[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7284-7285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3055]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket Number NIOSH 099-C]


NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin--Asbestos Fibers and Other 
Elongate Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for 
Research, Version 4

AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of Draft Document Available for Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the following revised draft document available for public 
comment entitled ``NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin--Asbestos Fibers 
and Other Elongate Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap 
for Research, Version 4.'' The document and instructions for submitting 
comments can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/099-C/.
    Public Comment Period: February 18, 2010 through April 16, 2010.
    Status: Written comments may be mailed to the attention of the 
NIOSH Docket Officer, NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 
4676 Columbia Parkway (M/S C34), Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, telephone 
(513)

[[Page 7285]]

533-8611, facsimile (513) 533-8285. Comments may also be submitted by 
e-mail to [email protected]. All material submitted to the Agency 
should reference the NIOSH Docket number 099-C. All electronic comments 
should be formatted as Microsoft Word.
    All information received, including any personal information 
provided, will be posted without change and will be available for 
public examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket Office, Room 111, 
4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
    Purpose: To obtain comments from the public on the revised draft 
document entitled, ``NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin--Asbestos 
Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral Particles: State of the Science and 
Roadmap for Research,'' referred to as Roadmap. Asbestos has been a 
highly visible issue in public health for over three decades. Many 
advances have been made in the scientific understanding of worker 
health effects from exposure to asbestos and other elongate mineral 
particles (EMPs), and it is now well documented that fibers of asbestos 
minerals, when inhaled, can cause serious diseases in exposed workers. 
Yet, many questions and areas of scientific uncertainty remain.
    Background: As the Federal agency responsible for conducting 
research and making recommendations for the prevention of worker injury 
and illness, NIOSH is undertaking a reappraisal of how to ensure 
appropriate protection of workers from exposure to asbestos fibers and 
other EMPs. The purpose of the draft Roadmap is to outline major areas 
of controversy and to recommend a research framework that can serve as 
a guide for the development of specific research programs within and 
across disciplines. Ultimately, the intended goal of the research is to 
provide answers to current scientific questions, reduce scientific 
uncertainties, and provide a sound scientific foundation for future 
policy development so that optimal health protection can be assured.
    NIOSH has prepared several drafts of the document and invited 
comments on the occupational health issues identified and the framework 
for research. The drafts are summarized below.
    In February 2007 a draft entitled ``Asbestos and Other Mineral 
Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research'' was disseminated for public 
comment and scientific peer review.
    The February 2007 draft, public comments, peer review comments, and 
the responses to peer reviewers' comments can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/NIOSHdocket0099.html.
    In June 2008 a draft entitled ``Revised Draft NIOSH CURRENT 
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN--Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral 
Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research'' was 
disseminated for public comment. The June 2008 draft, public comments, 
and the responses to public comments can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/NIOSHdocket0099A.html.
    In January 2009 a draft entitled ``Revised Draft NIOSH CURRENT 
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN--Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral 
Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research'' was 
submitted to the Institute of Medicine and the National Research 
Council of the National Academies (NA) for scientific review.
    The NA review, titled ``A Review of the NIOSH Roadmap for Research 
on Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral Particles,'' can be found 
at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12697.
    The January 2009 draft and the responses to the NA review can be 
found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/NIOSHdocket0099B.html.
    As a result of comments received during each review, NIOSH revised 
previous drafts and is now inviting comments on a fourth version of the 
draft of the document.
    NIOSH continues to be interested in available and forthcoming 
research results that can help answer the questions set forth in the 
Roadmap, as well as information on existing workplace exposure data, 
health effects, and control technologies.
    Submitted comments on the revised draft Roadmap should indicate the 
pertinent page(s) and line(s) in the draft document being addressed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Middendorf, Office of the 
Director, NIOSH, telephone (513) 533-8606, e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: February 3, 2010.
John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2010-3055 Filed 2-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P