[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54908-54909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22273]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Draft NTP Technical Reports on Toxicology and Carcinogenesis 
Studies of HMB and PFOA; Availability of Documents; Request for 
Comments; Notice of Peer-Review Meeting

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Toxicology Program (NTP) announces the 
availability of two draft NTP Technical Reports on toxicology and 
carcinogenesis studies scheduled for peer review for the following 
substances: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and perfluorooctanoic acid. 
The peer-review meeting will be held by webcast only and available to 
the public for remote viewing. Registration is required for attendance 
by webcast and to present oral comments. Information about the meeting 
and registration is available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051.

DATES: 
    Meeting: December 12, 2019, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) 
to adjournment. The meeting may end earlier or later than 5:00 p.m. 
EST.
    Document Availability: The two draft NTP reports will be available 
by October 15, 2019 at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051.
    Written Public Comment Submissions: Deadline is November 20, 2019.
    Registration for Oral Comments: Deadline is December 3, 2019.
    Registration to View Webcast: Deadline is December 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: Webcast.
    Meeting Web Page: The draft reports, preliminary agenda, 
registration, and other meeting materials will be available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051.
    Webcast: The URL for viewing the peer-review meeting webcast will 
be provided to registrants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Email [email protected]. Dr. 
Elizabeth Maull, NIEHS/DNTP, is the Designated Federal Official. Phone: 
(984) 287-3157, Fax: (301) 480-3008. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Meeting Attendance Registration: The meeting is open to the public 
with time set aside for oral public comment. Registration to view the 
webcast is by December 12, 2019, at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051. 
The URL for the webcast will be provided in the email confirming 
registration. Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to 
view the webcast should contact Sophie Hearn by phone: (919) 293-1648 
or email: [email protected]. TTY users should contact the Federal 
TTY Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Requests should be made at least 
five business days in advance of the event.
    Request for Comments: NTP invites written and oral public comments 
on the draft reports that address scientific or technical issues. 
Guidelines for public comments are available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/guidelines_public_comments_508.pdf.
    The deadline for submission of written comments is November 20, 
2019, to enable review by the peer-review panel and NTP staff prior to 
the meeting. Written public comments should be submitted through the 
meeting website at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051. Persons 
submitting written comments should include name, affiliation, mailing 
address, phone, email, and sponsoring organization (if any). Written 
comments received in response to this notice will be posted on the NTP 
website and the submitter will be identified by name, affiliation, and 
sponsoring organization (if any). Comments that address scientific/
technical issues will be forwarded to the peer-review panel and NTP 
staff prior to the meeting.
    Oral public comment at this meeting is welcome, with time set aside 
for the presentation of oral comments on the draft reports. The agenda 
will allow for two oral public comment periods--one comment period per 
report (up to 6 commenters, up to 5 minutes per speaker). Persons 
wishing to make an oral comment are required to register online at 
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051 by December 3, 2019. Registration is 
on a first-come, first served basis. Each organization is allowed one 
time slot per report. The access number for the teleconference line 
will be provided to registrants by email prior to the meeting. 
Commenters will be notified approximately one week before the peer-
review meeting about the actual time allotted per speaker.
    If possible, oral public commenters should send a copy of their 
slides and/or statement or talking points to Sophie Hearn by email: 
[email protected] by December 3, 2019. Written statements can 
supplement and may expand the oral presentation.
    Meeting Materials: The draft NTP reports and preliminary agenda 
will be available on the NTP website at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051 prior to the meeting. NTP expects that the draft reports should 
be available on the website by October 15, 2019. Additional information 
will be posted when available or may be requested in hardcopy from 
Sophie Hearn by phone: (919) 293-1648 or email: [email protected]. 
Individuals are encouraged to access the meeting web page to stay 
abreast of the most current information regarding the meeting.
    Following the meeting, a report of the peer review will be prepared 
and made available on the NTP website.
    Background Information on NTP Peer-Review Panels: NTP panels are 
technical, scientific advisory bodies established on an ``as needed'' 
basis to provide independent scientific peer review and advise 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. NTP welcomes 
nominations of scientific experts for upcoming panels. Scientists 
interested in serving on an NTP panel should provide their current 
curriculum vitae to Sophie Hearn by email: [email protected].
    The authority for NTP panels is provided by 42 U.S.C. 217a; section 
222 of the Public Health Service 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.
    This peer review is being conducted by a panel via webcast. Peer-
review of future draft reports will be conducted in accordance with 
Department of Health and Human Services peer-review policies (https://aspe.hhs.gov/hhs-information-quality-peer-review) and

[[Page 54909]]

Office of Management and Budget's Final Information Quality Bulletin 
for Peer Review (70 FR 2664, January 4, 2005).

    Dated: September 27, 2019.
Brian R. Berridge,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-22273 Filed 10-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P