20478 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 74 / Monday, April 17, 2000 / Notices

dissemination of information among

different technical disciplines.

Dated: April 5, 2000.

Ruth Kirschstein,

Acting Director, National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 00–9431 Filed 4–14–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences, NIH; National

Toxicology Program; Peer Review

Meeting on Low-Dose Issues for

Endocrine Disruptors; Scope of

Information Considered for Review

Broadened, Deadline for Receipt of

Information Extended, and Date for

Meeting Delayed

Summary

The National Toxicology Program

(NTP) is organizing a Peer Review to

evaluate whether chemicals can cause

hormone-related effects at doses lower

than those typically used in the

standard toxicological dose-setting

paradigm. The U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) Endocrine

Disruptor Screening Program will use

the results from this peer review to

assist in determining how to identify

and characterize potential low-dose

effects that may arise during endocrine

disruptor screening, testing, and hazard

assessment.

On January 6, 2000 the NTP

published a Federal Register notice

[Volume 65, Number 4, pages 784–787]

outlining plans for the Peer Review

meeting and soliciting public input into

the process. This notice broadens the

request for research studies and data to

be considered and extends previously

announced deadlines for receipt for

research information for use in this peer

review.

Broader Request for Research Studies

to be Considered for the Peer Review

On January 6, 2000, the NTP

published a Federal Register notice

[Volume 65, Number 4, pages 784–787]

providing details about a Peer Review

meeting to evaluate scientific data on

the potential low-dose effects associated

with exposure to endocrine disruptors.

In that notice, the NTP solicited

comments on the planned scope and

process of the proposed peer review,

nominations of studies for inclusion in

this review, as well as nominations of

individuals for the Peer Review panel.

The notice also detailed the criteria for

selection of studies for review.

The NTP Selection/Organizing

Committee will review the nominated

studies and designate them as either

critical to resolution of the low-dose

issue or background information. The

January 6th notice stipulated that

studies nominated for consideration in

this peer review should have been

published or accepted for publication by

April 1, 2000. The NTP is now

broadening the scope of studies to be

considered for this peer review to

include relevant data from unpublished

studies. Submission of unpublished

studies should include an abstract of the

study describing the hypothesis being

tested, experimental design [model

system (cell line, species, strain, number

per group, etc.), dosing regimen,

duration of treatment and follow-up],

endpoints evaluated, and results (if

available).

If an unpublished study is nominated

for consideration, the NTP will contact

the principal investigator for an update

of the study’s status and to obtain

additional information about the study.

If selected by the NTP Selection/

Organizing Committee, the studies will

be distributed to the Peer Review panel

for its review and evaluation. The NTP

may need access to raw data for

subsequent independent analysis by the

Panel. As with published studies and

studies accepted for publication but not

yet published, all information given to

the Peer Review Panel will

simultaneously be made available to the

public. Therefore, studies, which are

unpublished by the date of their

distribution to the Panel, will require

approval from the author (and publisher

if accepted for publication) in order to

be included in the Peer Review. A list

of the studies included in the Peer

Review will be posted on the NTP web

page (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov)

and available from NTP Liaison and

Scientific Review Office (NIEHS/NTP,

P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park,

NC 27709; t: 919–541–0530; f: 919–541–

0295). Federal Register announcement.

Planning for the Peer Review Meeting is

ongoing and the date and location will

be announced in the Federal Register in

the near future.

Solicitation of Public Comment

Comments about the scope and

process for the Peer Review are

welcome. The deadline for submission

of comments, identified by docket

control number OPPTS–42208A, is

extended from February 22, 2000 to May

22, 2000.

Guidelines for Submission of Public

Comment

The EPA will manage the recordkeeping aspects of the Peer Review as

part of the Endocrine Disruptor

Screening Program. General information

about the U.S. EPA Endocrine Disruptor

Screening Program is available from the

Internet at http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/

oscpendo/index.htm or by contacting

Mr. James Kariya (contact information

provided below).

The EPA has established an official

record for this action under docket

control number OPPTS–42208A. The

official record consists of the document

specifically referenced in this action,

any public comments received during

an applicable comment period, and

other information related to this action.

This official record includes the

documents that are physically located in

the docket, as well as the documents

that are referenced in those documents.

The public version of the official record

does not include any information

claimed as confidential business

information (CBI). The public version of

the official record, which includes

printed, paper versions of any electronic

comments submitted during an

applicable comment period, is available

for inspection in the TSCA

Nonconfidential Information Center,

North East Mall Room B–607, Waterside

Mall, 401 M. Street, SW, Washington,

DC. The Center is open from noon to 4

PM., Monday through Friday, excluding

legal holidays. The telephone number of

the Center is (202) 260–7099.

Comments can be submitted through

the mail, in person, or electronically. To

ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is

imperative that the docket control

number OPPTS–42208A is identified in

the subject line on the first page of the

comments.

