[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 164 (Tuesday, August 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51561-51562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21039]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0508; FRL-9932-32]
Notice of a Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment on
Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA will be hosting a public meeting entitled, ``Workshop for
Public Input on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically
Engineered Algae'' on September 30, 2015. The objective of this
workshop is to receive public input and comments on EPA's data needs to
support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight
under the Toxic Substances Control Act that make use of genetically
engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The workshop will inform an update
to an EPA guidance document entitled ``Points to Consider in The
Preparation of TSCA Biotechnology Submissions for Microorganisms''. EPA
encourages all members of the public interested in participating in
this workshop to register to attend, whether in-person or through the
Web-connect and teleconference that will also be available.
DATES: Meeting. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 30,
2015, from 8 a.m. to noon, EDT.
Meeting registration. Advance registration must be completed no
later than 11:59 p.m., EDT, on Friday, September 25, 2015. On-site
registration will be permitted, but seating and speaking priority will
be given to those who register by this deadline.
To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the
workshop logistics person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT,
preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much
time as possible to process your request.
Comments. EPA will hear oral comments on Wednesday, September 30,
2015, and accept comments and materials submitted in the docket by
October 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Meeting. The workshop will be held at the Omni Shoreham
Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW., Washington, DC 20008. The workshop will
also be available via Web connect and teleconferencing for all
registered participants, for further information see Unit III.A. under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Meeting registration. You may register online, by U.S. Postal
Service, by overnight/priority mail, or in person at the meeting. To
register online go to https://projects.erg.com/conferences/oppt/workshophome.htm and complete the online registration form. To register
by U.S. Postal Service or overnight/priority mail, mail your
registration to: Erin Pittorino, ERG, 110 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA
02421.
Comments. Submit comments and materials, identified by docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0508, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute.
Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along
with more information about dockets in general is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact:
Carolina Pe[ntilde]alva-Arana, Risk Assessment Division, Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:
(202) 564-4816; email address: [email protected].
For workshop logistics or registration contact: Erin Pittorino,
ERG, 110 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02421; telephone number: (781)
674-7260; email address: [email protected].
For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill,
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202)
554-1404; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of
interest to a wide range of stakeholders including those interested in
environmental and human health assessment, the industrial and
commercial biotechnology industry--including those employing modern
versions sometimes referred to as synthetic biology, the algae
production industry, chemical producers and users, consumer product
companies, and members of the public interested in the assessment of
biotechnology risks. Since others also may be interested, the Agency
has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be
affected by this action.
B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?
The docket for this action, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2015-0508, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or in person
at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket),
Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone
number for the OPPT Docket is (202) 566-0280. Please review the visitor
instructions and additional information about the docket available at
http://www.epa.gov/dockets. Documents and workshop information will
also be available at the registration Web site.
[[Page 51562]]
C. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
When preparing comments for EPA, whether oral or in writing, see
the tips at https://projects.erg.com/conferences/oppt/workshophome.htm
and at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.
II. Background
The objective of this workshop is to discuss EPA's data needs to
support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight
under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.,
that make use of genetically engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The
workshop will inform an update to the EPA guidance document entitled
``Points to Consider in The Preparation of TSCA Biotechnology
Submissions for Microorganisms''.
Members of the public are invited to review the presentations and
supporting documentation, including the EPA guidance document, and to
provide comments on the workshop subject matter by the end of the
comment period specified. This information is distributed solely for
informational purposes and should not be construed to represent any
Agency determination or policy. The meeting will be open to the public
and experts in biotechnology, algae production, and risk assessment are
encouraged to attend and present their views.
III. Meeting
A. Web Connect and Teleconferencing Access
The workshop will be available via Web connect and teleconferencing
for registered participants. All registered participants will receive
information on how to connect to the workshop prior to its start.
B. Public Participation at the Meeting
Members of the public may register to attend the workshop as
observers and may also register to speak offering oral comments on the
day of the workshop. A registered speaker is encouraged to focus on
issues directly relevant to science-based aspects of the workshop and
to address specific scientific points in the speaker's oral comments.
Each speaker is allowed between 2-3 minutes. To accommodate as many
registered speakers as possible, speakers may present oral comments
only, without visual aids or written material. Given time constraints,
the number of speakers allowed during the comment periods will be
decided upon by the workshop chair. Speakers will be selected in a
manner designed to optimize representation from all organizations,
affiliations, and present a balance of science issues relevant to the
workshop.
IV. How can I request to participate in this meeting?
A. Registration
To attend the workshop in person or to receive access through Web
connect and teleconference, you must register no later than 11:59 p.m.,
on Friday, September 25, 2015, using one of the methods described under
ADDRESSES. While on-site registration will be available, seating will
be on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority given to early
registrants and until room capacity is reached. The Agency anticipates
that approximately 150 people will be able to attend the workshop in
person, with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For
registrants not able to attend in person, the workshop will also
provide Web connect and teleconference capabilities.
Time permitting, on-site registrants may offer comments following
those who registered earlier. For workshop logistics or registration
questions contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
B. Required Registration Information
Members of the public may register to attend or speak if planning
to offer oral comments during the scheduled public comment periods. To
register for the meeting online or by mail, you must provide your full
name, organization or affiliation, and contact information. If you
indicate that you wish to speak, you will be asked to select one of
these categories that most closely reflect the content of your oral
comments: Environmental Protection, Algae/Cyanobacteria Production,
Biotechnology, Biological/Genetic Engineering, Risk Assessment,
Microorganisms, Ecotoxicity, Industrial Chemicals, Guidance or Other.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Date: August 18, 2015.
Wendy C. Hamnett,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 2015-21039 Filed 8-24-15; 8:45 am]
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