Request for Public Comments To Be Sent to Versar, Inc., on an Interim List of Perchlorate in Drinking Water Expert Peer Reviewers and Draft Peer Review Charge Questions, 67347-67348 [2016-23607]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices for listed species, and requested cultural resources surveys and tribal consultations. Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/esubscription.asp. Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and ‘‘Docket Number’’ excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP16–456), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or by email at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: September 26, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–23678 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OW–2016–0439; FRL–9953–43– OW] Request for Public Comments To Be Sent to Versar, Inc., on an Interim List of Perchlorate in Drinking Water Expert Peer Reviewers and Draft Peer Review Charge Questions Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of request for public comment. AGENCY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the release of materials for public comment that relate to the expert peer review of documents intended to support the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act decision making for perchlorate. This request is one of two Federal Register notices being published mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:49 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 concurrently, seeking public comment on two separate sets of materials. This notice requests comments on the interim list of peer review candidates and the draft charge for the expert peer review panel, to be sent to EPA’s contractor, Versar, Inc. The comments will be considered to help inform the final selection of expert panelists and the development of the peer review panel’s charge. A companion notice, published today, requests comments on draft materials to inform the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act decision making on perchlorate; those materials are the draft Biologically Based Dose-Response Model and an accompanying draft model report entitled ‘‘Biologically Based Dose-Response Models for the Effect of Perchlorate on Thyroid Hormones in the Infant, Breast Feeding Mother, Pregnant Mother, and Fetus: Model Development, Revision, and Preliminary Dose-Response Analyses.’’ Versar, Inc., will consider the comments received on this notice in selecting the final peer review panel, which will collectively provide appropriate expertise spanning the subject matter areas covered by the draft model and draft report and, to the extent feasible, best provide a balance of perspectives. DATES: Comments on the draft peer review panel charge questions and interim list of peer review candidates must be received on or before October 21, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on the interim list of peer review candidates and draft charge to Versar, Inc., no later than October 21, 2016 by one of the following methods: • Email: perchlorate@versar.com (subject line: Perchlorate Peer Review). • Mail: Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151 (ATTN: David Bottimore). Please be advised that public comments are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the interim list of expert peer review candidates and draft peer review charge questions should be directed to Versar, Inc., at 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151; by email perchlorate@versar.com (subject line: Perchlorate Peer Review); or by phone: (703) 642–6815 (ask for David Bottimore). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Process of Obtaining Candidate Reviewers Versar, Inc., will assemble a panel of scientific experts to evaluate the draft BBDR model and draft report. As part of the peer review process, EPA PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 67347 announced a public nomination period from March 1, 2016, to March 31, 2016, in the Federal Register (81 FR 10617; March 1, 2016), during which members of the public were able to nominate scientific experts whom have knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: (1) Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK), physiologically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) and/or Biologically Based Dose-Response (BBDR) modeling, (2) fetal and neonatal thyroid endocrinology (clinical and experimental), (3) iodide homeostasis, and (4) perchlorate toxicology and mode of action or adverse outcome pathway. On June 3, 2016, the Agency announced in the Federal Register (81 FR 35760) that, to achieve efficiency, it was expanding the scope of the peer review announced in March to include review of a draft approach for application of the draft BBDR model, to inform the development of a perchlorate MCLG. EPA has reevaluated that approach in response to concerns that a simultaneous review of a methodology to applying the model to develop a perchlorate MCLG would not allow the Agency or peer reviews to consider peer reviewer comments on the draft BBDR model prior to evaluating the alternative methodologies to applying the model to derive an MCLG. Today’s notice therefore seeks input only on the peer review of the model, not its application. EPA will seek input on a second peer review of methods for applying the model to inform development of a perchlorate MCLG in a future notice. Versar, Inc., also conducted an independent search for scientific experts to augment the list of publicallynominated candidates. In total, the contractor evaluated 35 candidates, including those nominated during the public nomination periods and those identified by the contractor. Selection Process Versar, Inc., considered and screened all candidates against the selection criteria described in the March 1, 2016 Federal Register notice (81 FR 10617), which included the candidates being free of any conflict of interest and being available to participate in-person in the peer review meeting in the Washington, DC area, which will be open to the public, projected to occur in late 2016 (exact date to be determined). Following the screening process, the contractor narrowed the list of potential reviewers to 19 candidates. EPA is now soliciting comments on this list. EPA requests that the public provide relevant information or documentation on the experts that E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1 67348 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices the contractor should consider in evaluating these candidates. Once the public comments on the interim list of candidates have been reviewed and considered, the contractor will select the final list of peer reviewers. Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers Peer reviewers will be charged with evaluating and preparing written comments on the draft BBDR model and draft report. Versar, Inc., will provide reviewers with a summary of public comments on the draft BBDR model and report submitted to EPA’s docket (ID number EPA–HQ–OW–2016–0438) during the 45-day public comment period, for their consideration. Reviewers will participate in the meeting expected to be held in the Washington, DC metro area in early 2017 (exact date to be determined) to discuss the scientific basis supporting these materials. Following the meeting, Versar, Inc., will provide a report to EPA summarizing the peer reviewer’s evaluation of the scientific and technical merit of the draft model and draft report and their responses to the charge questions. EPA will make the final report available to the public (exact date to be determined). In preparing the final BBDR model and report, EPA will consider Versar’s report as well as the written public comments submitted to the docket. II. Interim List of Peer Reviewers Versar, Inc., is considering the following candidates for the peer review panel. Biosketches are available through the docket at https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2016– 0439). After review and consideration of public comments, Versar, Inc., will select the final peer reviewers from this list, who will, collectively, best provide expertise spanning the previously mentioned areas of knowledge and experience and, to the extent feasible, best provide a balance of perspectives. EPA will announce the peer review panel meeting date, location and registration details along with the final list of peer reviewers selected by Versar, Inc., at least 30 days prior to the meeting. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Name of Nominee, Degree, Place of Employment 1. Hugh A. Barton, Ph.D., Pfizer, Inc. 2. Nancy Carrasco, M.D., Yale School of Medicine 3. Jonathan Chevrier, Ph.D., McGill University Faculty of Medicine 4. Claude Emond, Ph.D., University of Montreal 5. John P. Gibbs, M.D., Tronox LLC VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:49 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 6. Dale Hattis, Ph.D., George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University 7. William L. Hayton, Ph.D., The Ohio State University/College of Pharmacy 8. Judy S. LaKind, Ph.D., LaKind Associates, LLC 9. Angela M. Leung, M.D., M.Sc., UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine 10. Paul H. Lipkin, M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 11. Michael H. Lumpkin, Ph.D., DABT, Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, LLC 12. Elaine A. Merrill, Ph.D., Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 13. Elizabeth N. Pearce, M.D., M.Sc., Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine 14. Stephen M. Roberts, Ph.D., University of Florida 15. Joanne F. Rovet, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) 16. Craig Steinmaus, M.D., M.P.H., University of California, Berkeley 17. Justin G. Teeguarden, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 18. Graham R. Williams, Ph.D., Imperial College London 19. R. Thomas Zoeller, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts III. Draft Peer Review Charge Questions The draft peer review charge questions are available through the docket at https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2016– 0439). Dated: September 23, 2016. Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2016–23607 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER–FRL–9029–3] Environmental Impact Statements; Notice of Availability Responsible agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information (202) 564–7146 or https://www.epa.gov/nepa. Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) Filed 09/19/2016 Through 09/23/2016 Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. Notice Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act requires that EPA make public its comments on EISs issued by other Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 on EISs are available at: https:// www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/ eisdata.html. EIS No. 20160213, Final, USFS, WA, Forest-wide Site-Specific Invasive Plant Management, Review Period Ends: 10/31/2016, Contact: Brigitte Ranne 509–682–4941 EIS No. 20160214, Draft, BLM, ID, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Draft Management Plan Amendment, Comment Period Ends: 12/29/2016, Contact: Lisa Cresswell 208–732–7270 EIS No. 20160215, Draft, USFS, PR, El Yunque National Forest Plan Revision, Comment Period Ends: 12/ 29/2016, Contact: Pedro Rios 787– 888–1880 EIS No. 20160216, Final, HUD, NY, Lambert Houses Redevelopment, Review Period Ends: 10/31/2016, Contact: Aaron Werner 212–863– 5953. City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development is lead agency for this project. EIS No. 20160217, Draft, USFS, ID, Sawtooth and Boise National Forest Invasive Species Project, Comment Period Ends: 11/14/2016, Contact: Carol Brown 208–622–0098 EIS No. 20160218, Draft, BR, AZ, Navajo Generating Station-Kayenta Mine Complex Project, Comment Period Ends: 11/29/2016, Contact: Sandra Eto 623–773–6254 EIS No. 20160219, Final, NRC, MI, Generic—License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Supplement 56 Regarding Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant, NUREG–1437, Review Period Ends: 10/31/2016, Contact: Elaine M. Keegan 301–415–8517 EIS No. 20160220, Draft, APHIS, REG, Petition (15–300–01p) for Determination of Nonregulated Status for ASR368 Creeping Bentgrass, Comment Period Ends: 11/14/2016, Contact: Sidney W. Abel 301–851– 3896 EIS No. 20160221, Draft Supplement, USN, CA, Land Acquisition and Airspace to Support Large-Scale MAGTF Live-Fire and Maneuver Training at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Comment Period Ends: 11/14/ 2016, Contact: Scott Kerr 760–830– 3737 EIS No. 20160222, Draft, BOEM, LA, Gulf of Mexico OCS, Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities, Comment Period Ends: 11/ 29/2016, Contact: Dr. Jill Lewandowski 703–787–1703 EIS No. 20160223, Final, DOE, LA, Adoption—Magnolia LNG and Lake Charles Expansion Projects, Contact: E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67347-67348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23607]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0439; FRL-9953-43-OW]