1. By mail: Submit comments to:

Document Control Office (7407), Office

of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

(OPPT), Environmental Protection

Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue

NW, Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier: Deliver

comments to: OPPT Document Control

Office (DCO) in East Tower Rm. G–099,

Waterside Mall, 401 M St. SW,

Washington, DC. The DCO is open from

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

telephone number for the DCO is (202)

260–7093.

3. Electronically: Submit comments

electronically by e-mail to:

‘‘oppt.ncic@epa.gov,’’ or mail the

computer disk to the Document Control

Office (address identified above). The

form must be identified by docket

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 74 / Monday, April 17, 2000 / Notices 20479

control number OPTTS–42208A.

Electronic comments may also be filed

online at many Federal Depository

Libraries.

Do not submit any information that

you consider is CBI. If you believe that

relevant information will be overlooked

because of this restriction, please

consult James P. Kariya, Office of

Science Coordination and Policy (7203),

Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and

Toxic Substances, U.S. EPA, 1200

Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,

DC 20460; t: 202–260–2916; email:

kariya.jim@epa.gov.

Dated: April 6, 2000.

Samuel H. Wilson,

Deputy Director, National Toxicology

Program.

[FR Doc. 00–9443 Filed 4–14–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service

has published a Comprehensive

Conservation Plan, Environmental

Assessment, and a Finding of No

Significant Impact for Florida Panther

National Wildlife Refuge in Collier

County, Florida. The plan describes

how the Fish and Wildlife Service

intends to manage the refuge for the

next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the above

documents may be obtained by writing

to the Fish and Wildlife Service,

Attention: Jennifer Harris, 1875 Century

Boulevard, Suite 420, Atlanta, Georgia

30345; or to Jim Krakowski, Refuge

Manager, Florida Panther National

Wildlife Refuge, 3860 Tollgate

Boulevard, Suite 300, Naples, Florida

34114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By

implementing this comprehensive

conservation plan, the refuge seeks to

(1) provide a clear statement of the

desired future conditions when refuge

purposes and goals are accomplished;

(2) provide refuge neighbors and visitors

with a clear understanding of the

reasons for management actions on and

around the refuge; (3) ensure that

management of other refuge reflects

policies and goals of the National

Wildlife Refuge System; (4) ensure that

refuge management is consistent with

federal, state, and county plans; (5)

provide long-term continuity in refuge

management; and (6) provide a basis for

operation, maintenance, and capital

improvement budget requests.

Dated: April 7, 2000.

Judy L. Jones,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 00–9457 Filed 4–14–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Species Permit

Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit

applications.

SUMMARY: The following applicants have

applied for a scientific research permit

to conduct certain activities with

endangered species pursuant to section

10 (a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.).

Permit No. TE–023904

Applicant: USDI Bureau of Land

Management, North Palm Springs,

California

The applicant requests a permit to

take (survey by pursuit) the Quino

checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas

editha quino) in conjunction with

presence or absence surveys throughout

its range for the purpose of enhancing

its survival.

Permit No. TE–023895

Applicant: Paul W. Collins, Santa

Ynez, California

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture and handle) the California

tiger salamander (Ambystoma

californiense) in conjunction with

presence or absence surveys in Santa

Barbara County, California for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–023892

Applicant: Lawrence Edward Hunt,

Santa Barbara, California

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture and handle) the California

tiger salamander (Ambystoma

californiense) in conjunction with

presence or absence surveys in Santa

Barbara County, California for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–023886

Applicant: San Diego Natural History

Museum, San Diego, California

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture, handle, and collect tissue

samples) the arroyo southwestern toad

(Bufo californicus) in conjunction with

surveys, population monitoring,

ecological research, and population

augmentation throughout the species

range for the purpose of enhancing its

survival.

Permit No. TE–018909

Applicant: Kelly Michelle Rios, Brea,

California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (survey by pursuit)

the El Segundo blue butterfly

(Euphilotes battoides allyni) in

conjunction with presence or absence

surveys throughout its range for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–817397

Applicant: John R. Storrer, Santa

Barbara, California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (capture and handle)

the California tiger salamander

(Ambystoma californiense) in

conjunction with presence or absence

surveys in Santa Barbara County,

California for the purpose of enhancing

its survival.

Permit No. TE–009015

Applicant: Jason Lee Berkley,

Whittier, California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (capture and handle)

the arroyo southwestern toad (Bufo

microscaphus californicus) in

conjunction with presence or absence

surveys throughout its range for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–815144

Applicant: Rosemary Ann Thompson,

Santa Barbara, California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (capture and handle)

the California tiger salamander

(Ambystoma californiense) in

conjunction with presence or absence

surveys in Santa Barbara County,

California for the purpose of enhancing

its survival.

Permit No. TE–826513

Applicant: Galen Rathbun,

Bakersfield, California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (radio-tag) the bluntnosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) in

Kern County, California in conjunction

with ecological research for the purpose

of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–768251

Applicant: Biosearch Wildlife

Surveys, Santa Cruz, California

The permittee requests a permit

amendment to take (capture, mark) the

Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys

nitratoides nitratoides) in conjunction

with population studies throughout the

species range in California for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.