[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67439-67440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28305]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2011-053; FRL-9485-1]


External Peer Review Meeting for Draft Microbial Risk Assessment 
Guideline: Pathogenic Microorganisms With Focus on Food and Water

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agency is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc. 
(ERG), a contractor to the EPA, will convene an independent panel of 
experts to review the draft document, Microbial Risk Assessment 
Guideline: Pathogenic Microorganisms with Focus on Food and Water. EPA 
previously announced the release of the draft guidance for a 60 day 
comment period (76 FR 44586-44587). The public comment period ended on 
September 26, 2011; EPA intends to forward public comments to the 
contractor for distribution to members of the review panel. The

[[Page 67440]]

external review draft does not represent EPA policy.
    The public may register to attend this peer review meeting as 
observers. Time will be set aside at the meeting for observers to give 
brief oral comments regarding the draft document. The draft document 
and appendix are available, via the Internet, on the Risk Assessment 
Forum web page (http://www.epa.gov/raf/microbial.htm). When finalizing 
the draft document, EPA intends to consider the comments from the 
external peer review meeting, along with public comments received in 
September. Public comments submitted during the public comment period 
ending September 26, 2011, may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov 
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2011-0532.

DATES: The peer review panel meeting on the draft document, Microbial 
Risk Assessment Guideline: Pathogenic Microorganisms with Focus on Food 
and Water will be held on Monday, November 7, 2011. The panel meeting 
begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the following address: L'Enfant 
Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
    Internet: The draft document can be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/raf/microbial.htm.
    Instructions: To attend the peer review meeting as an observer, you 
must register no later than October 31, 2011. You may do this by 
calling ERG at (781) 674-7374 or toll free on (800) 803-2833 (ask for 
the MRA Peer Review coordinator, Laurie Waite); sending a facsimile to 
(781) 674-2906 (reference the MRA Peer Review Meeting and include your 
name, title, affiliation, full address and contact information); or 
sending an email to [email protected] (reference the MRA Peer Review 
Meeting and include your name, title, affiliation, full address and 
contact information). You can also register via the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-mra.htm.
    Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-
come, first-served basis. There will be a limited amount of time for 
comments from the public at the peer review meeting. Please inform ERG 
if you wish to make oral comments during the meeting.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: The 
Agency welcomes public attendance at the MRA Peer Review Meeting, and 
will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. For 
information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, 
contact ERG on (781) 674-7374 or toll free at (800) 803-2833 (ask for 
the MRA Peer Review coordinator, Laurie Waite); sending a facsimile to 
(781) 674-2906 (reference the ``MRA Peer Review Meeting'' and include 
your name and contact information); or sending an email to 
[email protected] (reference the MRA Peer Review Meeting and include 
your name and contact information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael W. Broder, Risk Assessment 
Forum, Office of the Science Advisor at the following address: U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail 
Code 8105R, Washington, DC 20460.
    Dr. Broder's telephone number is (202) 564-3393. His email address 
is [email protected].
    Internet: The draft document can be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/raf/microbial.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft Microbial Risk Assessment 
Guideline was developed jointly by scientists from the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, with contributions from scientists 
in other federal agencies. The document addresses the full range of 
microbial risk assessment topics: definitions of the assessors' roles 
and responsibilities; planning and scoping; the four components of a 
risk assessment; and contains sections discussing risk management and 
communication, as well. The guideline highlights differences in the 
issues and processes between chemical and microbial risk assessment.
    This document reflects the combined experience and expertise of 
microbial risk assessors from across the government, and will promote a 
consistent and more transparent approach to conducting microbial risk 
assessments.

    Dated: October 24, 2011.
Paul T. Anastas,
Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2011-28305 Filed 10-31-11; 8:45 am]
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