[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35800-35801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15217]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9167-1; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0395]


Draft EPA's Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity 
and Response to NAS Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 21, 2010, EPA released the draft report entitled, 
``EPA's Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and 
Response to NAS Comments'' (EPA/600/R-10/038A) for independent external 
review, and public review and comment (75 FR 28610). Written comments 
on the draft report were to be submitted to EPA by August 19, 2010 (a 
90-day public comment period). Since release, the Agency has received 
several requests for additional time to submit comments. In response to 
these requests, the EPA is extending the public comment period another 
30 days until September 20, 2010 (a 120-day public comment period).
    This draft report responds to the key recommendations and comments 
included in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 2006 report. In 
addition, it includes new analyses on potential human effects that may 
result from exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). 
These analyses have not been in previous versions of draft reports 
related to EPA's dioxin reassessment activity. This draft report is now 
considered to be under EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) 
program, and thus, the new IRIS process announced in May 2009 (http://www.epa.gov/iris/process/) is being followed. Per the May 2009 process, 
this draft report is beginning Step 4--independent external peer review 
and public review and comment. This draft dioxin report was prepared by 
the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA 
Office of Research and Development (ORD).
    The draft document, ``EPA's Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to 
Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments,'' was also being provided 
to EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB), a body established under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, for independent external peer review. 
The SAB will convene an expert panel composed of scientists 
knowledgeable about technical issues related to dioxins and risk 
assessment. The SAB is holding a public teleconference on June 24, 
2010, and a public panel meeting on July 13-15, 2010. The SAB peer 
review meetings were announced by the SAB staff office in a separate 
May 24, 2010, Federal Register Notice (75 FR 28805). EPA intends to 
forward all public comments submitted before July 7, 2010, in response 
to this notice to the SAB peer review panel for their consideration. 
Members of the public who wish to ensure that their technical comments 
are provided to the SAB expert panel before each meeting should also e-
mail their comments separately to Thomas Armitage, the SAB Designated 
Federal Officer at [email protected], following the procedures in 
the Federal Register Notice announcing the SAB public meetings. When 
completing this draft dioxin report, EPA will consider any written 
public comments that EPA receives in accordance with the detailed 
instructions provided under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in Federal 
Register notice (75 FR 28610). The public comment period and SAB 
external peer review are independent processes that provide separate 
opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the draft 
report.
    EPA is releasing this draft report solely for the purpose of pre-
dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This draft report has not been formally disseminated by 
EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any 
Agency policy or determination.

DATES: The public comment period began on May 21, 2010, and ends on 
September 20, 2010. Comments should be in writing and must be received 
by EPA by September 20, 2010.
    Due to the timing of the SAB's peer review meeting, EPA can only 
guarantee that those comments received by July 7, 2010, in response to 
this Federal Register notice will be provided to the SAB panel prior to 
the SAB meeting. Comments received after July 7, 2010, will still be 
provided to the SAB panel and will also inform the Agency's revision of 
the draft report.

ADDRESSES: The external review draft titled, ``EPA's Reanalysis of Key 
Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and

[[Page 35801]]

Response to NAS Comments'' (EPA/600/R-10/038A) is available primarily 
via the Internet on the NCEA 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 
(Address: Information Management Team, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (Mail Code: 8601P), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-8691). If you request a 
paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the 
assessment title.
    Comments may be submitted electronically via http://www.regulations.gov, by e-mail, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand 
delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of Federal Register notice (75 FR 
28610).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the docket, 
regulations.gov or public comment period, please contact the Office of 
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; 
or e-mail: [email protected].
    For information on the draft report, please contact Linda C. Tuxen, 
National Center for Environmental Assessment (8601P), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8609; facsimile: 703-347-8699; 
or e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 17, 2010.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-15217 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
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