Availability of Draft Toxicological Profiles

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-152]

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.

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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 13th set of toxicological profiles, which

consists of six 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 22, 2000. 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 copies of the draft toxicological profiles

should be sent to the attention of Ms. Loretta Norman, Division of

Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop

E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Comments

regarding the draft toxicological profiles should be sent to the

attention of Dr. Ganga Choudhary, Division of Toxicology, Agency for

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton

Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

Requests for 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-152. Send one copy of all comments and three

copies of all supporting documents to Dr. Ganga Choudhary 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 or other confidential

information should be submitted in response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Loretta Norman, Division of

Toxicology, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop

E-29, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404)

639-6322.

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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to

hazardous substances which 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 17, 1997

(62 FR 61332). 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); and April 29, 1996 (61 FR 18744).

(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, which 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 17, 1999.

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Document Hazardous substance CAS No.

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1............................. ASBESTOS............. 001332-21-4

AMOSITE ASBESTOS..... 012172-73-5

CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS.. 012001-29-5

2............................. BENZIDINE............ 000092-87-5

3............................. 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE... 000107-06-2

4............................. DI-N-BUTYL PHTHALATE. 000084-74-2

5............................. METHYL PARATHION..... 000298-00-0

6............................. PENTACHLOROPHENOL.... 000087-86-5

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[[Page 55944]]

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 which 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.

Dated: October 8, 1999.

Georgi Jones,

Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry.

[FR Doc. 99-27025 Filed 10-14-99; 8:45 am]

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