2010-20308. Draft Toxicological Review of Dichloromethane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of Peer Review Workshop.

SUMMARY:

EPA is announcing that ERG, an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer review workshop to review the draft human health assessment titled, “Toxicological Review of Dichloromethane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)” (EPA/635/R-10/003A). The draft assessment was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA Office of Research and Development.

EPA is releasing this draft assessment solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This draft assessment has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination.

ERG invites the public to register to attend this workshop as observers. In addition, ERG invites the public to give brief oral comments and/or provide written comments at the workshop regarding the draft assessment under review. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. In preparing a final report, EPA will consider ERG's report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any written public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

DATES:

The peer review panel workshop on the draft assessment for Dichloromethane will be held on September 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES:

The draft “Toxicological Review of Dichloromethane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)” is available primarily via the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/​ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from the Information Management Team (Address: Information Management Team, National Center for Environmental Assessment [Mail Code: 8601P], U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 703-347-8691). If you request a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the draft assessment title.

The peer review workshop on the draft dichloromethane assessment will be held at Doubletree Hotel Bethesda & Executive Meeting Center; 8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. To attend the workshop, register no later than September 16, 2010, by calling ERG at 781-674-7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833 (ask for the DCM peer review coordinator, Laurie Waite), sending a facsimile to 781-674-2906 (please reference: “DCM peer review workshop” and include your name, title, affiliation, full address, and contact information), or sending an e-mail to [e-mail] (subject line: “DCM peer review workshop” and include your name, title, affiliation, full address, and contact information, and whether you wish to make oral comments). You may also register via the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/​projects/​conferences/​peerreview/​register-dichlworkshop.htm. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a limited time at the peer review workshop for comments from the public.

Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA welcomes public attendance at the Dichloromethane Peer Review Workshop and will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, contact: ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail: [e-mail] (subject line: DCM peer review workshop), preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give as much time as possible to process your request.

Additional Information: Questions regarding information, registration, access or services for individuals with disabilities, or logistics for the external peer-review workshop should be directed to ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail: [e-mail] (subject line: DCM peer review workshop).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information about IRIS

EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may result from exposure to chemical substances found in the environment. Through the IRIS Program, EPA provides the highest quality science-based human health assessments to support the Agency's regulatory activities. The IRIS database contains information for more than 540 chemical substances that can be used to support the first two steps (hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of the risk assessment process. When supported by available data, IRIS provides oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference concentrations (RfCs) for chronic noncancer health effects and cancer assessments. Combined with specific exposure information, government and private entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk management decisions designed to protect public health.

Dated: August 11, 2010.

David Bussard,

Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.