35926 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Notices

personnel and to the general public, and

can be downloaded from the NCEA

internet web site or requested directly

from NCEA (see addresses below).

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the

Benchmark Dose Software Version 1.2,

direct your internet browser to http://

epa.gov/ncea/bmds.htm. You will be

instructed on how to download a selfextracting compressed file containing

the BMDS program. Windows 95/98/NT

and at least sixteen megabytes of RAM

are required to run this version of the

BMDS.

Accessing a copy of the BMDS

program via the internet is highly

recommended as the BMDS web site

will be the official and most current

source of updates and notifications.

However, those for whom internet

access is impractical may obtain a copy

of the program via E-mail or CD–ROM

by contacting Ms. Diane H. Ray,

National Center for Environmental

Assessment-RTP Office (MD–52), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;

telephone: 919–541–3637; facsimile:

919–541–1818; E-mail:

ray.diane@epa.gov.

All comments on the BMDS software,

help system and the model source code

files are welcome. Please email

comments, recommendations, suggested

revisions, or corrections to

bmds.ncea@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Jeffrey S. Gift, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

27711; telephone: 919–541–4828;

facsimile: 919–541–1818; E-mail:

bmds.ncea@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Use of

benchmark dose methods involves

fitting mathematical models to doseresponse data, obtained primarily from

toxicology studies, and using the results

to determine the dose of a toxicant that

is associated with a predetermined

benchmark response, such as a 10%

increase in the incidence of a particular

lesion or a 10% decrease in body weight

gain. BMDS estimates the lower-bound

confidence limit on the benchmark dose

(BMDL), which can serve as a point of

departure for a non-cancer or cancer

chemical risk assessment. BMDS

facilitates these operations by providing

simple data-management tools, a

comprehensive help manual and online

help system, and an easy-to-use

interface to run multiple models on the

same dose-response data set. At this

time, BMDS (Version 1.2) offers sixteen

(16) different models that are

appropriate for the analysis of

dichotomous (quantal) data (Gamma,

Logistic, Log-Logistic, Multistage,

Probit, Log-Probit, Quantal-Linear,

Quantal-Quadratic, Weibull),

continuous data (Linear, Polynomial,

Power, Hill) and nested developmental

toxicology data (NLogistic, NCTR, Rai &

Van Ryzin). Results from all models

include a reiteration of the model

formula and model run options chosen

by the user, goodness-of-fit information,

the benchmark dose, and the estimate of

the lower-bound confidence limit on the

benchmark dose (BMDL). Model results

are presented in textual and graphical

output files which can be printed or

saved and incorporated into other

documents.

The software announced here is the

result of several years of research and

development, expert review and quality

assurance testing conducted by NCEA,

with support from EPA’s National

Health and Environmental Effects

Research Laboratory and NCEA

contractors. Extensive peer review input

was also received from expert scientists,

particularly toxicologists and

statisticians, from both inside and

outside the Agency. Following a public

review of BMDS Beta Version 1.1b,

which ended on March 31, 1999 (63 FR

71465, Dec. 28, 1998), NCEA revised the

software based on its experience with

the program and in response to public

comments received. Finally, an

extensive and independent quality

assurance assessment of all facets of the

BMDS system was conducted, and

appropriate modifications were made to

create BMDS Version 1.2.

EPA/NCEA will continue to improve

the BMDS system in response to the

needs of Agency and other risk

assessors. One example of such a project

is the ongoing development of the EPA

Hybrid model, a statistical approach to

treating continuous data as dichotomous

endpoints. A beta version of the

Agency’s Hybrid model is included in

BMDS Version 1.2. Another example is

the ongoing development of a model

specifically designed for assessing

cancer incidence data, which is being

developed to support the proposed EPA

cancer guidelines currently in

development. As these and other

modifications or additions are

completed, they will be made available

to users of the software via the NCEA

BMDS web site.

