Notice of Availability of the Nanomaterial Research Strategy External Review Draft and Expert Peer Review Meeting, 8309-8311 [E8-2697]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2008 / Notices Dated: February 4, 2008. Lois Rossi, Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Wooge, Office of Science Coordination and Policy (OSCP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (202) 546–8476; e-mail address: wooge.william@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [FR Doc. E8–2551 Filed 2–12–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2008–1080; FRL–8352–6] Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; Second Workshop to Discuss Draft Policies and Procedures; Notice of Public Meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is convening a half-day public workshop to discuss the Agency’s draft administrative policies and procedures for completing the initial screening and testing under EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). In the Federal Register issue of December 13, 2007 (72 FR 70842) (FRL–8340–3), EPA announced the availability for public review and comment of the draft policies and procedures EPA is considering adopting for conducting the initial screening and testing under EDSP. A 1–day public workshop was held on December 17, 2007, in Arlington, VA to help the public understand the draft policies and procedures. Subsequently, EPA extended the public comment period for the draft policies and procedures by 30 days in the Federal Register issue of February 6, 2008 (73 FR 6963) (FRL– 8351–2). The public comment period now ends March 12, 2008. The purpose of the second public workshop, announced in this notice, is to provide another opportunity for the public to ask questions about the draft EDSP policies and procedures. DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2008, from 9 a.m. to noon. Special accommodations: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, and to request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 10 days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Environmental Protection Agency, Conference Center–Lobby Level, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:45 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 214001 I. Who Should Attend? You may be interested in attending this workshop if you produce, manufacture, use, or import pesticide/ agricultural chemicals and other chemical substances; or if you are or may otherwise be involved in the testing of chemical substances for potential endocrine effects. To determine whether you or your business may have an interest in this workshop, you should carefully examine section 408(p) of the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)). 8309 Dated: February 7, 2008. James B. Gulliford, Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. E8–2701 Filed 2–12–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8528–3] Notice of Availability of the Nanomaterial Research Strategy External Review Draft and Expert Peer Review Meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of document availability and external peer review meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection is announcing the availability II. Why Hold a Second Workshop? of a draft report titled, Draft EPA is holding a half-day workshop Nanomaterial Research Strategy (EPA/ to facilitate the public’s comments on 600/S–08/002), which was prepared by the draft policies and procedures that EPA’s Office of Research and EPA is considering for conducting the Development (ORD). EPA is also initial screening and testing of announcing that Versar, Inc., an EPA chemicals under the EDSP. The contractor for external peer review, will workshop is a second opportunity for convene a panel of experts and will the public, stakeholders, and the organize and conduct an independent regulated community to discuss the expert external peer meeting April 11, draft EDSP policies and procedures 2008, to review the draft document. currently available for public comment. Versar, Inc. invites the public to register Although the workshop is not intended to attend this meeting as observers. In to collect oral comments, the Agency addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public intends to consider the discussion and to give oral comments or provide will be documenting the discussion for written comments at the external peer the public docket. review meeting regarding the draft In addition to attending this document under review. The expert workshop, EPA invites you to provide panel will review the draft document comments on the draft policies and and consider public comments received procedures for initial EDSP screening prior to the meeting in the official and testing. The December 13, 2007 public docket for this activity under Federal Register document that docket ID number EPA–HQ–ORD–2008– announced the availability of draft 0114 as well as comments made by the policies and procedures for public public at the meeting. The draft comment included a specific list of document is available through https:// questions on which the Agency is www.regulations.gov and at https:// specifically seeking comment. This list, es.epa.gov/ncer/nano/publications/ along with an agenda for the workshop, index.html. In preparing a final will be posted on the Agency’s website document, EPA will consider Versar, athttps://www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/ Inc.’s report of the comments and index.htm and provided at the recommendations from the external workshop. EPA will consider all peer-review meeting, as well as public comments received, and EPA will comments. EPA plans to issue a final announce the availability of the final research strategy for nanomaterials in versions of the policies and procedures 2008. for the initial EDSP screening and The public release of this draft testing in the Federal Register. document is solely for the purpose of seeking public comment and external List of Subjects peer review. This draft research strategy Environmental protection, Chemicals, does not represent and should not be Endocrine disruptors, Pesticides and construed to represent any EPA policy, pests, Reporting and recordkeeping. viewpoint, or determination. PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1 8310 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2008 / Notices The peer review panel meeting will begin on April 11, 2008, at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. The public comment period begins on February 7, 2008, and ends 30-days after publication in the Federal Register. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA 30-days after publication of the Federal Register Notice. DATES: The independent expert external peer review meeting will be held at the Westin Alexandria, located at 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA; telephone 703–253–8600. Members of the public may attend the meeting as observers, and there will be a limited time for comments from the public in the afternoon. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a firstcome-first-served basis. To attend this meeting, register by April 4, 2008, by visiting https://epa.versar.com/ nanostrategy or contact Ms.Gina Casciano of Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA, 22151, at 703– 642–6813, and via e-mail at GCasciano@Versar.com. You will be asked for your name, contact information, the organization you represent, and your title. Please indicate if you intend to make an oral statement during the public comment period at the meeting. You may also submit comments prior to the meeting, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2008–0114, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov. • Mail: ORD Docket, Environnemental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2008– 0114. Deliveries are only accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide and index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2008– 0114. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at https:// rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:45 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 214001 www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA, without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https:// www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the ORD Docket is (202) 566–1752. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding logistics for the external peer review meeting should be directed to Ms. Gina Casciano, Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA, 22151; telephone: 703–642–6813; or via e-mail at GCasciano@Versar.com. For questions regarding the draft document, please contact Dr. Nora Savage, Office of Research and PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Development, Mailcode 8722F, Telephone 202–343–9858, fax number 202–233–0678, savage.nora@epa.gov; or Dr. Randy Wentsel Office of Research & Development, Mail Code 8101R, Telephone 202–564–3214, fax number 202–564–3214, email wentsel.randy@epa.gov; Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is submitting the Draft Nanomaterial Research Strategy for independent, external peer review. Public comments received in the docket will be shared with the external peer review panel for their consideration. Although EPA is under no obligation to do so, EPA may consider comments received after the close of the comment period. The public release of this draft document is solely for the purpose of seeking public comment and peer review. This draft research strategy does not represent and should not be construed to represent any EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. The Draft Nanomaterial Research Strategy identifies research needs and outlines research for environmental implications; recognizing the latter need for exploring environmental applications of nanotechnology that can inform the appropriate regulatory and policy decisions for nanotechnology. The draft research strategy provides a discussion of research to be conducted both in-house and extramurally to understand the impact of engineered nanomaterials. The purpose of this strategy is to guide the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) program in nanomaterial research. The strategy builds on and is consistent with the foundation of scientific needs identified in the report by the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Workgroup (NSTC, 2006), and on the EPA White Paper on Nanotechnology (EPA, 2007). Special attention is given to EPA’s role among Federal Agencies in addressing data needs for hazard assessment, risk assessment, and risk management relevant to the EPA mission and regulatory responsibilities. ORD will use the NRS and incorporate these research activities into the multi-year planning process. ORD has identified four key research themes and seven key scientific questions addressing each of the research themes where we can provide leadership for the Federal government research program and support the science needs of the Agency. The themes are: (1) Sources, fate, transport, and exposure; (2) human health and E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2008 / Notices ecological research; (3) risk assessment methods and case studies; and (4) preventing and Mitigating Risks. Supplemental information is provided in a number of appendices. Following the expert external peer review, EPA plans to issue a final research strategy on nanotechnology in mid-2008. Dated: February 1, 2008. Kevin Teichman, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, Office of Research and Development. [FR Doc. E8–2697 Filed 2–12–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0021; FRL–8349–5] Notice of Filing of a Pesticide Petition for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities. DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 14, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0021. and the pesticide petition number (PP 7F7262 ), by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305–5805. Instructions: Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2008– 0021. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:45 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 214001 available on-line at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov website is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Advanced Search,’’ then ‘‘Docket Search.’’ Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the ‘‘Submit’’ button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access available documents. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at https:// www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S– 4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is (703) 305–5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Greene, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511P), PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8311 Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308–0352; e-mail address: greene.cheryl @epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: • Crop production (NAICS code 111). • Animal production (NAICS code 112). • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311). • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532). This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments, remember to: i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number). E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8309-8311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2697]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 [FRL-8528-3]


