Chloroprene: In Support of 
Summary Information in 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 Chloroprene: In Support of 
Summary Information in 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 ``Chloroprene peer-review workshop''

[[Page 62772]]

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 toll free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (1-800-283-7727), ask for Karie 
Riley, the Chloroprene Peer Review Workshop Coordinator, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or via the Internet at http://epa.versar.com/chloroprene/meeting, 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; telephone: 
703-750-3000, ext. 579 or toll free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (ask for Karie 
Riley, the Chloroprene Peer Review Workshop Coordinator); fax no: 703-
642-6954 (please reference the ``Chloroprene PeerReview Workshop'' and 
include your name, title, affiliation and full address and contact 
information), or e-mail: [email protected] (subject line: Chloroprene 
Peer Review Workshop). To request accommodation of a disability, please 
contact Karie Riley (at the numbers and e-mail listed above), 
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, please contact Allen 
Davis, National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA); telephone: 
919-541-3789; facsimile: 919-541-0245; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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: November 23, 2009.
Rebecca Clark,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E9-28697 Filed 11-30-09; 8:45 am]
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