Request for Public Comments To Be Sent to Versar, Inc., on an 
Interim List of Perchlorate in Drinking Water Expert Peer Reviewers and 
Draft Peer Review Charge Questions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
the release of materials for public comment that relate to the expert 
peer review of documents intended to support the EPA's Safe Drinking 
Water Act decision making for perchlorate. This request is one of two 
Federal Register notices being published concurrently, seeking public 
comment on two separate sets of materials. This notice requests 
comments on the interim list of peer review candidates and the draft 
charge for the expert peer review panel, to be sent to EPA's 
contractor, Versar, Inc. The comments will be considered to help inform 
the final selection of expert panelists and the development of the peer 
review panel's charge. A companion notice, published today, requests 
comments on draft materials to inform the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act 
decision making on perchlorate; those materials are the draft 
Biologically Based Dose-Response Model and an accompanying draft model 
report entitled ``Biologically Based Dose-Response Models for the 
Effect of Perchlorate on Thyroid Hormones in the Infant, Breast Feeding 
Mother, Pregnant Mother, and Fetus: Model Development, Revision, and 
Preliminary Dose-Response Analyses.'' Versar, Inc., will consider the 
comments received on this notice in selecting the final peer review 
panel, which will collectively provide appropriate expertise spanning 
the subject matter areas covered by the draft model and draft report 
and, to the extent feasible, best provide a balance of perspectives.

