Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 5971

energy, and certain Ancillary Services at 

market-based rates; to reassign 

transmission capacity; to resell firm 

transmission rights; to waive certain of 

the Commission’s regulations 

promulgated under the FPA; and to 

grant certain blanket approvals under 

other such regulations. 

Comment Date: February 17, 2004. 

30. MidAmerican Energy Company 

[Docket No. ER04–497–000] 

Take notice that on January 20, 2004, 

MidAmerican Energy Company 

(MidAmerican), pursuant to the Notice 

of the Commission Clarifying 

Compliance Procedures issued January 

8, 2004 in Docket Nos. RM02–1–000 and 

001, tendered for filing proposed 

variations in the pro forma Large 

Generator Interconnection Procedures 

and Large Generator Interconnection 

Agreement based on existing regional 

reliability standards applicable to the 

Mid-Continent Area Power Pool of 

which MidAmerican is a member. 

Comment Date: February 10, 2004. 

Standard Paragraph 

Any person desiring to intervene or to 

protest this filing should file with the 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 

888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 

20426, in accordance with Rules 211 

and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of 

Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 

and 385.214). Protests will be 

considered by the Commission in 

determining the appropriate action to be 

taken, but will not serve to make 

protestants parties to the proceeding. 

Any person wishing to become a party 

must file a motion to intervene. All such 

motions or protests should be filed on 

or before the comment date, and, to the 

extent applicable, must be served on the 

applicant and on any other person 

designated on the official service list. 

This filing is available for review at the 

Commission or may be viewed on the 

Commission’s Web site at http://

www.ferc.gov, using the ‘‘FERRIS’’ link. 

Enter the docket number excluding the 

last three digits in the docket number 

filed to access the document. For 

assistance, call (202) 502–8222 or TTY, 

(202) 502–8659. Protests and 

interventions may be filed electronically 

via the Internet in lieu of paper; see 18 

CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 

instructions on the Commission’s Web 

site under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. The 

Commission strongly encourages 

electronic filings.

Magalie R. Salas, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. E4–217 Filed 2–6–04; 3:00 pm] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ?≤

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–7619–8] 

Integrated Risk Information System 

(IRIS); Announcement of 2004 

Program; Request for Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of IRIS 

2004 program agenda and request for 

scientific information on human health 

effects that may result from exposure to 

chemical substances. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is announcing the IRIS 

2004 agenda and requesting scientific 

information on health effects that may 

result from exposure to the chemical 

substances for which EPA is starting 

assessments this year. 

The Integrated Risk Information 

System (IRIS) is an EPA data base that 

contains the Agency’s scientific 

consensus positions on human health 

effects that may result from exposure to 

chemical substances in the 

environment. On February 5, 2003 (68 

FR 5870) and later supplemented on 

August 13, 2003 (68 FR 48359), EPA 

announced the 2003 IRIS agenda, with 

the solicitation of scientific information 

from the public for consideration in 

assessing health effects from specific 

chemical substances. Many of these 

assessments are on-going or near 

completion. All assessments completed 

in FY03 and early FY04 are listed in this 

notice. This notice also describes some 

of EPA’s efforts to improve the IRIS 

program.

DATES: Please submit any scientific 

information in response to this notice in 

accordance with the instructions 

provided at the end of this notice by 

April 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Please submit relevant 

scientific information identified by 

docket ID number ORD–2003–0016, 

online at http://www.epa.gov/edocket

(EPA’s preferred method); by e-mail to 

oei.docket@epa.gov; mailed to EPA 

Docket Center, Environmental 

Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 

Washington, DC 20460–0001; or by 

hand delivery or courier to EPA Docket 

Center, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 

Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

Monday through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. Comments on a disk or CD–

ROM should be formatted in 

Wordperfect or ASCII file, avoiding the 

use of special characters and any form 

of encryption, and may be mailed to the 

mailing address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on the IRIS program, 

contact Amy Mills, Program Director, 

National Center for Environmental 

Assessment, (mail code 8601D), Office 

of Research and Development, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 

Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 

564–3204, facsimile: (202) 565–0075; or 

e-mail: mills.amy@epa.gov.

