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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20349-20350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8708]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9293-1; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0540]

Draft Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium: In Support of 
Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Peer Review Workshop.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA 
contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an 
independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer 
review workshop to review the draft human health assessment titled, 
``Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium: In Support of Summary 
Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)'' (EPA/
635/R-10/004C). The draft assessment was prepared by the National 
Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within the EPA Office of 
Research and Development.
    EPA is releasing this draft assessment solely for the purpose of 
pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This draft assessment has not been formally disseminated by 
EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any 
Agency policy or determination.
    Eastern Research Group, Inc. invites the public to register to 
attend this workshop as observers. In addition, Eastern Research Group, 
Inc. invites the public to give brief oral comments and/or provide 
written comments at the workshop regarding the draft assessment under 
review. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-
come, first-served basis. In preparing a final report, EPA will 
consider the Eastern Research Group, Inc., report of the comments and 
recommendations from the external peer review workshop and any written 
public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.

DATES: The peer review panel workshop on the draft assessment for 
Hexavalent Chromium will be held on May 12, 2011, beginning at 8:30 
a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium: In 
Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information 
System (IRIS)'' is available primarily via the Internet on the NCEA 
home page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from 
the Information Management Team (Address: Information Management Team, 
National Center for Environmental Assessment (Mail Code: 8601P), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-
8691). If you request a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing 
address, and the draft assessment title.
    The peer review workshop on the draft Hexavalent Chromium 
assessment will be held at Hilton Crystal City Hotel; 2399 Jefferson 
Davis Highway; Arlington, VA 22202. To attend the workshop, register no 
later than May 5, 2011, by calling Eastern Research Group, Inc. at 781-
674-7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833 (ask for the Hexavalent Chromium 
peer review coordinator, Laurie Waite); sending a facsimile to 781-674-
2906 (reference the ``Hexavalent Chromium Peer Review Workshop'' and 
include your name, title, affiliation, full address and contact 
information), or sending an e-mail to meetings@erg.com (reference the 
``Hexavalent Chromium Peer Review Workshop'' and include your name, 
title, affiliation, full address and contact information). You can also 
register via the Internet at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/peerreview/register-hexavalent.htm. There will be a limited 
time at the peer review workshop for comments from the public. Please 
inform Eastern Research Group, Inc. if you wish to make comments during 
the workshop.
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: EPA 
welcomes public attendance at the ``Hexavalent Chromium Peer Review 
Workshop'' and will make every effort to accommodate persons with 
disabilities. For information on access or services for individuals 
with disabilities, contact ERG, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 
02421-3136 by calling 781-674-7374 or toll free at 800-803-2833 (ask 
for the Hexavalent Chromium peer review coordinator, Laurie Waite); 
sending a facsimile to 781-674-2906 (reference the ``Hexavalent 
Chromium Peer Review Workshop'' and include your name and contact 
information), or sending an e-mail to meetings@erg.com (reference the 
``Hexavalent Chromium Peer Review Workshop'' and include your name and 
contact information).
    Additional Information: For information on the draft assessment, 
please contact Ted Berner, National Center for Environmental Assessment 
(8601P), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 703-347-8583; facsimile: 703-347-
8699; or e-mail: [FRN_Questions@epa.gov].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About IRIS

    EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may 
result from exposure to chemical substances found in the environment. 
Through the IRIS Program, EPA provides the highest quality science-
based human health assessments to support the Agency's regulatory 
activities. The IRIS database contains information for more than 540 
chemical substances that can be used to support the first two steps 
(hazard identification and dose-response evaluation) of the risk 
assessment process. When supported by available data, IRIS provides 
oral reference doses (RfDs) and inhalation reference concentrations 
(RfCs) for chronic noncancer health effects and cancer assessments. 
Combined with specific exposure information, government and private 
entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical 
substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk

[[Page 20350]]

management decisions designed to protect public health.

    Dated: March 31, 2011.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2011-8708 Filed 4-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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