GLIN==> Peer Review on PCDD/PCDF Toxic Equalency Factors

Entities in Michigan and the Great Lakes will probably
be interested in this peer review national teleconference on 
October 22 on polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxin/furan
toxic equivalency factors and PCDD/PCDF toxicology....

today's federal register
===========


[Federal Register: October 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 199)]
[Notices] 
[Page 53233-53234]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc09-57] 

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0605; FRL-8969-4]

Notice of Peer-Review Teleconference for the External Peer Review
Draft of Recommended Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for Human
Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of peer-review teleconference with opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Versar, Inc., an EPA contractor for
external scientific peer review, plans to convene an independent panel
of experts and organize and conduct an external peer review meeting to
review the draft document titled, ``Recommended Toxicity Equivalency
Factors (TEFs) for Human Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-
Like Compounds.'' The peer review meeting is planned to take place by
teleconference on October 22, 2009. On September 2, 2009, EPA announced
a 30-day public comment period for the draft document (74 FR 45437).
The draft document was prepared by the Agency's Risk Assessment Forum.
 The public comment period and the external peer review are separate
processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to
comment on the document. In addition to considering public comments
that were submitted to the EPA docket by the closing date of October 2,
2009, in accordance with the September 2, 2009 announcement of a public
comment period, the public can provide comments for the external peer
reviewers' consideration through the public teleconference on October 22, 2009.
 EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-
dissemination peer review under applicable information quality
guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It
does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency
policy or determination.
 The public will be given an opportunity to observe and provide oral
comments at this teleconference by registering with the point of
contact below (see How Can I Request to Participate in this Meeting?).
The draft document is available through the EPA docket at <A HREF="http://www.regulations.gov">http://
www.regulations.gov</A> under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0605.
Additionally, the draft document and the charge questions for EPA's
external peer review are available via the Internet on the Risk
Assessment Forum's home page at <A HREF="http://www.epa.gov/raf/hhtefguidance">http://www.epa.gov/raf/hhtefguidance</A>.
 In preparing a final report, EPA will consider the peer review
report of the recommendations from the external peer review
teleconference and any public comments that EPA receives in accordance
with the September 2, 2009 notice (74 FR 45437) and at the public
teleconference.

DATES: The peer review teleconference will be held on October 22, 2009,
from 1 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Registration for this
teleconference is required (see How Can I Request to Participate in
this Meeting?). Time will be provided for public observers who wish to
make comments on the document. Members of the public will be allowed to
make brief (no longer than 5 minutes) oral statements during the
meeting's public comment period.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``Recommended Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs)
for Human Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds''
is available primarily via the Internet on the Risk Assessment Forum's
home page at <A HREF="http://www.epa.gov/raf/hhtefguidance">http://www.epa.gov/raf/hhtefguidance</A>. A limited number of
paper copies are available from the Risk Assessment Forum. If you are
requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and
the document title, ``Recommended Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs)
for Human Health Risk Assessments of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like
Compounds,'' to Seema Schappelle via the contact information below.

How Can I Request To Participate in This Meeting?

 Members of the public may call into the teleconference as
observers, and there will be a limited time for comments from the
public. In order to participate, you should contact Ms. Kathy Coon of
Versar, Inc. by e-mail at <A HREF="mailto:kscoon at versar.com">kscoon at versar.com</A> (subject line: Dioxin TEF
Peer Review Teleconference) or by

[[Page 53234]]

phone at 703-750-3000 extension 545 to register. You will be asked for
your name, affiliation, city and state, and contact information. When
registering, please also indicate whether you would like to make a
comment during the observer comment portion of the call. Time for
public comments is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a
first-come, first-served basis. Registered members of the public will
be allowed to make brief (no longer than 5 minutes) oral statements
during the meeting's public comment period. The call-in number for the
meeting will be: Telephone: 1-877-558-5229; Pass Code: 7037503000#.
 For technical information, please contact: Seema Schappelle, Risk
Assessment Forum, Mail Code 8105R, Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:
(202) 564-3372; fax number: (202) 564-2070, E-mail:
<A HREF="mailto:schappelle.seema at epa.gov">schappelle.seema at epa.gov</A>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dioxin and dioxin like compounds (DLCs),
including polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are
structurally and toxicologically related halogenated dicyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons. Dioxins and DLCs are released into the environment from
several industrial sources, including chemical manufacturing,
combustion, and metal processing. There is global contamination of air,
soil and water with trace levels of these compounds that typically
occur in the environment as chemical mixtures. Dioxins and DLCs do not
readily degrade; therefore, levels persist in the environment, build up
in the food chain and accumulate in the tissues of animals. Human
exposures to these compounds occur primarily through eating
contaminated foods. The health effects from exposures to dioxins and
DLCs have been documented extensively in toxicological and
epidemiological studies.
 Risk assessments have relied on the dioxin toxicity equivalence
factors (TEFs) approach. Various stakeholders, inside and outside the
Agency, have called for a more comprehensive characterization of risks;
therefore, EPA's Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) identified a need to
examine the recommended approach for application of the toxicity
equivalence methodology in human health risk assessments. An RAF
Technical Panel developed the draft guidance document, ``Recommended
Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for Human Health Risk Assessments
of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds,'' to assist EPA scientists in
using this methodology to assess health risks from dioxins and dioxin-
like compounds, as well as inform EPA decision makers, other agencies,
and the public about this methodology. EPA is currently addressing
several issues related to dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals in the
environment. More information on these activities is located at: <A HREF="http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin">
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin</A>.
 The draft document under review describes EPA's updated approach
for evaluating the human health risks from exposures to environmental
media containing dioxin-like compounds. It recommends the use of
consensus TEF values for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and
dioxin-like compounds, which were published in 2005 by the World Health
Organization, and adopted by EPA in 2008 for ecological risk assessments.
 The draft document was developed by the EPA's Risk Assessment Forum
with extensive input from scientists throughout the Agency. The draft
document summarizes the toxicity equivalence methodology, provides
background information and assumptions on how the methodology has
evolved, and provides health risk assessors with a recommended approach
for application. It will assist EPA scientists in using the toxicity
equivalence methodology to assess health risks from dioxins and dioxin-
like compounds, as well as inform EPA decision makers, other agencies,
and the public about this methodology.

 Dated: October 9, 2009.
Kevin Teichman,
Acting EPA Science Advisor.
[FR Doc. E9-24926 Filed 10-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

======================================== 
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Twittering at: http://www.twitter.com/enviroenforcer 

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