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[Federal Register: February 2, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 21)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5317-5318]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe10-61]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9108-5; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0613]

 
Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 Update

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Peer-Review Workshop.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc. (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 on March 3-4, 2010, to review the external review draft 
document titled, ``Exposure Factors Handbook 2009 Update'' (EPA/600/R-
09/052A). EPA previously announced the 60-day public comment period 
(ending December 7, 2009) for the draft document in the Federal 
Register on October 7, 2009 (74 FR 51592). The draft document was 
prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) 
within EPA's Office of Research and Development. The Exposure Factors 
Handbook provides information on various physiological and behavioral 
factors commonly used in assessing exposure to environmental chemicals. 
The handbook was first published in 1989 and was updated in 1997. This 
updated version incorporates data available since 1997 up to June 2009. 
It also reflects the revisions made to the Child-Specific Exposure 
Factors Handbook, which was updated and published in 2008. Each chapter 
in the revised Exposure Factors Handbook presents recommended values 
for the exposure factors covered in the chapter as well as a discussion 
of the underlying data used in developing the recommendations.
    The public comment period and the external peer-review workshop are 
separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested 
parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward public 
comments submitted in accordance with the October 7, 2009, Federal 
Register notice (74 FR 51592) to ERG, for consideration by the external 
peer-review panel prior to the workshop. EPA will consider public 
comments and recommendations from the expert panel workshop as EPA 
finalizes the draft document.
    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.
    ERG invites the public to register to attend this workshop as 
observers. In addition, ERG invites the public to give oral comments at 
the workshop regarding the draft document under review. Members of the 
public interested in making oral comments at the workshop should also 
provide ERG with an electronic copy of their comments. Space is 
limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis. The draft document and EPA's peer-review charge are only 
available via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent 
Additions menu at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. In preparing a final report, 
EPA will consider ERG's report of the comments and recommendations from 
the external peer-review workshop and any public comments that EPA 
received.

DATES: The peer-review panel workshop will begin on Wednesday, March 3, 
2010, at 8 a.m., and will end on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at

[[Page 5318]]

approximately 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: The peer-review workshop will be held at the Sheraton 
Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. 
The EPA contractor, ERG, is organizing, convening, and conducting the 
peer-review workshop. To attend the workshop, register by February 24, 
2010, by calling ERG at 781-674-7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833 (ask 
for the EFH peer-review coordinator, Laurie Waite). You may register 
via the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-efh.htm, or by sending a facsimile to 781-674-2906 
(please reference: ``EFH peer-review workshop'' and include your name, 
title, affiliation, full address, and contact information). Please 
indicate if you would like to make oral comments at the workshop. You 
may also register by sending an e-mail to meetings@erg.com (subject 
line: ``EFH peer-review workshop'' and include your name, title, 
affiliation, full address, and contact information). Please indicate if 
you would like to make oral comments at the workshop. The draft 
``Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 Update'' is only available via the 
Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment's home 
page under the Recent Additions menu at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. No 
printed copies are available because of the size of the document.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the ``Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 
Update'' peer-review workshop and will make every effort to accommodate 
persons with disabilities. For information on access or services for 
individuals with disabilities, please contact ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, 
Lexington, MA 02421-3136; telephone: 781-674-7374; facsimile: 781-674-
2906; or e-mail: meetings@erg.com (subject line: EFH peer-review 
workshop), preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give as 
much time as possible to process your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: 781-674-
7374; facsimile: 781-674-2906; or e-mail: meetings@erg.com (subject 
line: EFH peer-review workshop). To request accommodation of a 
disability, please contact Laurie Waite at ERG (contact information 
above), preferably at least 10 days prior to the workshop, to give as 
much time as possible to process your request. If you have questions 
about the document, please contact Jacqueline Moya, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (NCEA), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW., 8601P, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8539; facsimile: 703-347-8496; 
or e-mail: moya.jacqueline@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Document

    The Exposure Factors Handbook provides a summary of the available 
statistical data on various factors used in assessing human exposure. 
This Handbook is aimed at exposure assessors inside the Agency as well 
as those outside who use data on standard factors to calculate human 
exposure to toxic chemicals. These factors include: Drinking water 
consumption; mouthing behavior; soil ingestion rates; inhalation rates; 
dermal factors, including skin area and soil adherence factors; 
consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, dairy products, and 
homegrown foods; breast milk intake; human activity factors; consumer 
product use; and residential characteristics. Recommended values are 
for the general population and also for various segments of the 
population who may have characteristics different from the general 
population.

    Dated: January 26, 2010.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-2155 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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