Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; External Review Draft, 26365-26366 [E6-6755]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 86 / Thursday, May 4, 2006 / Notices order constitutes final action on two (2) petitions submitted by the Georgia Center for Law in the Public Interest (GCLPI) on behalf of the Sierra Club, Georgia Forest Watch, and Colleen Kiernan and the Sierra Club and Georgia Public Interest Research Group, respectively. Pursuant to section 505(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (the Act) any person may seek judicial review in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit within 60 days of this notice under section 307 of the Act. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Order, the petitions, and all pertinent information relating thereto are on file at the following location: EPA Region 4, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. The final order is also available electronically at the following address: https://www.epa.gov/ region7/programs/artd/air/title5/ petitiondb/petitions/bowen7plants_decision2002.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Art Hofmeister, Air Permits Section, EPA Region 4, at (404) 562–9115 or hofmeister.art@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act affords EPA a 45-day period to review and, as appropriate, to object to operating permits proposed by state permitting authorities under title V of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7661–7661f. Section 505(b)(2) of the Act and 40 CFR 70.8(d) authorize any person to petition the EPA Administrator to object to a title V operating permit within 60 days after the expiration of EPA’s 45-day review period if EPA has not objected on its own initiative. Petitions must be based only on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the public comment period provided by the state, unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise these issues during the comment period or the grounds for the issues arose after this period. On July 9, 2002, EPA received a petition submitted by GCLPI on behalf of the Sierra Club, Georgia Forest Watch, and Colleen Kiernan (Petitioners), requesting that EPA object to a state title V operating permit amendment issued by EPD to Georgia Power for Plant Bowen. On November 20, 2002, EPA received another petition from GCLPI on behalf of the Sierra Club and Georgia Public Interest Research Group (Petitioners), requesting that EPA object to another state title V operating permit amendment issued by EPD to Georgia Power for Plant Bowen as well as six (6) other state title V operating permit amendments issued for Plants VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:45 May 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 Branch, Hammond, McDonough/ Atkinson, Scherer, Wansley, and Yates. The Petitioners maintain that the respective permit amendments are inconsistent with the Act because the emissions reductions required by the permit terms contained therein do not qualify as offsets. Since the petitions have been determined by EPA to be interrelated, they have been considered together. On March 15, 2006, the Administrator issued an order denying the petitions. The order explains the reasons behind EPA’s conclusion that the Petitioners failed to demonstrate that the respective permit amendments are not in compliance with the requirements of the Act. Dated: April 25, 2006. A. Stanley Meiburg, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 4. [FR Doc. E6–6772 Filed 5–3–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8167–1; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD– 2006–0223] Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; External Review Draft Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of peer-review workshop. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, plans to convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peerreview workshop to review the external review draft document titled, ‘‘Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; External Review Draft’’ (EPA/600/R–06/ 013A). The draft document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA’s Office of Research and Development. The external peer-review workshop provides an opportunity for all interested parties to comment on the document. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of predissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26365 not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. Eastern Research Group, Inc. invites the public to register to attend this workshop as observers. In addition, Eastern Research Group, Inc. invites the public to give oral and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft document under review. 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 the Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. On March 31, 2006, EPA announced a 45-day public comment period on the draft document (71 FR 16306). In preparing a final report, EPA will consider public comments it received during the public comment period and will consider the Eastern Research Group, Inc. report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer-review workshop. DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on May 25, 2006, at 9 a.m., adjourning at 5:30 p.m. and will continue on May 26, 2006 at 9 a.m., adjourning at 3 p.m. ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at the Andrew W. Briedenbach Environmental Research Building, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45268, in room AG–30. The EPA contractor, Eastern Research Group, Inc., is organizing, convening, and conducting the peer-review workshop. Observers may attend the meeting of the expert panel by filling out the form available on the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/ conferences/ncea/ or by calling Eastern Research Group, Inc.’s conference line between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST at 781–674–7374 or toll free at 800–803–2833, or by faxing a registration request to 781–674–2906 (include full address and contact information). Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis. The deadline for online pre-registration is May 18, 2006. Telephone and fax registrations will continue to be accepted after this date, including on-site registration, if space allows. The draft ‘‘Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; External Review Draft’’ (EPA/ 600/R–06/013A) is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment’s home page under the Recent Additions and E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1 26366 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 86 / Thursday, May 4, 2006 / Notices the Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from Ms. Donna Tucker, Technical Information Manager, NCEACincinnati; telephone: 513–569–7257; facsimile: 513–569–7916; e-mail: tucker.donna@epa.gov. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ‘‘Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects,’’ and its EPA publication number, EPA/600/R–06/013A. Copies are not available from Eastern Research Group, Inc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, registration, and logistics for the external peer-review workshop should be directed to Eastern Research Group, Inc. at 10 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421–3136; by telephone: 781– 674–7374 or toll free at 800–803–2833; or by facsimile: 781–674–2906; or by email: meetings@erg.com. For technical information, contact Linda K. Teuschler, NCEA-Cincinnati, by telephone: 513–569–7573; facsimile: 513–487–2539; or e-mail: teuschler.linda@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES I. Summary of Information About the Project/Document In EPA’s 2003 ‘‘Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment,’’ cumulative risk assessment is defined as the evaluation of risks from exposures to multiple chemicals and other stressors, and having a population focus rather than a source-to-receptor focus. Several reports and environmental justice concerns published over the past 11 years have highlighted the importance of estimating cumulative risks. EPA has published several guidance documents dealing with specific aspects of cumulative risk, such as chemical mixture risk assessment, planning and scoping, stakeholder involvement, and the toxicity from a mixture of pesticides sharing a common mode of action. This draft document is one contribution to EPA’s efforts to address issues related to cumulative health risk assessment. Existing EPA guidance addresses some of the combination aspects of cumulative risk, but none addresses all of the multiples included in this report, such as consideration of the composite impact of multiple health effects. Among the distinctive new approaches are those for grouping chemicals based on exposure characteristics and toxic endpoints, multi-route combination of VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:45 May 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 relative potency factors, integration of categorical regression modeling of multiple effects with additivity approaches, and the emphasis on the iteration and collaboration between exposure assessment and dose-response assessment to ensure compatible and relevant information. Major findings and conclusions in this document are as follows: • This draft report provides a set of approaches that deal with certain complications in cumulative risk assessment, specifically those caused by multiple chemicals, exposures and effects, including toxicological interactions and environmental transformations of mixture component chemicals. • The scope is focused on the evaluation of health risks from exposures to multiple chemicals, including multiple exposure routes and times as well as multiple health endpoints. • Areas of cumulative health risk assessment emphasized in this report can often be performed with existing information. • Exposure and toxicity characterizations of mixtures are strongly dependent on mixture composition (chemicals and concentrations) and timing of exposures and health effects. • Qualitative and semiquantitative approaches provided can simplify the number of potential combinations of chemicals, exposures, and effects to make the cumulative health risk assessment more feasible. II. Workshop Information Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers, and there will be a limited time for comments from the public in the afternoon. Please let Eastern Research Group, Inc. know if you wish to make comments during the workshop. (See ADDRESSES section above for contact information.) Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Dated: May 1, 2006. P.W. Preuss, Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E6–6755 Filed 5–3–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Sunshine Act; Notice of Agency Meeting Pursuant to the provisions of the ‘‘Government in the Sunshine Act’’ (5 U.S.C. 552b), notice is hereby given that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Board of Directors will meet in open session at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, to consider the following matters: SUMMARY AGENDA: No substantive discussion of the following items is anticipated. These matters will be resolved with a single vote unless a member of the Board of Directors requests that an item be moved to the discussion agenda. Disposition of minutes of previous Board of Directors’ meetings. Summary reports, status reports, and reports of actions taken pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors. Memorandum and resolution re: Interagency Statement on Sound Practices Concerning Elevated Risk Complex Structured Finance Activities. DISCUSSION AGENDA: Memorandum re: Economic Conditions and Emerging Risks in Banking for the Second Semiannual Assessment Period of 2006. Memorandum re: DIF Assessment Rates for the Second Semiannual Assessment Period of 2006. Memorandum and resolution re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement the One-time Assessment Credit. Memorandum and resolution re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement Dividend Requirements. Memorandum and resolution re: Proposed Amendments to Part 327 to Improve the Operational Processes Governing the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Assessment System. Memorandum and resolution re: Interagency Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Identity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies under Sections 114 and 315 of the FACT Act. The meeting will be held in the Board Room on the sixth floor of the FDIC Building located at 500–17th Street, NW., Washington, DC. The FDIC will provide attendees with auxiliary aids (e.g., sign language interpretation) required for this meeting. Those attendees needing such assistance should call (703) 562–6067 (Voice or TTY), to make necessary arrangements. Requests for further information concerning the meeting may be directed E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 86 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26365-26366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6755]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8167-1; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0223]


Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment 
Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; 
External Review Draft

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of peer-review workshop.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA 
contractor for external scientific peer review, plans to convene an 
independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer-
review workshop to review the external review draft document titled, 
``Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk Assessment 
Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and Effects; 
External Review Draft'' (EPA/600/R-06/013A). The draft document was 
prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) 
within EPA's Office of Research and Development.
    The external peer-review workshop provides an opportunity for all 
interested parties to comment on the document. 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.
    Eastern Research Group, Inc. invites the public to register to 
attend this workshop as observers. In addition, Eastern Research Group, 
Inc. invites the public to give oral and/or provide written comments at 
the workshop regarding the draft document under review. 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 the Data 
and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. On March 31, 2006, 
EPA announced a 45-day public comment period on the draft document (71 
FR 16306). In preparing a final report, EPA will consider public 
comments it received during the public comment period and will consider 
the Eastern Research Group, Inc. report of the comments and 
recommendations from the external peer-review workshop.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on May 25, 2006, at 9 
a.m., adjourning at 5:30 p.m. and will continue on May 26, 2006 at 9 
a.m., adjourning at 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at the Andrew W. 
Briedenbach Environmental Research Building, 26 W. Martin Luther King 
Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45268, in room AG-30. The EPA contractor, Eastern 
Research Group, Inc., is organizing, convening, and conducting the 
peer-review workshop. Observers may attend the meeting of the expert 
panel by filling out the form available on the Internet at https://
www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/ncea/ or by calling Eastern 
Research Group, Inc.'s conference line between the hours of 9 a.m. and 
5:30 p.m. EST at 781-674-7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833, or by 
faxing a registration request to 781-674-2906 (include full address and 
contact information). Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space 
is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis. The deadline for online pre-registration is May 18, 2006. 
Telephone and fax registrations will continue to be accepted after this 
date, including on-site registration, if space allows.
    The draft ``Considerations for Developing Alternative Health Risk 
Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple Chemicals, Exposures and 
Effects; External Review Draft'' (EPA/600/R-06/013A) is available 
primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental 
Assessment's home page under the Recent Additions and

[[Page 26366]]

the Data and Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea.
    A limited number of paper copies are available from Ms. Donna 
Tucker, Technical Information Manager, NCEA-Cincinnati; telephone: 513-
569-7257; facsimile: 513-569-7916; e-mail: tucker.donna@epa.gov. If you 
are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing 
address, and the document title, ``Considerations for Developing 
Alternative Health Risk Assessment Approaches for Addressing Multiple 
Chemicals, Exposures and Effects,'' and its EPA publication number, 
EPA/600/R-06/013A.
    Copies are not available from Eastern Research Group, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information, 
registration, and logistics for the external peer-review workshop 
should be directed to Eastern Research Group, Inc. at 10 Hartwell 
Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136; by telephone: 781-674-7374 or toll 
free at 800-803-2833; or by facsimile: 781-674-2906; or by e-mail: 
meetings@erg.com.
    For technical information, contact Linda K. Teuschler, NCEA-
Cincinnati, by telephone: 513-569-7573; facsimile: 513-487-2539; or e-
mail: teuschler.linda@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of Information About the Project/Document

    In EPA's 2003 ``Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment,'' 
cumulative risk assessment is defined as the evaluation of risks from 
exposures to multiple chemicals and other stressors, and having a 
population focus rather than a source-to-receptor focus. Several 
reports and environmental justice concerns published over the past 11 
years have highlighted the importance of estimating cumulative risks. 
EPA has published several guidance documents dealing with specific 
aspects of cumulative risk, such as chemical mixture risk assessment, 
planning and scoping, stakeholder involvement, and the toxicity from a 
mixture of pesticides sharing a common mode of action. This draft 
document is one contribution to EPA's efforts to address issues related 
to cumulative health risk assessment.
    Existing EPA guidance addresses some of the combination aspects of 
cumulative risk, but none addresses all of the multiples included in 
this report, such as consideration of the composite impact of multiple 
health effects. Among the distinctive new approaches are those for 
grouping chemicals based on exposure characteristics and toxic 
endpoints, multi-route combination of relative potency factors, 
integration of categorical regression modeling of multiple effects with 
additivity approaches, and the emphasis on the iteration and 
collaboration between exposure assessment and dose-response assessment 
to ensure compatible and relevant information. Major findings and 
conclusions in this document are as follows:
     This draft report provides a set of approaches that deal 
with certain complications in cumulative risk assessment, specifically 
those caused by multiple chemicals, exposures and effects, including 
toxicological interactions and environmental transformations of mixture 
component chemicals.
     The scope is focused on the evaluation of health risks 
from exposures to multiple chemicals, including multiple exposure 
routes and times as well as multiple health endpoints.
     Areas of cumulative health risk assessment emphasized in 
this report can often be performed with existing information.
     Exposure and toxicity characterizations of mixtures are 
strongly dependent on mixture composition (chemicals and 
concentrations) and timing of exposures and health effects.
     Qualitative and semiquantitative approaches provided can 
simplify the number of potential combinations of chemicals, exposures, 
and effects to make the cumulative health risk assessment more 
feasible.

II. Workshop Information

    Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers, and 
there will be a limited time for comments from the public in the 
afternoon. Please let Eastern Research Group, Inc. know if you wish to 
make comments during the workshop. (See ADDRESSES section above for 
contact information.) Space is limited, and reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Dated: May 1, 2006.
P.W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
 [FR Doc. E6-6755 Filed 5-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.