Currently, the BMDS web site

contains the complete BMDS program

along with its extensive online help

system, a separately downloadable help

manual, and background information

concerning the development of the

software. The executable and source

code files for the individual models

used by BMDS can also be downloaded

from the web site.

Dated: May 25, 2000.

George W. Alapas,

Acting Director, National Center for

Environmental Assessment.

[FR Doc. 00–14177 Filed 6–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–M

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6711–3]

Science Advisory Board; Notification

of Public Advisory Committee Meeting

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory

Committee Act, Public Law 92–463,

notice is hereby given that the Clean Air

Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)

Technical Subcommittee for Fine

Particle Monitoring will meet on

Wednesday, June 21, 2000 from 11 am

to 2 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The

meeting will be coordinated through a

conference call connection in Room

6013 in the USEPA, Ariel Rios Building

North, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20460. The public is

encouraged to attend the meeting in the

conference room noted above. However,

the public may also attend through a

telephonic link, to the extent that lines

are available (phone lines will be very

limited). Additional instructions about

how to participate in the meeting can be

obtained by calling Ms. Diana Pozun

prior to the meeting at (202) 564–4544,

or via e-mail at <pozun.diana@epa.gov>.

Important Notice: Documents that are

the subject of CASAC reviews are

normally available from the originating

EPA office and are not available from

the CASAC Office—information

concerning availability of documents

from the relevant Program Office is

included below.

Purpose of the Meeting—This

technical subcommittee of CASAC was

established in 1996 to provide advice

and comment to EPA (through CASAC)

on appropriate methods and network

strategies for monitoring fine particles

in the context of implementing the

revised national ambient air quality

standards (NAAQS) for particulate

matter. The Subcommittee provided

such advice on the Federal Reference

Method (FRM) and mass-based fine

particle network in July 1996, and has

recently examined EPA’s plans and

guidance for several components of the

fine particle monitoring network and

how these components are linked to

research priorities for particulate matter

(see 65 FR 16916, March 30, 2000 for

more details).

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Notices 35927

In May 2000, Staff from EPA’s Office

of Research and Development (ORD)

requested that CASAC, through its

Technical Subcommittee on Fine

Particle Monitoring, conduct a peer

review of the report prepared in

response to Section 6102(e) of the

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st

Century, which states: ‘‘The

Administrator shall conduct a field

study of the ability of the PM2.5 Federal

Reference Method to differentiate those

particles that are larger than 2.5

micrograms [sic] in diameter. This study

shall be completed and provided to the

Committee on Commerce of the House

of Representatives and the Committee

on Environment and Public Works of the

United States Senate no later than two

years from the date of enactment of this

Act.’’ 

Charge to the Subcommittee: ORD has

had the draft report reviewed by two

external expert reviewers, incorporating

their comments prior to submitting the

report to the CASAC Subcommittee for

a full independent peer review. The

Agency has asked that the

Subcommittee respond to the following

questions: (a) Has the proper

methodology been used to address the

requirement in the Transportation

Equity Act? (b) Was the methodology

applied correctly? and (c) Is the Report’s

interpretation correct? The

Subcommittee may also address other

issues.

Availability of Review Materials:

Single copies of the review document

are available from Mr. Frank McElroy,

Office of Research and Development

(MD–46), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle

Park, NC 27711. Mr. McElroy can also

be reached by telephone at (919) 541–

2622, fax at (919) 541–1153, or e-mail:

<mcelroy.frank@epa.gov>. Please ask

for: ‘‘Response to Section 6102(e) of the

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st

Century’’ dated May 2000, EPA 600/R00/033, prepared by USEPA’s National

Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL),

RTP, NC.

For Further Information: Members of

the public desiring additional

information about the meeting should

contact Mr. Robert Flaak, Designated

Federal Officer, Clean Air Scientific

Advisory Committee, Science Advisory

Board (1400A), Suite 6450, U.S. EPA,

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice

mail at (202) 564–4546; fax at (202) 501–

0582; or via e-mail at

<flaak.robert@epa.gov>. A copy of the

draft agenda is available from Ms. Diana

Pozun at (202) 564–4544 or by FAX at

(202) 501–0582 or via e-mail at

<pozun.diana@epa.gov>.