DATES: Comments on the draft peer review panel charge questions and 
interim list of peer review candidates must be received on or before 
October 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments on the interim list of peer review 
candidates and draft charge to Versar, Inc., no later than October 21, 
2016 by one of the following methods:
     Email: perchlorate@versar.com (subject line: Perchlorate 
Peer Review).
     Mail: Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 
22151 (ATTN: David Bottimore).
    Please be advised that public comments are subject to release under 
the Freedom of Information Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the interim list 
of expert peer review candidates and draft peer review charge questions 
should be directed to Versar, Inc., at 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, 
VA 22151; by email perchlorate@versar.com (subject line: Perchlorate 
Peer Review); or by phone: (703) 642-6815 (ask for David Bottimore).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Process of Obtaining Candidate Reviewers

    Versar, Inc., will assemble a panel of scientific experts to 
evaluate the draft BBDR model and draft report. As part of the peer 
review process, EPA announced a public nomination period from March 1, 
2016, to March 31, 2016, in the Federal Register (81 FR 10617; March 1, 
2016), during which members of the public were able to nominate 
scientific experts whom have knowledge and experience in one or more of 
the following areas: (1) Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK), 
physiologically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) and/or 
Biologically Based Dose-Response (BBDR) modeling, (2) fetal and 
neonatal thyroid endocrinology (clinical and experimental), (3) iodide 
homeostasis, and (4) perchlorate toxicology and mode of action or 
adverse outcome pathway.
    On June 3, 2016, the Agency announced in the Federal Register (81 
FR 35760) that, to achieve efficiency, it was expanding the scope of 
the peer review announced in March to include review of a draft 
approach for application of the draft BBDR model, to inform the 
development of a perchlorate MCLG. EPA has reevaluated that approach in 
response to concerns that a simultaneous review of a methodology to 
applying the model to develop a perchlorate MCLG would not allow the 
Agency or peer reviews to consider peer reviewer comments on the draft 
BBDR model prior to evaluating the alternative methodologies to 
applying the model to derive an MCLG. Today's notice therefore seeks 
input only on the peer review of the model, not its application. EPA 
will seek input on a second peer review of methods for applying the 
model to inform development of a perchlorate MCLG in a future notice.
    Versar, Inc., also conducted an independent search for scientific 
experts to augment the list of publically-nominated candidates. In 
total, the contractor evaluated 35 candidates, including those 
nominated during the public nomination periods and those identified by 
the contractor.

