[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62049-62050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23616]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-205]


Availability of Draft Toxicological Profiles

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 104(i)(3) [42 U.S.C. 
9604(i)(3)] directs the Administrator of ATSDR to prepare toxicological 
profiles of priority hazardous substances and to revise and publish 
each updated toxicological profile as necessary. This notice announces 
the availability of the 18th set of toxicological profiles, which 
consists of one new draft and five updated drafts, prepared by ATSDR 
for review and comment.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on these draft toxicological 
profiles must be received on or before February 23, 2005. Comments 
received after the close of the public comment period will be 
considered at the discretion of ATSDR based upon what is deemed to be 
in the best interest of the general public.

ADDRESSES: Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological 
profiles should be sent to the attention of Ms. Yulandia Jordan, 
Division of Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 
30333. Electronic access to these documents is also available at the 
ATSDR Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxpro2.html.
    Comments regarding the draft toxicological profiles should be sent 
to the attention of Ms. Nickolette Roney, Division of Toxicology, 
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop F-32, 1600 
Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
    Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological profiles 
must be in writing, and must specifically identify the hazardous 
substance(s) profile(s) that you wish to receive. ATSDR reserves the 
right to provide only one copy of each profile requested, free of 
charge. In case of extended distribution delays, requestors will be 
notified.
    Written comments and other data submitted in response to this 
notice and the draft toxicological profiles should bear the docket 
control number ATSDR-205. Send one copy of all comments and three 
copies of all supporting documents to Ms. Roney at the above stated 
address by the end of the comment period. Because all public comments 
regarding ATSDR toxicological profiles are available for public 
inspection, no confidential business information or other confidential 
information should be submitted in response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Yulandia Jordon, Division of 
Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop 
E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 1-(888) 
422-8737 or (404) 498-0261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization 
Act (SARA) (Pub. L. 99-499) amends the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

[[Page 62050]]

(CERCLA or Superfund) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) by establishing certain 
responsibilities for the ATSDR and the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) with regard to hazardous substances that are most commonly 
found at facilities on the CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL). Among 
these responsibilities is that the Administrator of ATSDR prepare 
toxicological profiles for substances included on the priority lists of 
hazardous substances. These lists identified 275 hazardous substances 
that ATSDR and EPA determined pose the most significant potential 
threat to human health. The availability of the revised priority list 
of 275 hazardous substances was announced in the Federal Register on 
November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63098). For prior versions of the list of 
substances see Federal Register notices dated April 17, 1987 (52 FR 
12866); October 20, 1988 (53 FR 41280); October 26, 1989 (54 FR 43619); 
October 17, 1990 (55 FR 42067); October 17, 1991 (56 FR 52166); October 
28, 1992 (57 FR 48801); February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9486); April 29, 1996 
(61 FR 18744); November 17, 1997 (62 FR 61332); October 21, 1999 (64 FR 
56792) and October 25, 2001 (66 FR 54014). [CERCLA also requires ATSDR 
to assure the initiation of a research program to fill data needs 
associated with the substances.]
    Section 104(i)(3) of CERCLA [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(3)] outlines the 
content of these profiles. Each profile will include an examination, 
summary and interpretation of available toxicological information and 
epidemiologic evaluations. This information and these data are to be 
used to identify the levels of significant human exposure for the 
substance and the associated health effects. The profiles must also 
include a determination of whether adequate information on the health 
effects of each substance is available or in the process of 
development. When adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in 
cooperation with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is required to 
assure the initiation of research to determine these health effects.
    Although key studies for each of the substances were considered 
during the profile development process, this Federal Register notice 
seeks to solicit any additional studies, particularly unpublished data 
and ongoing studies, that will be evaluated for possible addition to 
the profiles now or in the future.
    The following draft toxicological profiles will be made available 
to the public on or about October 18, 2004.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Document               Hazardous substance          CAS No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................  Cyanide.....................      000057-12-5
                           Hydrogen cyanide............      000074-90-8
                           Sodium cyanide..............      000143-33-9
                           Potassium cyanide...........      000151-50-8
2........................  Dichlorobenzenes............      025321-22-6
                           1, 2-Dichlorobenzene........      000095-50-1
                           1,3-Dichlorobenzene.........       00541-73-1
                           1,4-Dichlorobenzene.........       00106-46-7
3........................  1, 4-Dioxane *..............      000123-91-1
4........................  Hydrogen Sulfide............     007783-065-4
5........................  1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane.....      000071-55-6
6........................  Vinyl Chloride..............     000075-01-4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*denotes new profile.

    All profiles issued as ``Drafts for Public Comment'' represent 
ATSDR's best efforts to provide important toxicological information on 
priority hazardous substances. We are seeking public comments and 
additional information that may be used to supplement these profiles. 
ATSDR remains committed to providing a public comment period for these 
documents as a means to best serve public health and our clients.

Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, National Center 
for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. 04-23616 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P