[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9947-9948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03096]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Draft NTP Technical Reports on Sodium Tungstate Dihydrate, Di-n-
butyl phthalate, and Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate; 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 the Draft NTP Technical Reports on sodium tungstate 
dihydrate, di-n-butyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 
scheduled for peer review. The peer-review meeting will be held 
remotely and will be available to the public for veiwing. Oral and 
written comments will be accepted; registration is required to access 
the virtual event and to present oral comments. Information about the 
meeting and registration is available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051.

DATES: Meeting: April 2, 2021, 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) to 
adjournment. The meeting may end earlier or later than 5:00 p.m. EST.
    Document Availability: The three draft NTP reports will be 
available by February 11, 2021 at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051.
    Written Public Comment Submissions: Deadline is March 19, 2021.
    Registration for Oral Comments: Deadline is March 26, 2021.
    Registration to View the Virtual Meeting: Deadline is April 2, 
2021.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Email [email protected]. Dr. Sheena 
Scruggs, NIEHS/DNTP, is the Designated Federal Official. Phone: (984) 
287-3355. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Meeting Attendance Registration: The meeting is available for 
viewing by the public with time set aside for oral public comment. 
Registration to view the virtual meeting is by April 2, 2021, at 
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/36051. The URL for the virtual meeting 
will be provided in the email confirming registration. Individuals with 
disabilities who need accommodation to view the virtual meeting should 
contact Megan Rooney by phone: (571) 459-4185 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 March 19, 2021, 
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 three 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 March 26, 2021. 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 Megan Rooney by email: 
[email protected] by March 26, 2021. 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 February 11, 2021. Additional 
information will be posted when available or may be requested in 
hardcopy from Megan Rooney by phone: (571) 459-4185 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

[[Page 9948]]

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 name and best form of 
contact to Megan Rooney 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 a virtual 
meeting. 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 
Office of Management and Budget's Final Information Quality Bulletin 
for Peer Review (70 FR 2664, January 4, 2005).

Brian R. Berridge,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-03096 Filed 2-16-21; 8:45 am]
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