[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73085-73086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29945]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (NTP): Office of Liaison, Policy, and 
Review; Availability of Draft NTP Technical Reports; Request for 
Comments; Announcement of a Panel Meeting to Peer Review Draft NTP 
Technical Reports

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).

ACTION: Availability of Draft Reports; Request for Comments; and 
Announcement of a Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The NTP announces the availability of draft NTP Technical 
Reports (TRs; available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051) that will 
be peer-reviewed by an NTP Technical Reports Peer Review Panel at a 
meeting on January 26, 2011. The meeting is open to the public with 
time scheduled for oral public comment. The NTP also invites written 
comments on the draft reports (see ``Request for Comments'' below). 
Summary minutes from the peer review will be posted on the NTP Web site 
following the meeting.

DATES: The meeting to review the draft NTP TRs will be held on January 
26, 2011. The draft NTP TRs will be available for public comment by 
December 8, 2010. The deadline to submit written comments is January 
12, 2011, and the deadline for pre-registration to attend the meeting 
and/or provide oral comments at the meeting is January 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Rodbell Auditorium, Rall 
Building, NIEHS, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709. Public comments and any other correspondence on the draft TRs 
should be sent to Dr. Lori White, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-03, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, FAX: (919) 541-0295, or 
[email protected]. Courier address: 530 Davis Drive, Room 2136, 
Morrisville, NC 27560. Persons needing interpreting services in order 
to attend should contact (301) 402-8180 (voice) or (301) 435-1908 
(TTY). Requests should be made at least seven business days in advance 
of the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lori White, NTP Designated Federal 
Officer, (919) 541-9834, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Preliminary Agenda Topics and Availability of Meeting Materials

    The agenda topic is the peer review of the findings and conclusions 
of draft NTP TRs of toxicology and carcinogenicity studies. The 
preliminary agenda listing the draft reports and electronic files (PDF) 
of the draft reports should be posted on the NTP Web site by December 
8, 2010. Any additional information, when available, will be posted on 
the NTP Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051) or may be 
requested in hardcopy from the Designated Federal Officer (see 
ADDRESSES above). Following the meeting, summary minutes will be 
prepared and made available on the NTP Web site. Information about the 
NTP testing program is found at  http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/test.

Attendance and Registration

    The meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. EST 
to adjournment and is open to the public with attendance limited only 
by the space available. Individuals who plan to attend are encouraged 
to register online at the NTP Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051) by January 19, 2011, to facilitate access to the NIEHS campus. A 
photo ID is required to access the NIEHS campus. The NTP is making 
plans to videocast the meeting through the Internet at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/live. Registered attendees are encouraged 
to access the meeting page to stay abreast of the most current 
information regarding the meeting.

Request for Comments

    The NTP invites written comments on the draft reports, which should 
be received by January 12, 2011, to enable review by the panel and NTP 
staff prior to the meeting. Persons submitting written comments should 
include their name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, e-mail, and 
sponsoring organization (if any) with the document. Written comments 
received in response to this notice will be posted on the NTP Web site, 
and the submitter will be identified by name, affiliation, and/or 
sponsoring organization.
    Public input at this meeting is also invited, and time is set aside 
for the presentation of oral comments on the draft reports. In addition 
to in-person oral comments at the meeting at the NIEHS, public comments 
can be presented by teleconference line. There will be 50 lines for 
this call; availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 
The available lines will be open from 8:00 AM until adjournment on 
January 26, although public comments will be received only during the 
formal public comment periods indicated on the preliminary agenda. Each 
organization is allowed one time slot per draft report. At least 7 
minutes will be allotted to each speaker, and if time permits, may be 
extended to 10 minutes at the discretion of the chair. Persons wishing 
to make an oral presentation are asked to notify Dr. Lori White via 
online registration at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/166, phone, or e-
mail (see ADDRESSES above) by January 19, 2011, and if possible, to 
send a copy of the statement or talking points at that time. Written 
statements can supplement and may expand the oral presentation. 
Registration for oral comments will also be available at the meeting, 
although time allowed for presentation by on-site registrants may be 
less than that for pre-registered speakers and will be determined by 
the number of persons who register on-site.

Background Information on NTP Peer Review Panels

    NTP panels are technical, scientific advisory bodies established on 
an ``as needed'' basis to provide independent scientific peer review 
and advise the NTP on agents of public health concern, new/revised 
toxicological test methods, or other issues. Previously, a subcommittee 
of the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors provided peer review of draft 
NTP Technical Reports. The subcommittee has been discontinued and peer 
review of the draft reports will now be conducted by peer review 
panels. These panels help ensure transparent, unbiased, and 
scientifically rigorous input to the program for its use in making 
credible decisions about human hazard, setting research and testing 
priorities, and providing information to regulatory agencies about 
alternative methods for toxicity screening. The NTP welcomes 
nominations of scientific experts for upcoming panels. Scientists 
interested in serving on an NTP panel should provide a current 
curriculum vita to Dr. Lori White (see ADDRESSES). The authority for 
NTP panels is provided by 42 U.S.C. 217a; section 222 of the Public 
Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended.

[[Page 73086]]

The panel is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended 
(5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and 
use of advisory committees.

    Dated: November 18, 2010.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-29945 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P