For general questions about access to 

IRIS, or the content of IRIS, please call 

the IRIS Hotline at (202) 566–1676 or 

send electronic mail inquiries to 

hotline.iris@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

IRIS is an EPA data base containing 

Agency scientific positions on potential 

adverse human health effects that may 

result from exposure to chemical 

substances found in the environment. 

IRIS currently provides information on 

health effects associated with more than 

500 chemical substances. 

The data base includes chemicalspecific summaries of qualitative and 

quantitative health information in 

support of the first two steps of the risk 

assessment process, i.e., hazard 

identification and dose-response 

evaluation. Combined with specific 

situational exposure assessment 

information, the information in IRIS 

may be used as a source in evaluating 

potential public health risks from 

environmental contaminants. 

EPA’s overall process for developing 

IRIS assessments consists of: (1) An 

annual Federal Register announcement 

of EPA’s IRIS agenda and call for 

scientific information from the public 

on selected chemical substances; (2) a 

search of the scientific literature; (3) 

development of IRIS summaries and 

support documents; (4) agency review; 

(5) external peer review; (6) 

management review and approval; (7) 

entry of IRIS summaries and support 

documents into the IRIS data base 

(http://www.epa.gov/iris). 

The IRIS Annual Agenda 

Each year, EPA develops a list of 

priority chemical substances and an 

annual agenda for the IRIS program. 

EPA uses four general criteria to set 

these priorities: (1) EPA statutory, 

regulatory, or program-specific 

implementation needs; (2) availability of 

new scientific information or 

methodology that might significantly 

change the current IRIS information; (3) 

interest to other levels of government or 

the public; and (4) availability of other

5972 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 

scientific assessment documents such 

that only a modest additional effort 

would be needed to complete the review 

and documentation for IRIS. The 

decision to assess any given chemical 

substance hinges on available Agency 

resources. Availability of risk 

assessment guidance, guidelines, and 

science policy decisions may also have 

an effect on the timing of EPA’s decision 

to assess a chemical substance. 

Consistent with previous Federal 

Register notices announcing the annual 

IRIS agenda, EPA is soliciting public 

involvement in new assessments 

starting in FY 2004. While EPA 

conducts a thorough literature search for 

each chemical substance, there may be 

unpublished studies or other primary 

technical sources that we may not 

otherwise obtain through open literature 

searches. We would appreciate 

receiving scientific information from the 

public during the information gathering 

stage for the list of ‘‘new assessments’’

provided in this notice. Interested 

persons should provide scientific 

analyses, studies, and other pertinent 

scientific information. Also note, if you 

have submitted information previously 

to the IRIS Submission Desk, there is no 

need to resubmit that information. 

While EPA is primarily soliciting 

information on new 2004 assessments 

announced in this notice, the public 

may submit information on any 

chemical substance at any time. 

This notice provides: (1) A list of the 

IRIS assessments completed in FY 2003 

and early FY 2004; (2) a list of the IRIS 

assessments in progress that the Agency 

expects to complete in FY 2004–2005; 

(3) a list of IRIS assessments requiring 

a more extensive effort; (4) a list of IRIS 

assessments deleted from the 2003 

agenda; (5) a list of new IRIS 

assessments starting in FY 2004; (6) a 

new approach to systematically update 

IRIS; (7) an announcement of 

improvements underway to the IRIS 

program; and (8) instructions to the 

public for submitting scientific 

information to EPA pertinent to the 

development of IRIS assessments. 

Assessments Completed in Late FY 

2003 and Early FY 2004

The following assessments were 

completed and entered into IRIS in FY 

2003 and early FY 2004. These 

assessments were listed in the Federal 

Register of February 5, 2003 (68 FR 

5870). All health endpoints associated 

with chronic exposure, cancer and 

noncancer, were assessed unless 

otherwise noted. Where information 

was available, both qualitative and 

quantitative assessments were 

developed.

