[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77832-77833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32106]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Availability of Draft NTP Technical Reports; Request for 
Comments; Announcement of a Public Meeting To Peer Review Draft NTP 
Technical Reports

AGENCY: National Toxicology Program (NTP), National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, 
HHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The NTP announces the availability of seven draft NTP 
Technical Reports (TRs) tentatively scheduled for peer review by an NTP 
Technical Reports Peer-Review Panel at a meeting on February 8-9, 2012. 
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). Information about this meeting, 
including draft reports and preliminary agenda, will be available on 
the NTP Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051). Summary minutes 
from the peer review will be posted on the NTP Web site following the 
meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on February 8-9, 2012. The draft NTP 
TRs should be available for public comment by December 19, 2011. The 
deadline to submit written comments is January 25, 2012, and the 
deadline for pre-registration to attend the meeting and/or provide oral 
comments at the meeting is February 1, 2012.

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, Designated Federal Official, Office 
of Liaison, Policy and Review, Division of the NTP, 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 five business days in advance 
of the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danica Andrews, Designated Federal 
Official, (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 available on the NTP Web site by December 19, 
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 Official (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 February 8-9, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. EST 
to adjournment at approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 8 and 
approximately noon on February 9 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 February 1, 2012, to facilitate access 
to the NIEHS campus. A photo ID is required to access the NIEHS campus. 
The NTP is making plans to webcast the meeting 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 25, 2012, to enable review by the peer-review 
panel and NTP staff prior to the meeting. Persons submitting written 
comments should include their name, affiliation, mailing address, 
phone, email, 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 
February 8 and 9, 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 email (see 
ADDRESSES above) by February 1, 2012, and if possible, to send a copy 
of the statement or talking points at that time to Ms. Andrews. Written 
statements can supplement and

[[Page 77833]]

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: December 7, 2011.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-32106 Filed 12-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P