Availability of the Systematic Review Protocol for the Methylmercury Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Assessment, 32037-32038 [2020-11467]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 103 / Thursday, May 28, 2020 / Notices document of March 13, 2020 (85 FR 14677) (FRL–10006–03). EPA is providing this additional extension of the comment period in response to requests for additional time for comment and self-identification. In the January document, EPA published preliminary lists identifying manufacturers (including importers) that may be subject to fee obligations under 40 CFR 700.45, associated with each EPA-initiated risk evaluation of 20 High-Priority Substances under TSCA section 6. That document also announced that EPA was providing an opportunity for public comment during which manufacturers (including importers) are required to self-identify as a manufacturer (including importer) of a High-Priority Substance, irrespective of whether they are listed on the preliminary list. During the comment period, manufacturers and importers may make certain certifications to EPA under 40 CFR 700.45(b) to avoid or reduce fee obligations. The public also has the opportunity to correct errors or provide comments on the preliminary lists. EPA is providing more than the minimum 30-day comment period established in the Fees Rule codified at 40 CFR 700.45(b)(4) to maximize public participation during the first comment period for an initial list of manufacturers (including importers) subject to fee obligations for EPAinitiated risk evaluations under TSCA section 6, and to provide more time for self-identification. EPA expects to publish final lists of manufacturers (including importers) subject to fees no later than concurrently with the publication of the final scope document for risk evaluations of the 20 HighPriority Substances. Manufacturers (including importers) identified on the final lists will be subject to applicable fees under 40 CFR 700.45. To submit comments, or access the docket, please follow the detailed instructions provided under ADDRESSES in the Federal Register document of January 27, 2020 (85 FR 4661) (FRL– 10003–14). If you have questions, consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2625. Dated: May 26, 2020. Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. [FR Doc. 2020–11591 Filed 5–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:32 May 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–ORD–2018–0655; FRL–10010–28– ORD] Availability of the Systematic Review Protocol for the Methylmercury Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Assessment Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public comment period. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 45-day public comment period associated with release of the Systematic Review Protocol for the Methylmercury (MeHg) IRIS Assessment. This document communicates the rationale for conducting the assessment of methylmercury, describes screening criteria to identify relevant literature, outlines the approach for evaluating study quality, and describes the doseresponse methods. DATES: The 45-day public comment period begins May 28, 2020 and ends July 13, 2020. Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2020. ADDRESSES: The Systematic Review Protocol for Methylmercury will be available via the internet on the IRIS website at https://www.epa.gov/iris and in the public docket at https:// www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA– HQ–ORD–2018–0655. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the docket, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA Headquarters Docket Center; telephone: 202–566–1752; facsimile: 202–566– 9744; or email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. For technical information on the protocol, contact Dr. James Avery, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment; telephone: 202–564–1494; or email: avery.james@ epa.gov. SUMMARY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Information on the IRIS Program and Systematic Review Protocols EPA’s IRIS Program is a human health assessment program that evaluates quantitative and qualitative information on effects that may result from exposure to chemicals found in the environment. Through the IRIS Program, EPA provides high quality science-based human health assessments to support the Agency’s regulatory activities and decisions to protect public health. As part of developing a draft IRIS assessment, EPA presents a methods PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32037 document, referred to as the protocol, for conducting a chemical-specific systematic review of the available scientific literature. EPA is seeking public comment on components of the protocol including the described strategies for literature searches, criteria for study inclusion or exclusion, considerations for evaluating study methods, information management for extracting data, approaches for synthesis within and across lines of evidence, and methods for derivation of toxicity values. Additionally, key scientific issues that warrant consideration in this assessment are identified in Section 2.5. The protocol serves to inform the subsequent development of the draft assessment and is made available to the public. EPA may update the protocol based on the evaluation of the literature, and any updates will be posted to the docket and on the IRIS website. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https:// www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2018– 0655 for methylmercury, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Docket_ORD@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–9744. Due to COVID– 19, there may be a delay in processing comments submitted by fax. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202– 566–1752. Due to COVID–19, there may be a delay in processing comments submitted by mail. Note: The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room is currently closed to public visitors to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID–19. Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. The public can submit comments via www.Regulations.gov or email. No hand deliveries are currently being accepted. Instructions: Direct your comments to EPA–HQ–ORD–2018–0655 for methylmercury. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to make the comments available online at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1 32038 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 103 / Thursday, May 28, 2020 / Notices personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information for which disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information through https:// www.regulations.gov or email that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The https:// www.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 email comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your email 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. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. Docket: 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 materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or as a hard copy at the ORD Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: May 21, 2020. Wayne Cascio, Director, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2020–11467 Filed 5–27–20; 8:45 am] jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:32 May 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–ORD–2015–0611; FRL–10009–94– ORD] Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Sustainable and Healthy Communities Subcommittee Meeting—June 2020 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Subcommittee to review the initial progress on implementation of the FY 19–22 SHC Strategic Research Action Plan (StRAP). DATES: 1. The initial meeting will be held over three days via videoconference: a. Tuesday, June 16, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EDT); b. Wednesday, June 17, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EDT); and c. Thursday, June 18, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT). Attendees must register by June 15, 2020. 2. A BOSC deliberation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT). Attendees must register by June 29, 2020. 3. A final summary teleconference will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT). Attendees must register by July 8, 2020. Meeting times are subject to change. These series of meetings are open to the public. Comments must be received by June 12, 2020 to be considered by the subcommittee. Requests for the draft agenda or making a presentation at the meeting will be accepted until June 12, 2020. ADDRESSES: Instructions on how to connect to the videoconference will be provided upon registration at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa-boscsustainable-and-healthy-communitiessubcommittee-meeting-tickets88719740131. Submit your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2015–0611 by one of the following methods: • www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. D Note: comments submitted to the www.regulations.gov website are anonymous unless identifying information is included in the body of the comment. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Email: Send comments by electronic mail (email) to: ORD.Docket@ epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–ORD–2015–0611. D Note: comments submitted via email are not anonymous. The sender’s email will be included in the body of the comment and placed in the public docket which is made available on the internet. Instructions: All comments received, including any personal information provided, will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov. Information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute will not be included in the public docket, and should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov or email. For additional information about the EPA’s public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/. Public Docket: Publicly available docket materials may be accessed Online at www.regulations.gov. Copyrighted materials in the docket are only available via hard copy. The telephone number for the ORD Docket Center is (202) 566–1752. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Tom Tracy, via phone/voicemail at: (202) 564–6518; or via email at: tracy.tom@epa.gov. Any member of the public interested in receiving a draft agenda, attending the meeting, or making a presentation at the meeting should contact Tom Tracy no later than June 12, 2020. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations to EPA’s Office of Research and Development on technical and management issues of its research programs. The meeting agenda and materials will be posted to https:// www.epa.gov/bosc. Proposed agenda items for the meeting include, but are not limited to, the following: Benefits from remediation, restoration, and revitalization; and community-driven solutions. Information on Services Available: For information on translation services, access, or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Tom Tracy at (202) 564–6518 or tracy.tom@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Tom Tracy at least ten days prior to the meeting to give the EPA adequate time to process your request. E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 103 (Thursday, May 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32037-32038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11467]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-ORD-2018-0655; FRL-10010-28-ORD]