Notice of Availability of the Nanomaterial Research Strategy 
External Review Draft and Expert Peer Review Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of document availability and external peer review 
meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection is announcing the 
availability of a draft report titled, Draft Nanomaterial Research 
Strategy (EPA/600/S-08/002), which was prepared by EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD). EPA is also announcing that Versar, 
Inc., an EPA contractor for external peer review, will convene a panel 
of experts and will organize and conduct an independent expert external 
peer meeting April 11, 2008, to review the draft document. Versar, Inc. 
invites the public to register to attend this meeting as observers. In 
addition, Versar, Inc. invites the public to give oral comments or 
provide written comments at the external peer review meeting regarding 
the draft document under review. The expert panel will review the draft 
document and consider public comments received prior to the meeting in 
the official public docket for this activity under docket ID number 
EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0114 as well as comments made by the public at the 
meeting. The draft document is available through https://
www.regulations.gov and at https://es.epa.gov/ncer/nano/publications/
index.html. In preparing a final document, EPA will consider Versar, 
Inc.'s report of the comments and recommendations from the external 
peer-review meeting, as well as public comments. EPA plans to issue a 
final research strategy for nanomaterials in 2008.
    The public release of this draft document is solely for the purpose 
of seeking public comment and external peer review. This draft research 
strategy does not represent and should not be construed to represent 
any EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination.