Substance name CAS No. 

Acetone .................................................................................................................................................................................... 67–64–1 

Acrolein .................................................................................................................................................................................... 107–02–8 

Benzene (noncancer) .............................................................................................................................................................. 71–43–2 

1,3-Butadiene ........................................................................................................................................................................... 106–99–0 

Cyclohexane ............................................................................................................................................................................ 110–82–7 

Dichloroacetic acid ................................................................................................................................................................... 79–43–6 

Diesel engine exhaust ............................................................................................................................................................. [N.A.] 

Hydrogen sulfide ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7783–06–4 

Methyl ethyl ketone .................................................................................................................................................................. 78–93–3 

Methyl isobutyl ketone ............................................................................................................................................................. 108–10–1 

2-Methylnaphthalene ............................................................................................................................................................... 91–57–6 

Xylenes .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1330–20–7 

Assessments in Progress 

The following assessments are 

underway or generally complete, and 

are planned for entry into IRIS in FY 

2004 or FY 2005. All health endpoints 

due to chronic exposure, cancer and 

noncancer, are being assessed unless 

otherwise noted. For all endpoints 

assessed, both qualitative and 

quantitative assessments are being 

developed where information is 

available.

Substance name CAS No. 

Acetaldehyde ........................................................................................................................................................................... 75–07–0 

Acrylamide ............................................................................................................................................................................... 79–06–1 

Acrylonitrile .............................................................................................................................................................................. 107–13–1 

Aldicarb/Aldicarb sulfoxide ....................................................................................................................................................... 116–06–3/1646–87–3 

Aldicarb sulfone ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1646–88–4 

Benzo(a)pyrene ....................................................................................................................................................................... 50–32–8 

Beryllium (cancer effects) ........................................................................................................................................................ 7440–41–7 

Boron ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–42–8 

Bromobenzene ......................................................................................................................................................................... 108–86–1 

Bromodichloromethane ............................................................................................................................................................ 75–27–4 

Bromoform ............................................................................................................................................................................... 75–25–2 

Cadmium .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7440–43–9 

Carbon tetrachloride ................................................................................................................................................................ 56–23–5 

Chloroethane ........................................................................................................................................................................... 75–00–3 

Chloroform (inhalation route) ................................................................................................................................................... 67–66–3 

Copper ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–50–8 

Cryptosporidium ....................................................................................................................................................................... [N.A.] 

Dibromochloromethane ............................................................................................................................................................ 124–48–1 

Dibutyl phthalate ...................................................................................................................................................................... 84–74–2 

1,2-Dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 95–50–1 

1,3-Dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 541–73–1 

1,4-Dichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................................................................ 106–46–7 

Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) ............................................................................................................................................... 103–23–1 

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate ......................................................................................................................................................... 117–81–7 

Ethanol ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 64–17–5 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 5973

Substance name CAS No. 

Ethylbenzene ........................................................................................................................................................................... 100–41–4 

Ethylene dibromide .................................................................................................................................................................. 106–93–4 

Ethylene dichloride .................................................................................................................................................................. 107–06–2 

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (cancer effects) ................................................................................................................... 111–76–2 

Hexachlorobutadiene ............................................................................................................................................................... 87–68–3 

n-Hexane ................................................................................................................................................................................. 110–54–3 

Hydrogen cyanide .................................................................................................................................................................... 74–90–8 

Isopropanol .............................................................................................................................................................................. 67–63–0 

Kepone ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 143–50–0 

Methanol .................................................................................................................................................................................. 67–56–1 

Methylene chloride (Dichloromethane) .................................................................................................................................... 75–09–2 

Mirex ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2385–85–5 

Naphthalene (cancer effects; inh. route) ................................................................................................................................. 91–20–3 

Nickel (soluble salts) ................................................................................................................................................................ [N.A.—various] 

Nitrobenzene ............................................................................................................................................................................ 98–95–3 

PAH mixtures ........................................................................................................................................................................... [N.A.—various] 

Pentachlorophenol ................................................................................................................................................................... 87–86–5 

Perfluorooctanoic acid—ammonium salt ................................................................................................................................. 3825–26–1 

Perfluorooctane sulfonate—potassium salt ............................................................................................................................. 2795–39–3 

Phosgene (acute exposure; inhalation route) ......................................................................................................................... 75–44–5 

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): .............................................................................................................................. [N.A.—various] 

Refractory ceramic fibers ......................................................................................................................................................... [N.A.] 

