
[Federal Register: November 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 216)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58014-58015]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10no09-57]                         


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8978-5; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0348]

 
Draft Toxicological Review of cis- and trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene: In Support of the Summary Information in the 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of peer-review workshop.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Versar, Inc., an EPA contractor for 
external scientific peer review, will convene an independent panel of 
experts and organize and conduct an external peer-review workshop to 
review the external review draft document titled, ``Toxicological 
Review of cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene: In Support of Summary 
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/
635/R-09/006). The draft document was prepared by the National Center 
for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and 
Development. EPA previously announced the 60-day public comment period 
(ending November 23, 2009) for the draft document in the Federal 
Register on September 24, 2009 (74 FR 48733). EPA will consider public 
comments and recommendations from the expert panel workshop as EPA 
finalizes the draft document.
    The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop are 
separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested 
parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward public 
comments submitted in accordance with the September 24, 2009, Federal 
Register notice (74 FR 48733) to Versar, Inc. for consideration by the 
external peer-review panel prior to the workshop.
    EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-
dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It 
does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency 
policy or determination.
    Versar, Inc. invites the public to register to attend this workshop 
as observers. In addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public to give oral 
and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft 
document under review. Space is limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The draft document and 
EPA's peer-review charge are available primarily via the Internet on 
NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at 
http://www.epa.gov/ncea. In preparing a final report, EPA will consider 
Versar's report of the comments and recommendations from the external 
peer-review workshop and any public comments that EPA receives.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on December 17, 2009 
at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at the Marriott 
Courtyard Arlington Crystal City/Reagan National Airport, 2899 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, phone: 703-549-3434. The 
EPA contractor, Versar, Inc., is organizing, convening, and conducting 
the peer-review workshop. To attend the workshop, register by December 
10, 2009, by calling Versar, Inc. at 703-750-3000, ext. 545, or toll 
free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (ask for Kathy Coon, the cis- and trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene peer review workshop coordinator), sending a facsimile 
to 703-642-6954 (please reference the ``cis- and trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene Workshop'' and include your name, title, affiliation, 
full address and contact information), or sending an e-mail to 
kscoon@versar.com (subject line: cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 
Peer Review Workshop).
    The draft ``Toxicological Review of cis- and trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated 
Risk Information System (IRIS)'' is available primarily via the 
Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment's home 
page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at http://
www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from 
the Information Management Team, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8561; 
facsimile: 703-347-8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please 
provide your name, mailing address, and the document title, 
``Toxicological Review of cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene: In 
Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS).'' Copies are not available from Versar, Inc.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the ``cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 
peer-review workshop'' and will make every effort to accommodate 
persons with disabilities. For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact Versar, Inc. by phone at 
(703) 750-3000, ext. 545, or toll free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (ask for Kathy 
Coon, the cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene peer review workshop 
coordinator), or by e-mail at kscoon@versar.com (subject line: cis- and 
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene Peer Review Workshop), preferably at least 
10 days prior to the meeting, to give as much time as possible to 
process your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, access or services for individuals with disabilities, or 
logistics for the external peer-review workshop should be directed to 
Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151; telephone: 
703-750-3000, ext. 545, or toll free at 1-800-2-VERSAR (ask for Kathy 
Coon, the cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene peer review workshop 
coordinator), facsimile: 703-642-6954 (please reference the ``cis- and 
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene Workshop'' and include your name, title, 
affiliation, full address and contact information), or e-mail: 
kscoon@versar.com (subject line: cis- and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 
Peer Review Workshop). To request accommodation of a disability, please 
contact Kathy Coon (at the numbers and e-mail listed above), preferably 
at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give as much time as possible 
to process your request.
    If you have questions about the document, please contact Audrey 
Galizia, National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), 
telephone: 732-906-6887; facsimile: 732-452-6429; or e-mail 
galizia.audrey@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information About IRIS

    IRIS is a database that contains potential adverse human health 
effects information that may result from chronic (or lifetime) exposure 
to specific chemical substances found in the environment. The database 
(available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/iris) contains 
qualitative and quantitative health effects information for more than 
540 chemical substances that may be used to support the first two steps 
(hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of a risk 
assessment process. When supported by available data, the database 
provides oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference 
concentrations (RfCs) for chronic health effects, and oral slope 
factors and inhalation unit risks for carcinogenic effects. Combined 
with specific exposure information, government and private entities can 
use IRIS data to help characterize public health risks of chemical 
substances in a site-specific situation and thereby

[[Page 58015]]

support risk management decisions designed to protect public health.

    Dated: October 29, 2009.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. E9-27049 Filed 11-9-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