[[Page 8310]]


DATES: The peer review panel meeting will begin on April 11, 2008, at 9 
a.m. and end at 5 p.m. The public comment period begins on February 7, 
2008, and ends 30-days after publication in the Federal Register. 
Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA 30-
days after publication of the Federal Register Notice.

ADDRESSES: The independent expert external peer review meeting will be 
held at the Westin Alexandria, located at 400 Courthouse Square, 
Alexandria, VA; telephone 703-253-8600. Members of the public may 
attend the meeting as observers, and there will be a limited time for 
comments from the public in the afternoon. Space is limited, and 
reservations will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. To 
attend this meeting, register by April 4, 2008, by visiting https://
epa.versar.com/nanostrategy or contact Ms.Gina Casciano of Versar, 
Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA, 22151, at 703-642-6813, and 
via e-mail at GCasciano@Versar.com. You will be asked for your name, 
contact information, the organization you represent, and your title. 
Please indicate if you intend to make an oral statement during the 
public comment period at the meeting.
    You may also submit comments prior to the meeting, identified by 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0114, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
     Mail: ORD Docket, Environnemental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room B102, EPA 
West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0114. Deliveries are only 
accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, 
please submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide 
and index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an 
unbound original and three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2008-0114. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA, without 
going through https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the ORD Docket, EPA/
DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the 
ORD Docket is (202) 566-1752.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding logistics for the 
external peer review meeting should be directed to Ms. Gina Casciano, 
Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA, 22151; telephone: 
703-642-6813; or via e-mail at GCasciano@Versar.com. For questions 
regarding the draft document, please contact Dr. Nora Savage, Office of 
Research and Development, Mailcode 8722F, Telephone 202-343-9858, fax 
number 202-233-0678, savage.nora@epa.gov; or Dr. Randy Wentsel Office 
of Research & Development, Mail Code 8101R, Telephone 202-564-3214, fax 
number 202-564-3214, email wentsel.randy@epa.gov; Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is submitting the Draft Nanomaterial 
Research Strategy for independent, external peer review. Public 
comments received in the docket will be shared with the external peer 
review panel for their consideration. Although EPA is under no 
obligation to do so, EPA may consider comments received after the close 
of the comment period. The public release of this draft document is 
solely for the purpose of seeking public comment and peer review. This 
draft research strategy does not represent and should not be construed 
to represent any EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination.
    The Draft Nanomaterial Research Strategy identifies research needs 
and outlines research for environmental implications; recognizing the 
latter need for exploring environmental applications of nanotechnology 
that can inform the appropriate regulatory and policy decisions for 
nanotechnology. The draft research strategy provides a discussion of 
research to be conducted both in-house and extramurally to understand 
the impact of engineered nanomaterials. The purpose of this strategy is 
to guide the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) program in 
nanomaterial research. The strategy builds on and is consistent with 
the foundation of scientific needs identified in the report by the 
Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Workgroup 
(NSTC, 2006), and on the EPA White Paper on Nanotechnology (EPA, 2007). 
Special attention is given to EPA's role among Federal Agencies in 
addressing data needs for hazard assessment, risk assessment, and risk 
management relevant to the EPA mission and regulatory responsibilities. 
ORD will use the NRS and incorporate these research activities into the 
multi-year planning process.
    ORD has identified four key research themes and seven key 
scientific questions addressing each of the research themes where we 
can provide leadership for the Federal government research program and 
support the science needs of the Agency. The themes are: (1) Sources, 
fate, transport, and exposure; (2) human health and

[[Page 8311]]

ecological research; (3) risk assessment methods and case studies; and 
(4) preventing and Mitigating Risks. Supplemental information is 
provided in a number of appendices. Following the expert external peer 
review, EPA plans to issue a final research strategy on nanotechnology 
in mid-2008.

    Dated: February 1, 2008.
Kevin Teichman,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, Office of Research 
and Development.
[FR Doc. E8-2697 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.