Availability of the Systematic Review Protocol for the 
Methylmercury Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Assessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 45-
day public comment period associated with release of the Systematic 
Review Protocol for the Methylmercury (MeHg) IRIS Assessment. This 
document communicates the rationale for conducting the assessment of 
methylmercury, describes screening criteria to identify relevant 
literature, outlines the approach for evaluating study quality, and 
describes the dose-response methods.

DATES: The 45-day public comment period begins May 28, 2020 and ends 
July 13, 2020. Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Systematic Review Protocol for Methylmercury will be 
available via the internet on the IRIS website at https://www.epa.gov/iris and in the public docket at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket 
ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2018-0655.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For information on the docket, contact the ORD Docket at the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-
566-9744; or email: [email protected].
    For technical information on the protocol, contact Dr. James Avery, 
Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment; telephone: 202-
564-1494; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background Information on the IRIS Program and Systematic Review 
Protocols

    EPA's IRIS Program is a human health assessment program that 
evaluates quantitative and qualitative information on effects that may 
result from exposure to chemicals found in the environment. Through the 
IRIS Program, EPA provides high quality science-based human health 
assessments to support the Agency's regulatory activities and decisions 
to protect public health.
    As part of developing a draft IRIS assessment, EPA presents a 
methods document, referred to as the protocol, for conducting a 
chemical-specific systematic review of the available scientific 
literature. EPA is seeking public comment on components of the protocol 
including the described strategies for literature searches, criteria 
for study inclusion or exclusion, considerations for evaluating study 
methods, information management for extracting data, approaches for 
synthesis within and across lines of evidence, and methods for 
derivation of toxicity values. Additionally, key scientific issues that 
warrant consideration in this assessment are identified in Section 2.5. 
The protocol serves to inform the subsequent development of the draft 
assessment and is made available to the public. EPA may update the 
protocol based on the evaluation of the literature, and any updates 
will be posted to the docket and on the IRIS website.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https://www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2018-
0655 for methylmercury, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-9744. Due to COVID-19, there may be a delay 
in processing comments submitted by fax.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center (ORD Docket), Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752. Due to COVID-
19, there may be a delay in processing comments submitted by mail.
    Note: The EPA Docket Center and Reading Room is currently closed to 
public visitors to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Docket 
Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via 
email, phone, and webform. The public can submit comments via 
www.Regulations.gov or email. No hand deliveries are currently being 
accepted.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to EPA-HQ-ORD-2018-0655 for 
methylmercury. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within 
the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date 
will be marked ``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. It 
is EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public 
docket without change and to make the comments available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any

[[Page 32038]]

personal information provided, unless a comment includes information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information for which disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not 
submit information through https://www.regulations.gov or email that 
you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The https://www.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 email comment 
directly to EPA without going through https://www.regulations.gov, your 
email 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. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Docket: 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 materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or as a hard copy at the ORD Docket in 
the EPA Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: May 21, 2020.
Wayne Cascio,
Director, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2020-11467 Filed 5-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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