[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50761-50762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20308]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9190-4; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0224]


Draft Toxicological Review of Dichloromethane: In Support of 
Summary Information on 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 ERG, 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 
draft human health assessment titled, ``Toxicological Review of 
Dichloromethane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated 
Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/635/R-10/003A). The draft 
assessment was prepared by the National Center for Environmental 
Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA Office of Research and Development.
    EPA is releasing this draft assessment solely for the purpose of 
pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This draft assessment has not been formally disseminated by 
EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any 
Agency policy or determination.
    ERG invites the public to register to attend this workshop as 
observers. In addition, ERG invites the public to give brief oral 
comments and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the 
draft assessment under review. Space is limited, and reservations will 
be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. In preparing a final 
report, EPA will consider ERG's report of the comments and 
recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any written 
public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

DATES: The peer review panel workshop on the draft assessment for 
Dichloromethane will be held on September 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m. 
and ending at 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``Toxicological Review of Dichloromethane: In 
Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS)'' 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 draft assessment title.
    The peer review workshop on the draft dichloromethane assessment 
will be held at Doubletree Hotel Bethesda & Executive Meeting Center; 
8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. To attend the workshop, 
register no later than September 16, 2010, by calling ERG at 781-674-
7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833 (ask for the DCM peer review 
coordinator, Laurie Waite), sending a facsimile to 781-674-2906 (please 
reference: ``DCM peer review workshop'' and include your name, title, 
affiliation, full address, and contact information), or sending an

[[Page 50762]]

e-mail to [email protected] (subject line: ``DCM peer review workshop'' 
and include your name, title, affiliation, full address, and contact 
information, and whether you wish to make oral comments). You may also 
register via the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-dichlworkshop.htm. Space is limited, 
and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. 
There will be a limited time at the peer review workshop for comments 
from the public.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the Dichloromethane Peer Review Workshop 
and will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. 
For information on access or services for individuals with 
disabilities, contact: ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-
3136; telephone: 781-674-7374; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail: 
[email protected] (subject line: DCM peer review workshop), preferably 
at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give as much time as possible 
to process your request.
    Additional Information: Questions regarding information, 
registration, access or services for individuals with disabilities, or 
logistics for the external peer-review workshop should be directed to 
ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136; telephone: 781-674-
7374; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail: [email protected] (subject 
line: DCM peer review workshop).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Information about IRIS

    EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may 
result from exposure to chemical substances found in the environment. 
Through the IRIS Program, EPA provides the highest quality science-
based human health assessments to support the Agency's regulatory 
activities. The IRIS database contains information for more than 540 
chemical substances that can be used to support the first two steps 
(hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of the risk 
assessment process. When supported by available data, IRIS provides 
oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference concentrations 
(RfCs) for chronic noncancer health effects and cancer assessments. 
Combined with specific exposure information, government and private 
entities use IRIS 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: August 11, 2010.
David Bussard,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-20308 Filed 8-16-10; 8:45 am]
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