Availability of Draft Toxicological Profiles

AGENCY:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 104(i)(3) [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(3)] directs the Administrator of ATSDR to prepare toxicological profiles of priority hazardous substances and to revise and publish each updated toxicological profile as necessary. This notice announces the availability of the 18th set of toxicological profiles, which consists of one new draft and five updated drafts, prepared by ATSDR for review and comment.

DATES:

In order to be considered, comments on these draft toxicological profiles must be received on or before February 23, 2005. Comments received after the close of the public comment period will be considered at the discretion of ATSDR based upon what is deemed to be in the best interest of the general public.

ADDRESSES:

Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological profiles should be sent to the attention of Ms. Yulandia Jordan, Division of Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Electronic access to these documents is also available at the ATSDR Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxpro2.html.

Comments regarding the draft toxicological profiles should be sent to the attention of Ms. Nickolette Roney, Division of Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop F-32, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

Requests for printed copies of the draft toxicological profiles must be in writing, and must specifically identify the hazardous substance(s) profile(s) that you wish to receive. ATSDR reserves the right to provide only one copy of each profile requested, free of charge. In case of extended distribution delays, requestors will be notified.

Written comments and other data submitted in response to this notice and the draft toxicological profiles should bear the docket control number ATSDR-205. Send one copy of all comments and three copies of all supporting documents to Ms. Roney at the above stated address by the end of the comment period. Because all public comments regarding ATSDR toxicological profiles are available for public inspection, no confidential business information or other confidential information should be submitted in response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Yulandia Jordon, Division of Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 1-(888) 422-8737 or (404) 498-0261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (Pub. L. 99-499) amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) by establishing certain responsibilities for the ATSDR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to hazardous substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL). Among these responsibilities is that the Administrator of ATSDR prepare toxicological profiles for substances included on the priority lists of hazardous substances. These lists identified 275 hazardous substances that ATSDR and EPA determined pose the most significant potential threat to human health. The availability of the revised priority list of 275 hazardous substances was announced in the Federal Register on November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63098). For prior versions of the list of substances see Federal Register notices dated April 17, 1987 (52 FR 12866); October 20, 1988 (53 FR 41280); October 26, 1989 (54 FR 43619); October 17, 1990 (55 FR 42067); October 17, 1991 (56 FR 52166); October 28, 1992 (57 FR 48801); February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9486); April 29, 1996 (61 FR 18744); November 17, 1997 (62 FR 61332); October 21, 1999 (64 FR 56792) and October 25, 2001 (66 FR 54014). [CERCLA also requires ATSDR to assure the initiation of a research program to fill data needs associated with the substances.]

Section 104(i)(3) of CERCLA [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(3)] outlines the content of these profiles. Each profile will include an examination, summary and interpretation of available toxicological information and epidemiologic evaluations. This information and these data are to be used to identify the levels of significant human exposure for the substance and the associated health effects. The profiles must also include a determination of whether adequate information on the health effects of each substance is available or in the process of development. When adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in cooperation with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is required to assure the initiation of research to determine these health effects.

Although key studies for each of the substances were considered during the profile development process, this Federal Register notice seeks to solicit any additional studies, particularly unpublished data and ongoing studies, that will be evaluated for possible addition to the profiles now or in the future.

The following draft toxicological profiles will be made available to the public on or about October 18, 2004.

All profiles issued as “Drafts for Public Comment” represent ATSDR's best efforts to provide important toxicological information on priority hazardous substances. We are seeking public comments and additional information that may be used to supplement these profiles. ATSDR remains committed to providing a public comment period for these documents as a means to best serve public health and our clients.