Styrene ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 100–42–5 

Tetrahydrofuran ....................................................................................................................................................................... 109–99–9 

Thallium ................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–28–0 

Toluene .................................................................................................................................................................................... 108–88–3 

Trichloroacetic acid .................................................................................................................................................................. 76–03–9 

1,1,1-Trichloroethane ............................................................................................................................................................... 71–55–6 

1,2,3-Trichloropropane ............................................................................................................................................................. 96–18–4 

2,2,4-Trimethylpentane ............................................................................................................................................................ 540–84–1 

Uranium (natural) ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–61–1 

Vinyl acetate ............................................................................................................................................................................ 108–05–4 

Zinc and compounds ............................................................................................................................................................... 7440–66–6 

Update of the 2003 IRIS Agenda

EPA has taken active steps to 

reconsider and update the list of 

chemical substances on the 2003 IRIS 

agenda to better reflect the assessments 

currently underway and corresponding 

time frames for completion. To that end, 

EPA has carefully reviewed the 

chemical assessments on the 2003 

agenda and determined that some will 

need more time for completion due to 

a higher level of complexity. Highly 

complex assessments often lead EPA to 

identify new research needs, apply new 

methodologies, or conduct multiple, indepth, high level external scientific peer 

reviews to ensure the application of 

sound science. The following chemical 

assessments will therefore require a 

more extensive effort.

Substance name CAS No. 

Ammonium Perchlorate (and other perchlorate salts) ............................................................................................................ 7790–98–9 

Arsenic, inorganic .................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–38–2 

Asbestos (noncancer effects) .................................................................................................................................................. 1332–21–4 

Ethylene oxide (cancer effects) ............................................................................................................................................... 75–21–8 

Formaldehyde .......................................................................................................................................................................... 50–00–0 

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) ................................................................................................................................................ 1634–04–4 

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) ................................................................................................................................. 127–18–4 

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs-noncancer endpoints) .......................................................................................................... 1336–36–3 

2,3,7,8–TCDD (dioxin) ............................................................................................................................................................. 1746–01–6 

Trichloroethylene ..................................................................................................................................................................... 79–01–6 

In addition, anticipation of new data, 

emerging methodology, or lack of 

immediate Agency resources provide 

the basis for placing the following 

chemical assessments on a longer time 

frame for completion. This includes 

substances denoted with an asterisk (*), 

which are being evaluated for effects 

from acute and/or other less-thanlifetime exposure durations. These 

substances are part of a pilot test to 

evaluate the application of methods, 

procedures, and resource needs for 

adding health effects information for 

less-than-lifetime exposure duration to 

IRIS. This effort was announced in the 

February 5, 2003 (68 FR 5870) Federal 

Register.

Substance name CAS No. 

Acrolein* ................................................................................................................................................................................... 107–02–8 

Benzene* ................................................................................................................................................................................. 71–43–2 

Chloroprene ............................................................................................................................................................................. 126–99–8 

Cobalt ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7440–48–4 

Dibutyl phthalate* ..................................................................................................................................................................... 84–74–2 

5974 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 

Substance name CAS No. 

Ethylene oxide* ........................................................................................................................................................................ 75–21–8 

Hexachloropentadiene* ............................................................................................................................................................ 77–47–4 

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-triazine (RDX) ................................................................................................................................... 121–82–4 

Hydrogen sulfide* .................................................................................................................................................................... 7783–06–4 

Phosgene* ............................................................................................................................................................................... 75–44–5 

Propionaldehyde ...................................................................................................................................................................... 123–38–6 

1,1,1-Trichloroethane* ............................................................................................................................................................. 71–55–6 

Assessments Deleted From the IRIS 

Agenda 

EPA is deleting from the IRIS agenda 

a group of pesticides that will not be 

assessed through the IRIS process. This 

step is being taken to more efficiently 

utilize Agency resources, given that the 

Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has 

a large assessment program evaluating 

these chemicals. Under the 1996 Federal 

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 

Act (FIFRA), EPA requests relevant 

scientific data from pesticide registrants 

and develops health assessments based 

on that information. EPA is considering 

the means for providing electronic 

public access to pesticide assessments 

conducted under FIFRA. The following 

pesticides listed in the February 5, 2003 

(68 FR 5870) Federal Register are 

therefore removed from the IRIS agenda 

for FY2004.

Substance name CAS No. 

Alachlor .................................................................................................................................................................................... 15972–60–8 

Atrazine .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1912–24–9 

Azinophos methyl .................................................................................................................................................................... 86–50–0 

Bromoxynil ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1689–84–5 

Captan ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 133–06–2 

Chlorothalonil ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1897–45–6 

Chlorpyrifos .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2921–88–2 

Diazinon ................................................................................................................................................................................... 333–41–5 

Diflubenzuron ........................................................................................................................................................................... 35367–38–5 

Ethalfluralin .............................................................................................................................................................................. 55283–68–6 

Ethion ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 563–12–2 

Glyphosate ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1071–83–6 

Lindane .................................................................................................................................................................................... 58–89–9 

Methidathion ............................................................................................................................................................................ 950–37–8 

Methomyl ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16752–77–5 

Methyl parathion ...................................................................................................................................................................... 298–00–0 

Metolachlor .............................................................................................................................................................................. 51218–45–2 

Pebulate ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1114–71–2 

Pendamethalin ......................................................................................................................................................................... 40487–42–1 

Propachlor ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1918–16–7 

Triallate .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2303–17–5 

Trichlopyr ................................................................................................................................................................................. 55335–06–3 

In addition to these pesticides, EPA 

will remove Silica (crystalline) (CAS 

No. 14808–60–7), and Antimony and 

compounds (7440–36–0) due to limited 

EPA resources and lower overall 

priority at this time. 

IRIS summaries and support 

documents for all substances listed as 

on-going assessments in FY 2004 will be 

provided on the IRIS Web site at http:/

/www.epa.gov/iris as they are 

completed. This publicly available Web 

site is EPA’s primary location for IRIS 

documents. In addition, external peer 

review drafts of IRIS documents can be 

found during their peer review periods 

via the ‘‘What’s New’’ page of the IRIS 

Web site. Interested parties should 

check the ‘‘What’s New’’ page 

frequently for the availability of these 

drafts. 

Information Requested on New 

Assessments for FY 2004 

EPA will continue building and 

updating the IRIS data base. The Agency 

recognizes that a number of the 

assessments on IRIS need updating to 

incorporate new scientific information 

and methodologies. Further, many 

additional substances are candidates for 

adding to IRIS. However, due to limited 

resources in the Agency to address the 

spectrum of needs, EPA developed a list 

of priority substances for attention 

beginning in FY 2004 based on specific 

criteria. 

EPA developed the list of priority 

substances for FY 2004 by sorting 

chemical nominations from the EPA 

programs and the public according to 

the following considerations: (1) 

Multiple nominations were received for 

a chemical in response to the August 

2003 FRN requesting nominations (68 

FR 48359); (2) a nomination met 

multiple criteria among (a) statutory, 

regulatory or programmatic need, (b) 

interest to other levels of government or 

the public, and (c) availability of other 

assessment documents for use in 

developing an IRIS assessment. To 

refine the list of nominations meeting 

multiple criteria, high priority was 

given to EPA programs’ priority 

nominations; (3) significant new health 

effects information is available on 

which to base an assessment; and (4) 

Agency resources are available to 

conduct the assessment. Available 

health effects information and EPA 

resources are considered critical for 

selecting a chemical for assessment. 

EPA’s priority-setting approach for the 

IRIS agenda was discussed at a public 

stakeholder workshop, announced in 

the February 5, 2003 FRN (68 FR 5870) 

and held on March 4, 2003. The primary 

recommendation from this workshop 

was that EPA should be more 

transparent in explaining why 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 5975

chemicals are selected for the IRIS 

agenda by providing a specific rationale 

for each selection. EPA’s rationales are 

therefore given below. 

Based on EPA’s prioritization process 

described above, the following IRIS 

health assessments have been selected 

for start up in FY 2004, with completion 

expected in FY 2006. The Agency is 

requesting information from the public 

for consideration in the development of 

these assessments. For all endpoints 

assessed, both qualitative and 

quantitative assessments will be 

developed where information is 

available.

Substance name CAS No. Reason 

1,2-Dichloroethylene ................................................................... 540–59–0 RCRA hazard identification and corrective action need. New 

scientific information is available to update IRIS. 

1,4-Dioxane ................................................................................. 123–91–1 CERCLA site cleanup need. New scientific information is 

available to update IRIS. Public interest. 

Ethyl tertiary butyl ether .............................................................. 637–92–3 CAA and SDWA need. Scientific information is available. 

Lead (update qualitative discussion) .......................................... 7349–92–1 CERCLA and RCRA site cleanup need. New scientific information is available to update IRIS. Public interest. 

Systematic Update of IRIS Data Base 

While the annual prioritization 

process responds to the needs expressed 

by IRIS users, EPA is also systematically 

updating the IRIS data base. The IRIS 

Program has conducted a screeninglevel review of the available scientific 

literature for all chemicals in the IRIS 

data base. The purpose of EPA’s 

screening level review was to reach 

preliminary determinations regarding 

the likelihood that a full reassessment 

based on an evaluation of new health 

effects literature could potentially result 

in significant changes to existing 

toxicity values or cancer weight-ofevidence designations. The process 

consisted of a preliminary search and 

review of the literature through standard 

toxicological bibliographic data bases 

(titles and abstracts) and selected 

literature compilations to identify new 

major studies that have become 

available since the existing IRIS 

assessment was completed. Screeninglevel reviews were completed for 460 

chemicals in the IRIS data base, that is, 

essentially all chemicals in the data base 

with the exception of those that are on 

the current IRIS agenda and are being 

fully reassessed. For 291 of the 460 

chemicals reviewed (about 60%), no 

major new health effects studies were 

found that would be likely to 

significantly change existing toxicity 

values. These findings have been added 

to the ‘‘EPA Review and 

Documentation’’ sections of each 

individual IRIS Summary. 

EPA plans to use findings from this 

literature screen as a basis for 

systematically updating IRIS by 

performing a more in-depth review of 

the extant health data. This more indepth review will seek to confirm 

results from the IRIS literature screening 

review. For those chemicals confirmed 

to be without new health information to 

change the existing assessment, EPA 

will update IRIS summaries to indicate 

the currency of scientific information 

upon which the assessment was based. 

We are requesting the submission of 

any scientific information that you 

would like EPA to consider in 

confirming the results of the literature 

screening review. You can locate the 

screening-level literature review 

findings for a chemical assessment on 

the IRIS Web site (http://www.epa.gov/

iris) by selecting the specific chemical 

summary of interest and scrolling down 

to the ‘‘EPA Documentation and 

Review’’ section of the reference dose, 

reference concentration, and cancer 

assessments.

Improvements to the IRIS Program 

EPA has taken steps to improve the 

timeliness, quality, transparency, and 

consistency of IRIS assessments through 

a series of program reforms. EPA has 

plans to expand its central IRIS Staff to 

better manage the program and ensure 

scientific quality and consistency. In 

addition, the IRIS program will conduct 

more of its external scientific peer 

reviews by panel meetings rather than 

by mail reviews. This step is being taken 

to provide the best possible scientific 

review of each assessment. In addition, 

panel peer review meetings are open to 

the public for observation, making the 

review process more transparent. 

