[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8741-8742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3276]


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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 April 5, 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 April 5, 
2011. The draft NTP TRs should be available for public comment by 
February 25, 2011. The deadline to submit written comments is March 22, 
2011, and the deadline for pre-registration to attend the meeting and/
or provide oral comments at the meeting is March 29, 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 Danica Andrews, 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: Danica Andrews, NTP Designated Federal 
Officer, (919) 541-2595, [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 carcinogenesis studies in 
conventional or genetically modified rodent models. The preliminary 
agenda listing the draft reports and electronic files (PDF) of the 
draft reports should be posted on the NTP Web site by February 25, 
2011. 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 April 5, 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 March 29, 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

[[Page 8742]]

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 March 22, 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 a.m. until adjournment on April 
5, although public comments will be received only during the formal 
public comment period for each draft report. 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 register via online registration at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051, phone, or e-mail (see ADDRESSES above) by 
March 29, 2011, and if possible, to send a copy of the statement or 
talking points at that time to Ms Andrews. 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 Panels

    NTP panels are technical, scientific advisory bodies established on 
an ``as needed'' basis to provide independent scientific peer review 
and to advise the NTP on agents of public health concern, new/revised 
toxicological test methods, or other issues. 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 Ms. Andrews (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. 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: February 3, 2011.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-3276 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P