Selection Process

    Versar, Inc., considered and screened all candidates against the 
selection criteria described in the March 1, 2016 Federal Register 
notice (81 FR 10617), which included the candidates being free of any 
conflict of interest and being available to participate in-person in 
the peer review meeting in the Washington, DC area, which will be open 
to the public, projected to occur in late 2016 (exact date to be 
determined). Following the screening process, the contractor narrowed 
the list of potential reviewers to 19 candidates. EPA is now soliciting 
comments on this list. EPA requests that the public provide relevant 
information or documentation on the experts that

[[Page 67348]]

the contractor should consider in evaluating these candidates. Once the 
public comments on the interim list of candidates have been reviewed 
and considered, the contractor will select the final list of peer 
reviewers.

Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

    Peer reviewers will be charged with evaluating and preparing 
written comments on the draft BBDR model and draft report. Versar, 
Inc., will provide reviewers with a summary of public comments on the 
draft BBDR model and report submitted to EPA's docket (ID number EPA-
HQ-OW-2016-0438) during the 45-day public comment period, for their 
consideration. Reviewers will participate in the meeting expected to be 
held in the Washington, DC metro area in early 2017 (exact date to be 
determined) to discuss the scientific basis supporting these materials. 
Following the meeting, Versar, Inc., will provide a report to EPA 
summarizing the peer reviewer's evaluation of the scientific and 
technical merit of the draft model and draft report and their responses 
to the charge questions. EPA will make the final report available to 
the public (exact date to be determined). In preparing the final BBDR 
model and report, EPA will consider Versar's report as well as the 
written public comments submitted to the docket.

II. Interim List of Peer Reviewers

    Versar, Inc., is considering the following candidates for the peer 
review panel. Biosketches are available through the docket at https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0439). After review 
and consideration of public comments, Versar, Inc., will select the 
final peer reviewers from this list, who will, collectively, best 
provide expertise spanning the previously mentioned areas of knowledge 
and experience and, to the extent feasible, best provide a balance of 
perspectives. EPA will announce the peer review panel meeting date, 
location and registration details along with the final list of peer 
reviewers selected by Versar, Inc., at least 30 days prior to the 
meeting.
Name of Nominee, Degree, Place of Employment
1. Hugh A. Barton, Ph.D., Pfizer, Inc.
2. Nancy Carrasco, M.D., Yale School of Medicine
3. Jonathan Chevrier, Ph.D., McGill University Faculty of Medicine
4. Claude Emond, Ph.D., University of Montreal
5. John P. Gibbs, M.D., Tronox LLC
6. Dale Hattis, Ph.D., George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University
7. William L. Hayton, Ph.D., The Ohio State University/College of 
Pharmacy
8. Judy S. LaKind, Ph.D., LaKind Associates, LLC
9. Angela M. Leung, M.D., M.Sc., UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
10. Paul H. Lipkin, M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
11. Michael H. Lumpkin, Ph.D., DABT, Center for Toxicology and 
Environmental Health, LLC
12. Elaine A. Merrill, Ph.D., Henry Jackson Foundation for the 
Advancement of Military Medicine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
13. Elizabeth N. Pearce, M.D., M.Sc., Boston Medical Center/Boston 
University School of Medicine
14. Stephen M. Roberts, Ph.D., University of Florida
15. Joanne F. Rovet, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)
16. Craig Steinmaus, M.D., M.P.H., University of California, Berkeley
17. Justin G. Teeguarden, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
18. Graham R. Williams, Ph.D., Imperial College London
19. R. Thomas Zoeller, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts

III. Draft Peer Review Charge Questions

    The draft peer review charge questions are available through the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2016-
0439).

    Dated: September 23, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-23607 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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