Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 191 / Monday, October 4, 2004 / Notices 59227

Metals. Development of these papers 

was led by Eastern Research Group Inc., 

a contractor to EPA. These papers will 

inform EPA’s continuing discussion of 

practices and methods for the risk 

assessment of metals.

DATES: The scientific papers will be 

available on or about October 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The issue papers are 

available primarily via the Internet on 

the Risk Assessment Forum’s Web page 

http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/raf/

recordisplay.cfm?deid=86119. A limited 

number of paper copies will be available 

from the EPA’s National Service Center 

for Environmental Publications 

(NSCEP), P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, 

OH 45242; telephone: 1–800–490–9198 

or 513–489–8190; facsimile: 513–489–

8695. Please provide your name and 

mailing address and the title and EPA 

number of the requested publication, 

‘‘Papers Addressing Scientific Issues in 

the Risk Assessment of Metals’’ (EPA/

630/R–04/118).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

technical information, contact Dr. 

William P. Wood, Executive Director, 

Risk Assessment Forum, National 

Center for Environmental Assessment, 

Office of Research and Development; 

telephone: (202) 564–3361; facsimile: 

(202) 565–0062; or e-mail: 

risk.forum@epa.gov@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has 

recognized the need for consistent 

application of methods and data to 

metals risk assessment in consideration 

of the unique properties of metals. Early 

in 2002, the Agency’s Science Policy 

Council initiated the development a 

framework to assess the risks of metals 

to humans and the environment. An 

Agency Action Plan was developed and 

reviewed by EPA’s Science Advisory 

Board (SAB) in September 2002. The 

SAB emphasized the importance of 

focusing on the unique properties of 

metals as they relate to environmental 

chemistry, bioavailability, 

bioaccumulation, exposure, and 

toxicity. The SAB also emphasized the 

importance of engaging the outside 

community so as to contribute to the 

knowledge base the Agency would draw 

from in developing guidance on the risk 

assessment of metals. 

To inform the consideration of metals 

properties, and to engage the external 

scientific community, the Agency 

commissioned external experts to lead 

the development of a series of issue 

papers. (Some individual EPA experts 

contributed specific discussions on 

topic(s) for which he or she has 

scientific expertise or knowledge of 

current Agency practice.) A public 

comment period was held on the draft 

papers from September 22 through 

November 7, 2003, wherein comments 

were collected utilizing the Agency’s 

on-line commenting system (E–Docket). 

Additionally, comment was received via 

a public meeting held October 28, 2003, 

in Washington, DC (comments remain 

available for viewing at www.epa.gov/

edocket, Docket Number OAR–2003–

0192.) Comments were requested on 

technical issues including the level of 

detail in the papers, the chemical, 

biological and physical processes 

addressed or omitted, models and 

approaches that might reduce 

uncertainty, and other considerations 

that would improve the utility of the 

papers to the development of the 

framework. To finalize the papers, 

authors were directed to EPA’s E–

Docket to review and consider public 

comments received. The final papers 

reflect the authors responses to 

scientific comments received during the 

public comment period. Therefore, the 

views expressed are those of the authors 

and do not necessarily reflect the views 

or policies of the EPA and should not 

be construed as implying EPA consent 

or endorsement. 

Having engaged the external 

community to broaden our knowledge 

base, the Agency is working to develop 

a framework for metals risk assessment. 

The framework will be provided for 

public comment, and SAB review.

Dated: September 27, 2004. 

Peter W. Preuss, 

Director, National Center for Environmental 

Assessment.

[FR Doc. 04–22254 Filed 10–1–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE 

PRESIDENT 

Office of Administration; Notice of 

Meeting of the Commission on the 

Intelligence Capabilities of the United 

States Regarding Weapons of Mass 

Destruction

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Commission on the 

Intelligence Capabilities of the United 

States Regarding Weapons of Mass 

Destruction (‘‘Commission’’) will meet 

in closed session on Wednesday, 

October 20, 2004, and Thursday, 

October 21, 2004, in its offices in 

Arlington, Virginia. 

Executive Order 13328 established the 

Commission for the purpose of assessing 

whether the Intelligence Community is 

sufficiently authorized, organized, 

equipped, trained, and resourced to 

identify and warn in a timely manner of, 

and to support the United States 

Government’s efforts to respond to, the 

development of Weapons of Mass 

Destruction, related means of delivery, 

and other related threats of the 21st 

Century. This meeting will consist of 

briefings and discussions involving 

classified matters of national security, 

including classified briefings from 

representatives of agencies within the 

Intelligence Community; Commission 

discussions based upon the content of 

classified intelligence documents the 

Commission has received from agencies 

within the Intelligence Community; and 

presentations concerning the United 

States’ intelligence capabilities that are 

based upon classified information. 

While the Commission does not 

concede that it is subject to the 

requirements of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA), 5 United States 

Code Appendix 2, it has been 

determined that the October 20–21 

meeting would fall within the scope of 

exceptions (c)(1) and (c)(9)(B) of the 

Sunshine Act, 5 United States Code, 

Sections 552b(c)(1) & (c)(9)(B), and thus 

could be closed to the public if FACA 

did apply to the Commission.

DATES: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 (9 

a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thursday, October 

21, 2004 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

ADDRESSES: Members of the public who 

wish to submit a written statement to 

the Commission are invited to do so by 

facsimile at (703) 414–1203, or by mail 

at the following address: Commission 

on the Intelligence Capabilities of the 

United States Regarding Weapons of 

Mass Destruction, Washington, DC 

20503. Comments also may be sent to 

the Commission by e-mail at 

comments@wmd.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brett C. Gerry, Associate General 

Counsel, Commission on the 

Intelligence Capabilities of the United 

States Regarding Weapons of Mass 

Destruction, by facsimile, or by 

telephone at (703) 414–1200.

Victor E. Bernson, Jr. 

Executive Office of the President, Office of 

Administration, General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 04–22218 Filed 10–1–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3130–W4–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

Public Information Collection(s) 

Requirement Submitted to OMB for 

Emergency Review and Approval 

September 28, 2004

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications 

Commission, as part of its continuing