Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA, 63279 [E6-18191]

Agencies

• Agricultural Research Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 63279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18191]


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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 209 / Monday, October 30, 2006 / 
Notices

[[Page 63279]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal 
Disease Center, Ames, IA

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics, Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease 
Center, Ames, Iowa.

DATES: November 16-17, 2006, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Written 
requests to make oral comments at the meeting must be received by the 
contact person identified herein at least three business days before 
the meeting.

ADDRESSES: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, 
Iowa 50010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Shafer, Midwest Area Director, 
USDA-ARS, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604; 
Telephone (309) 681-6602; Fax (309) 681-6684; E-mail 
sshafer@mwa.ars.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 4, 2006, the City of Ames, Iowa, 
received allegations that wastes from areas at the National Animal 
Disease Center (NADC) with animals challenged with prions were not 
properly treated prior to discharge to the City wastewater plant. USDA, 
in cooperation with the City of Ames, has convened an expert panel to 
review scientific information about deactivation of prions and assess 
practices used at NADC to treat liquid wastes from areas where animals 
with prions are housed and handled that enter the Ames wastewater 
treatment system. (Note: For the purposes of this panel and its review, 
prions are defined as specific proteins that are abnormally shaped and 
can cause transmissible diseases associated with the allegations). The 
panel had its first meeting on August 23, 2006, at the Ames City Hall; 
preparatory work on August 23, August 24, and September 20; a 
conference call meeting on October 18, 2006; and (pending at the time 
of this writing) a conference call on November 3. A meeting of the 
panel on November 16-17, 2006, in Ames will complete implementation of 
the panel's charge to evaluate four main issues related to the handling 
and disposal of potentially prion-contaminated materials in wastewater 
from the NADC: (1) Identify scientifically accepted methods for 
effectively destroying prions; (2) Assess the concerns raised regarding 
NADC's current and past methods for the destruction of prions; (3) 
Determine the risk posed to humans and the environment from the 
current, as well as previous, methods for the destruction of prions 
utilized at NADC; and (4) If remediation is needed, provide 
scientifically sound approaches for corrective action(s) that may be 
taken. Final conclusions of the review will be announced on November 
17, when the panel will present to the City of Ames and USDA a written 
report that documents the panel's findings for the four main issues 
being evaluated. On November 17, 2006, after the panel concludes 
business, reasonable provision (up to 30 minutes total) will be made 
for verbal comments of no more than three minutes each in duration. The 
meeting will be open to the public, but space is limited. If you want 
to be assured of a seat at this meeting, you must register by 
contacting the contact person named above at least 5 days prior to the 
meeting. Please provide your name, title, business affiliation, 
address, and telephone and fax numbers when you register. If you 
require a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation due 
to disability, please indicate those needs at the time of registration. 
Pre-registrations will be limited to 80 people; others may be able to 
attend on a space-available basis.

    Dated: October 24, 2006.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-18191 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
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