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[Federal Register: October 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 200)]
[Notices]               
[Page 63827-63830]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18oc10-56]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9214-5; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0744]

 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS); Request for Chemical 
Substance Nominations for 2011 Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Request for chemical substance nominations for the IRIS 2011 
Program.

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SUMMARY: EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may 
result from exposure to specific chemical substances found in the 
environment. EPA is soliciting public nominations for chemical 
substances for its 2011 agenda. EPA invites the public to submit 
nominations for substances to be considered for an assessment or 
reassessment in its IRIS Program in accordance with the instructions 
provided at the end of this notice.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted within 60 days of the publication 
of this notice. The 60-day period begins October 18, 2010, and ends 
December 17, 2010.

[[Page 63828]]

ADDRESSES: Nominations may be submitted electronically via http://www.regulations.gov, by e-mail, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand 
delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the IRIS Program, 
contact Abdel Kadry, PhD, Program Director, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (mail code 8601PY), Office of Research and 
Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 
20460; or send electronic mail inquiries to: FRNquestions@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:

I. Background

    EPA's IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative risk information on effects that may 
result from exposure to specific 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, as well as assessments of 
potential carcinogenic effects resulting from chronic exposure. 
Combined with specific exposure information, government and private 
entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical 
substances in site-specific situations and thereby support risk 
management decisions designed to protect public health.
    From FY2008 to the present, the following IRIS assessments were 
completed and posted on the IRIS database:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
acrylamide........................  79-06-1
bromobenzene......................  108-86-1
carbon tetrachloride..............   56-23-5
cerium oxide and cerium compounds.  1306-38-3
chlordecone (kepone)..............  143-50-0
chloroprene.......................  126-99-8
decabromodiphenyl ether...........  1163-19-5
cis-1,2-dichloroethylene..........  156-59-2
trans-1,2-dichloroethylene........  156-60-5
1,4-dioxane (oral)................  123-91-1
ethylene glycol monobutyl ether     111-76-2
 (EGBE).
hexabromodiphenyl ether...........  68631-49-2
2-hexanone........................   591-78-6
hydrogen cyanide..................  74-90-8
nitrobenzene......................  98-95-3
pentabromodiphenyl ether..........  60348-60-9
pentachlorophenol.................  87-86-5
propionaldehyde...................  123-38-6
tetrabromodiphenyl ether..........  5436-43-1
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane.........  79-34-5
thallium..........................  7440-28-0
1,2,3-trichloropropane............  96-18-4
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The assessments listed below are currently on the IRIS agenda. The 
status and planned milestone dates can be found on the IRIS track 
system, accessible on the IRIS Web site (http://www.epa.gov/iris). All 
cancer and noncancer health endpoints due to chronic exposure are being 
assessed unless otherwise noted. Not all of the assessments on the IRIS 
agenda have been started, but most are in the various review steps of 
the IRIS process. The remainder will start draft development as 
resources become available.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
acetaldehyde......................  75-07-0
acrylonitrile.....................  107-13-1
alkylates.........................  various
ammonia...........................  7664-41-7
tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME).....  994-05-8
antimony..........................  7440-36-0
arsenic, inorganic (cancer).......  7440-38-2
arsenic, inorganic (noncancer)....  7440-38-2
benzo(a)pyrene....................  50-32-8
beryllium (cancer)................  7440-41-7
biphenyl..........................  92-52-4
bisphenol A.......................  80-05-7
n-butanol.........................  71-36-3
tert-butanol......................  75-65-0
butyl benzyl phthalate............  85-68-7
cadmium...........................  7440-43-9
carbonyl sulfide..................  463-58-1
chloroethane......................  75-00-3
chloroform........................  67-66-3
chromium VI.......................  18540-29-9
cobalt............................  7440-48-4

[[Page 63829]]

