[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10899-10900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4343]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Proposed HHS Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in 
Drinking Water for Prevention of Dental Caries; Extension of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is extending 
the comment period for a proposed recommendation that community water 
systems adjust the amount of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 mg/L to 
provide the best of balance of protection from dental caries while 
limiting the risk of dental fluorosis. The proposed recommendation was 
published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2011, Volume 76, 
Number 9, page 2383.

DATES: The comment period on the proposed recommendations for fluoride 
concentration in drinking water for the prevention of dental caries has 
been extended to April 15, 2011. To receive consideration comments must 
be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on that date.

ADDRESSES: Comments are preferred electronically and may be addressed 
to

[[Page 10900]]

[email protected]. Written responses should be addressed to the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, CWF Comments, Division of Oral Health, National Center 
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), 4770 
Buford Highway, NE., MS F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara F. Gooch, Associate Director 
for Science (Acting), 770-488-6054, [email protected], Division of 
Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health 
Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 
Buford Highway, NE., MS F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed recommendation was published in 
the Federal Register on January 13, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 9, page 
2383) with a deadline for written comments of February 14, 2011. The 
proposed recommendation will update and replace the 1962 U.S. Public 
Health Service Drinking Water Standards related to recommendations for 
fluoride concentrations in drinking water. The U.S. Public Health 
Service recommendations for optimal fluoride concentrations were based 
on ambient air temperature of geographic areas and ranged from 0.7-1.2 
mg/L.
    HHS proposes to update and replace these recommendations because of 
new data that address changes in the prevalence of dental fluorosis, 
fluid intake among children, and the contribution of fluoride in 
drinking water to total fluoride exposure in the United States. As of 
December 31, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
estimated that 16,977 community water systems provided fluoridated 
water to 196 million people.
    Since the proposed recommendation was published the Department has 
received a request to extend the comment period by an additional 60 
days to allow sufficient time for a full review of the proposed action, 
including potential economic and health impacts. HHS is committed to 
affording the public a meaningful opportunity to comment on the 
proposed recommendation and supporting rationale and welcomes comments.

    Dated: February 17, 2011.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-4343 Filed 2-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P