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

Download as PDF 63279 Notices Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 209 Monday, October 30, 2006 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics, Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: 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. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES 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; Email 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 02:16 Oct 28, 2006 Jkt 211001 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] BILLING CODE 3410–03–P PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics, Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture announces a conference call meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa. DATES: November 3, 2006, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Central Time. ADDRESSES: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010 (access to a monitor of the conference call). 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; Email 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; and a conference call meeting on October 18, 2006. A conference call meeting on November 3, 2006, will continue 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: E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1

Agencies

[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]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


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.

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

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]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P
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