copper............................  7440-50-8
di-n-butyl phthalate..............  84-74-2
1,2-dichlorobenzene...............  95-50-1
1,3-dichlorobenzene...............  541-73-1
1,4-dichlorobenzene...............  106-46-7
1,2-dichloroethane (ethylene        107-06-2
 dichloride).
dichloromethane (methylene          75-09-2
 chloride).
diethyl phthalate.................  84-66-2
di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate...........  103-23-1
di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate........  117-81-7
diisobutyl phthalate..............  84-69-5
diisononyl phthalate..............  58033-90-2
diisopropyl ether (DIPE)..........  108-20-3
4,4'-dimethyl-3-oxahexane (TAEE)..  919-94-8
1,4-dioxane (inhalation)..........  123-91-1
dipentyl phthalate................  131-18-0
ethanol...........................  64-17-5
ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE).  637-92-3
ethylbenzene......................  100-41-4
ethylene oxide (cancer)...........  75-21-8
formaldehyde......................  50-00-0
hexabromocyclododecane (mixed       3194-55-6, 25637-99-5
 stereoisomers).
hexachlorobutadiene...............  87-68-3
hexachloroethane..................  67-72-1
hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-triazine   121-82-4
 (RDX).
isopropanol.......................  67-63-0
Libby amphibole asbestos..........  1332-21-4
manganese.........................  7439-9
methanol..........................  l67-56-1
methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)....  1634-04-4
mirex.............................  2385-85-5
naphthalene.......................  91-20-3
nickel (soluble salts)............  various
halogenated platinum salts and      various
 platinum compounds.
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)    various
 (noncancer).
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon     various
 (PAH) mixtures.
refractory ceramic fibers.........  not applicable
styrene...........................  100-42-5
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-       1746-01-6, various
 dioxin and related compounds.
tetrachloroethylene                 127-18-4
 (perchloroethylene).
tetrahydrofuran...................  109-99-9
trichloroacetic acid..............  76-03-9
trichloroethylene.................  79-01-6
1,2,4-trimethylbenzene............  95-63-6
1,3,5-trimethylbenzene............  108-67-8
tungsten and related compounds....  7440-33-7, various
urea..............................  57-13-6
uranium (natural).................  7440-61-1
vanadium pentoxide................  1314-62-1
vinyl acetate.....................  108-05-4
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The alkylates, listed above, are a distillation fraction of 
petroleum and are present in gasoline. Common alkylates found in 
gasoline for which IRIS assessments have not been recently completed 
include n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, 2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 
3-methylpentane, n-octane, 2,3,3-trimethylpentane, 2,3,4-
trimethylpentane, and 2,2,5-trimethylhexane. EPA will evaluate the 
feasibility of conducting an assessment of alkylates, the approach to 
be taken in the assessment, and the identities of the compounds that 
will be assessed.
    The following phthalates have been added to the IRIS agenda: 
Diisobutyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, and dipentyl phthalate. 
These additions to the IRIS agenda are in response to recommendations 
made by the National Academy of Sciences in the report, ``Phthalates 
and Cumulative Risk Assessment--The Tasks Ahead'' (NAS, 2008).
    Perfluorooctanoic acid--ammonium salt (PFOA) and perfluorooctane 
sulfonate--potassium salt (PFOS) have been withdrawn from the IRIS 
agenda. In December 2009, EPA published the ``Long-Chain Perfluorinated 
Chemicals (PFCs) Action Plan Summary'' (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/pfcs.html), part of EPA 
Administrator Lisa Jackson's comprehensive approach to enhance the 
Agency's current chemicals management program under the Toxic 
Substances Control Act. PFOA and PFOS are included in the Agency's 
action plan for this class of chemicals. The listing of asbestos in the 
IRIS agenda has been revised to specify Libby amphibole asbestos. EPA 
is focusing on the Libby amphibole in order to respond to needs of the 
Agency and the Libby community. The assessment for weathered toxaphene 
has been withdrawn because of lack of data to support an IRIS 
assessment.
    Today's notice invites voluntary public nominations for chemical 
substances not already listed in this notice. Today's notice also 
invites comments on assessments on the current IRIS agenda. To nominate 
a substance, please complete the form below and submit it to EPA by one 
of the methods detailed below. A fill-and-print version of this form 
can be found on the IRIS Web site, http://www.epa.gov/iris, under IRIS 
Agenda. Nominations and comments are most

[[Page 63830]]

useful if they identify the nominator (including full name, title, 
affiliation, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number) and 
provide information on the criteria EPA uses to evaluate the priority 
of the chemicals:
Identification of nominator:
Nominator's name:
Title:
Affiliation:
Telephone No.:
Address:
e-mail address:
Chemical Substance Name:
Common Synonym(s), if any:
CAS No.:

Information for Prioritizing Nominations

    1. What is the potential public health impact for this chemical?
    2. Is this assessment needed to fulfill a chemical-specific EPA 
mandate or program need (e.g., statutory, regulatory, or court-ordered 
deadline)? Please describe the mandate or program need. When is the 
assessment needed?
    3. Is this assessment a priority for stakeholders outside of EPA 
(e.g., states, tribes, local governments, environmental organizations, 
industries, or other IRIS users)? Why is it a priority?
    4. Are you aware of other assessments of this substance that may be 
available to EPA (e.g., an EPA program has assessed this substance, but 
it has not received Agency-wide IRIS review, a state or other federal 
agency has an assessment, or another government or private organization 
has assessed this substance)? If possible, please provide specific 
information to allow EPA to locate and obtain the assessment.
    5. For substances being nominated for IRIS reassessment, what, if 
any, significant new scientific data or risk assessment methodology is 
available that you believe would be likely to appreciably change the 
existing IRIS assessment? Please provide specific citations and other 
information that would allow EPA to locate and obtain the papers or 
data.
    6. Are you aware of other factors that would make this substance a 
priority for IRIS assessment (e.g., widespread exposure, expected 
toxicity, or potentially susceptible populations)?

II. How To Submit Nominations and Comments to the Docket at http://www.regulations.gov

--http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
--E-Mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
--Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters 
Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 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., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday, excluding federal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744. Deliveries are only accepted during the 
docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be 
made for deliveries of boxed information. Consult EPA's Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on 
docket operations, locations and telephone numbers.
    Instructions: Direct your nominations to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2010-0744. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified nomination period. Nominations received after the closing 
date will be marked ``late,'' and may be considered only if time 
permits. It is EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the 
public docket without change and to make the comments available online 
at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless comments include information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comments. If you send e-mail comments directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comments that are 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit electronic comments, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comments and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comments due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comments. Electronic files should 
avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be 
free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's 
public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the 
EPA Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: October 12, 2010.
Darrell Winner,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-26159 Filed 10-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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