Members of the public who wish to

make a brief oral presentation to the

Subcommittee (in Room 6013 only)

must contact Mr. Flaak in writing (by

letter or by fax—see previously stated

information) no later than 12 noon

Eastern Daylight Savings Time,

Wednesday, June 14, 2000 in order to be

included on the Agenda. Public

comments will be limited to five

minutes per speaker or organization; 15

minutes total. The request should

identify the name of the individual

making the presentation, and the

organization (if any) they will represent.

Please note: If we receive more requests

than we can accommodate, time of receipt in

the CASAC office will determine priority,

with the first three requests granted time. All

others will have to provide written

comments. Written comments of any length

may be submitted to Mr. Flaak at any time

until the date of the meeting. Please provide

at least 25 copies. The Science Advisory

Board expects that public statements

presented at its meetings will not be

repetitive of previously submitted oral or

written statements.

Individuals requiring special

accommodation at this meeting,

including wheelchair access to the

conference room, should contact Mr.

Flaak at least five business days prior to

the meeting so that appropriate

arrangements can be made.

Dated: May 31, 2000.

Donald G. Barnes,

Staff Director, Science Advisory Board.

[FR Doc. 00–14178 Filed 6–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6709–7]

Guam; Final Program Determination of

Adequacy of State Municipal Solid

Waste Landfill Permit Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final determination of

adequacy of Guam’s municipal solid

waste landfill permit program.

SUMMARY: On August 24, 1998 Guam

applied for a determination of adequacy

of its municipal solid waste landfill

permit program under section 4005 of

the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA). This section

requires States to develop and

implement permit programs that ensure

that Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

(MSWLFs) which may receive

hazardous household waste or small

quantity generator waste are obligated to

comply with the revised Federal

MSWLF Criteria (40 CFR part 258).

RCRA section 4005(c)(1)(C) requires the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

to determine whether States have

adequate ‘‘permit’’ programs for

MSWLFs, but does not mandate

issuance of a rule for such

determination. Guam is identified as a

‘‘State’’ in 40 CFR 258.2.

Guam applied for a determination of

adequacy under section 4005 of RCRA.

EPA reviewed Guam’s application and

proposed a determination that Guam’s

MSWLF permit program is adequate to

ensure compliance with the revised

MSWLF Criteria. Further background on

the tentative determination of adequacy

appears at 64 FR 54013, Oct. 5, 1999.

Along with the tentative determination,

EPA announced the availability of the

application for public comment. EPA

offered to hold a public hearing if a

sufficient number of people requested

such a hearing. There were no requests

for a public hearing, so a hearing was

not held. EPA did not receive any

comments on Guam’s application.

Therefore, EPA is today issuing a final

determination that the State’s program

is adequate.

The full Guam application is on file

and may be reviewed at the regional

EPA office in San Francisco, California

or alternatively at the offices of the

Guam Environmental Protection

Agency, Calibration Laboratory

Building, 15–6101 Mariner Avenue,

Tiyan, Barrigada, Guam.

Today’s action takes effect without

further notice in 60 days unless the

Agency receives relevant adverse

comment or notice that someone

intends to submit a relevant adverse

comment within 30 days. Should the

Agency receive such comments or

notice, it will publish a timely notice

informing the public that this rule has

not taken effect.

FINAL ACTION: Guam is granted full

program determination of adequacy for

all areas of its municipal solid waste

landfill permit program. By this action,

EPA is granting Guam full program

determination of adequacy for all parts

of its municipal solid waste landfill

permit program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The determination of

adequacy for Guam shall be June 6,

2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms

Heidi Hall, WST–7, U.S. EPA 75

Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA

94105, (415) 744–1284.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: