
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 7576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3296]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9630-2; EPA-HQ-ORD-2011-0390]


Draft Toxicological Review of 1,4-Dioxane: In Support of Summary 
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency .

ACTION: Notice of Peer Review Meeting.

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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 meeting to 
review the draft human health assessment titled, ``Toxicological Review 
of 1,4-Dioxane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated 
Risk Information System (IRIS)'' [EPA/635/R-11/003]. The draft 
assessment was prepared by the National Center for Environmental 
Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA Office of Research and Development. 
EPA is releasing this draft assessment for the purposes of public 
comment and peer review. This draft assessment is not final as 
described in EPA's information quality guidelines, and it does not 
represent and should not be construed to represent Agency policy or 
views.
    Versar, Inc. invites the public to register to attend this meeting 
as observers. In addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public to give 
brief oral comments and/or provide written comments at the meeting 
regarding the draft assessment under review. Space is limited, and 
reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. In 
preparing a final report, EPA will consider Versar, Inc.'s report of 
the comments and recommendations from the external peer review meeting 
and any written public comments that EPA receives in accordance with 
the announcements of the public comment period for the 1,4-dioxane 
assessment in Federal Register Notices published August 31, 2011, (76 
FR 54225) and September 16, 2011 (76 FR 57739).

DATES: The peer review panel meeting on the draft assessment for 1,4-
dioxane will be held on March 19, 2012, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending 
at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``Toxicological Review of 1,4-Dioxane: In Support 
of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System 
(IRIS)'' is available primarily via the Internet on the NCEA 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 (Address: Information Management Team, 
National Center for Environmental Assessment [Mail Code: 8601P], U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-
8691). If you request a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing 
address, and the draft assessment title.
    The peer review meeting on the draft 1,4-dioxane assessment will be 
held at Hyatt Place, Raleigh-Durham Airport, 200 Airgate Drive, 
Morrisville, NC 27560. To attend the meeting, register no later than 
March 12, 2012, by contacting Versar, Inc., by email: bcolon@versar.com 
(subject line: 1,4-Dioxane Peer Review Meeting), by phone: (703) 642-
6727 (ask for Betzy Colon, the 1,4-Dioxane Peer Review Meeting 
Coordinator), or by faxing a registration request to (703) 642-6809 
(please reference the 1,4-Dioxane Peer Review Meeting and include your 
name, title, affiliation, full address and contact information). Space 
is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis. There will be limited time at the peer review meeting for 
comments from the public. Please inform Betzy Colon if you wish to make 
comments during the meeting.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the ``1,4-Dioxane Peer Review Meeting'' 
and will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. 
For information on access or services for individuals with 
disabilities, contact: Versar, Inc., at 6850 Versar Center, 
Springfield, VA 22151; by email: bcolon@versar.com (subject line: 1,4-
Dioxane Peer Review Meeting), by phone: (703) 642-6727 (ask for Betzy 
Colon, the 1,4-Dioxane Peer Review Meeting Coordinator), or by faxing a 
registration request to (703) 642-6809 (please reference the 1,4-
Dioxane Peer Review Meeting and include your name, title, affiliation, 
full address and contact information).
    Additional Information: For information on the draft assessment, 
please contact Patricia Gillespie, National Center for Environmental 
Assessment [Mail Code: B-243-01], U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and 
Development, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone: (919) 541-
1964; facsimile: (919) 541-2985; or email: [FRN_Questions@epa.gov].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About IRIS

    EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may 
result from exposure to chemical substances found in the environment. 
Through the IRIS Program, EPA provides the highest quality science-
based human health assessments to support the Agency's regulatory 
activities. The IRIS database contains information for more than 550 
chemical substances that can be used to support the first two steps 
(hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of the risk 
assessment process. When supported by available data, IRIS provides 
oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference concentrations 
(RfCs) for chronic noncancer health effects and cancer assessments. 
Combined with specific exposure information, government and private 
entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical 
substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk 
management decisions designed to protect public health.

    Dated: January 30, 2012.
Darrell A. Winner,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2012-3296 Filed 2-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