Further, EPA is now positioning the 

external peer review step at the end of 

the IRIS assessment review process, 

strengthening the role of peer review in 

informing EPA’s final decision-making. 

Future funding levels, when provided 

by Congress, may affect actual program 

implementation and the resulting 

numbers of assessments completed and/

or initiated. 

General Information 

A. How Can I Get Copies of Related 

Information? 

EPA has established an official public 

docket for this action under Docket ID 

No. ORD 2003–0016. The official public 

docket is the collection of materials that 

is available for public viewing at the 

Office of Environmental Information 

(OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, 

EPA West, Room B102, 1301 

Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, 

DC. The EPA Docket Center Public 

Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays. The telephone 

number for the Public Reading Room is 

(202) 566–1744, and the telephone 

number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566–

1752. 

An electronic version of the public 

docket is available through EPA’s 

electronic public docket and comment 

system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA 

Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/

to submit or view public submissions, 

access the index listing of the contents 

of the official public docket, and to 

access those documents in the public 

docket that are available electronically. 

Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’

then key in the appropriate docket 

identification number. 

It is important to note that EPA’s 

policy is that public submissions, 

whether submitted electronically or in 

paper, will be made available for public 

viewing in EPA’s electronic public 

docket as EPA receives them and 

without change, unless the submission 

contains copyrighted material, CBI, or 

other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Information 

claimed as CBI and other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute 

is not included in the official public 

docket or in EPA’s electronic public 

docket. EPA’s policy is that copyrighted 

material, including copyrighted material 

contained in a public comment, will not 

be placed in EPA’s electronic public 

docket but will be available only in 

printed, paper form in the official public 

docket. Although not all docket 

materials may be available 

electronically, you may still access any 

of the publicly available docket 

5976 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 

materials through the EPA Docket 

Center. 

B. How and To Whom Do I Submit 

Scientific Information? 

You may submit scientific 

information as provided in the 

ADDRESSES section. Please submit 

scientific information within 60 days of 

this notice, provide all information 

(studies, reports, articles, etc.) you wish 

to submit. Please ensure that your 

submissions are submitted within the 

specified period. Information received 

after the close of the submission period 

will be marked ‘‘late.’’ Late submissions 

may be considered if time permits. Your 

submission should specify the chemical 

substance to which your information 

pertains, CASRN (Chemical Abstract 

Service Registry Number), and the topic 

or aspect of the assessment that is being 

addressed (e.g., carcinogenicity, mode of 

action). In addition, when you submit 

results of new health effects studies 

concerning existing substances on IRIS, 

you should include a specific 

explanation of how the study results 

could change the information in IRIS. 

All citations should be listed in 

scientific citation format, that is, 

author(s), title, journal, and date. 

Include names, addresses and telephone 

numbers of person(s) to contact for 

additional information. 

If you submit electronic information, 

EPA recommends that you include your 

name, mailing address, and an e-mail 

address or other contact information in 

the body of your submission and with 

any disk or CD ROM you submit. This 

ensures that you can be identified as the 

submitter of the information and allows 

EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot 

read your information due to technical 

difficulties or needs further information 

on the substance of your submission. 

Any identifying or contact information 

provided in the body of submitted 

information will be included as part of 

the submission information that is 

placed in the official public docket, and 

made available in EPA’s electronic 

public docket. If EPA cannot read your 

information due to technical difficulties 

and cannot contact you for clarification, 

EPA may not be able to consider your 

information. 

Your use of EPA’s electronic public 

docket to submit information to EPA 

electronically is EPA’s preferred method 

for receiving submissions. The 

electronic public docket system is an 

‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which 

means EPA will not know your identity, 

e-mail address, or other contact 

information unless you provide it in the 

body of your submission. In contrast to 

EPA’s electronic public docket, EPA’s 

electronic mail (e-mail) system is not an 

‘‘anonymous access’’ system. If you 

send e-mail directly to the Docket 

without going through EPA’s electronic 

public docket, your e-mail address is 

automatically captured and included as 

part of the submission that is placed in 

the official public docket, and made 

available in EPA’s electronic public 

docket. 

You may also request to augment your 

submission with a scientific briefing to 

EPA staff. Such requests should be 

made directly to Amy Mills, IRIS 

Program Director (see For Further 

Information).

Dated: February 3, 2004. 

Peter Preuss, 

Director, National Center for Environmental 

Assessment.

[FR Doc. 04–2711 Filed 2–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–7619–4] 

Adoption of the CEC Strategic Plan for 

North American Cooperation in the 

Conservation of Biodiversity; 

Response to Comments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: On March 21, 2003, EPA 

published a Notice of Availability (68 

FR 13930) for review of the final draft 

of the Strategic Plan for North American 

Cooperation in the Conservation of 

Biodiversity (Strategic Plan). Final 

preparation of the Strategic Plan was 

based on negotiations with counterparts 

in Canada and Mexico, discussions with 

representatives of the United States 

Biodiversity Conservation Working 

Group (BCWG), the United States BCWG 

interagency working group, and 

consideration of comments received 

under the March 2003 Notice of 

Availability. The Strategic Plan was 

adopted by the Commission for 

Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) 

Council on June 25, 2003, as specified 

in CEC Resolution 03–07, under the 

North American Agreement on 

Environmental Cooperation. The 

Strategic Plan will be used to guide the 

CEC Council, its BCWG, and the CEC 

Secretariat in their work with 

stakeholders in cooperatively defining 

and implementing mutually beneficial 

biodiversity conservation activities in 

North America. 

This Federal Register document 

provides responses to comments that 

were received during the comment 

period for the March 2003 notice of 

availability. All comments received on 

the notice of availability were 

considered by the United States 

delegation in the development of the 

final Strategic Plan. However, final 

negotiations for the Strategic Plan, 

initiation of a ranking process for 

priority areas for action listed in the 

Strategic Plan, and other program 

commitments caused a delay in 

publishing the United States 

government responses. 

Responses to Comments: During the 

comment period on the notice of 

availability, EPA received 6 comment 

letters and noted oral comments during 

a meeting held in Washington, DC on 

April 3, 2003. The comments covered 

several categories. The following 

responses to the comments have been 

prepared by category: 

1. Compliments and praise for the 

draft Strategic Plan. The United States 

delegation appreciates the support and 

positive feedback expressed by 

commenters for the draft Strategic Plan. 

Resolution 03–07 of the CEC Council 

also recognized ‘‘* * * the guidance of 

the Biodiversity Conservation Working 

Group in the development of the CEC 

Biodiversity Strategic Plan and the 

input from governmental and 

nongovernmental organizations, 

indigenous and local communities, 

academia, and the private sector * * *’’

in reaching final agreement on the 

Strategic Plan. 

2. The Strategic Plan should be set 

forth in an action plan. Now that the 

Strategic Plan has been approved by the 

CEC Council, representatives of Canada, 

Mexico and the United States will work 

closely with the CEC Secretariat to 

develop a 5-year action plan. The action 

plan will be implemented in the CEC’s 

annual work plan. 

3. Increase the CEC budget to support 

the Strategic Plan. The CEC’s budget for 

all programs and administrative 

activities is limited to the annual 

contributions agreed by the Parties. 

Though many commenters as for a 

budget increase, including 

representatives of the Trilateral 

Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem 

Conservation and Management in a May 

2003 resolution and representatives of 

the CEC’s Biodiversity Conservation 

Working Group, the Parties will have to 

work with the CEC Secretariat to 

determine how project funds are 

allocated. In Resolution 03–07, the CEC 

Council directed the Secretariat ‘‘* * * 

to coordinate and seek partners, 

additional funds, and diverse input 

regarding the implementation of the 

CEC Biodiversity Strategic Plan, keeping