[Federal Register: September 3, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 52400-52401]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03se03-48]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[ATSDR-190]
Availability of the Draft Online Learning Program, Identifying
Exposure Pathways, Public Comment Release
AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR),
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment on the
draft online learning program, Identifying Exposure Pathways.
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SUMMARY: This program was developed to provide environmental and public
health professionals information about the ATSDR public health
assessment process through simulation and interactive learning using
the Internet. The program provides learn-by-doing steps on how ATSDR's
cooperative agreement partners (agents of ATSDR), ATSDR staff, and
other environmental and public health professionals can identify how
persons come into contact with hazardous and toxic substances. This
program is an interactive simulation involving internal and external
communications, site document review, mock site review, video clip
review, community involvement activities, and completion of an exposure
pathway table.
ATSDR conducts public health assessments to evaluate whether people
have come in contact with hazardous substances released into the
environment and whether contact with the substances has affected the
health of people exposed to those substances.
The process used to conduct public health assessments includes
gathering information from community members about how they might have
come in contact with hazardous substances released into the environment
and the concerns they have about the effect of the substances on their
health. In addition to information gathered from community members,
ATSDR also evaluates environmental data pertaining to the release,
evaluates toxicologic and epidemiologic data relevant to exposures, and
evaluates existing health outcome data if appropriate. Recommendations
might be made to eliminate or reduce exposure to harmful levels of
hazardous substances that have been released into the environment. The
online learning program provides information on the basic concepts used
by ATSDR staff and agents of ATSDR in conducting public health
assessments, specifically how to identify pathways of exposure.
This online learning program is intended to assist environmental
public health professionals understand the basic steps and coordination
necessary to identify exposure pathways. It is part of the exposure
evaluation component of the public health assessment process. Because
interaction with the public's environmental public health professionals
is a critical component of the public health assessment process, ATSDR
believes that public comments may help us improve the quality of the
program. All comments received during the public comment period will be
considered when making improvements to the program.
Availability: The draft online program, Identifying Exposure
Pathways, will be available to the public on or about August 29, 2003.
The public comment period will begin on the date the program is first
available on the ATSDR Web site. The close of the public comment period
will be 60 days from the date of publication and will be indicated on
the first page of the Web site. Comments received after the close of
the public comment period will be considered at the discretion of ATSDR
on the basis of what is deemed to be in the best interest of the
general public.
ADDRESSES: Requests for more information about accessing the online
learning program should be sent to the Chief, Program Evaluation,
Records, and Information Services Branch; Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry; 1600 Clifton Road, NE (MS E-56); Atlanta, GA
30333. The online learning program can be accessed in the Education and
Training section of the ATSDR Home page (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov).
Comments may be submitted online through the ``Feedback'' section
of the program, which is accessible through a link at the top of each
page. You may also send written comments and supporting documents to
the address provided in the previous paragraph. Comments should be
received by the end of the comment period. All written comments and
data submitted in response to this notice and the draft online learning
program should bear the docket control number ATSDR-190.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained by
contacting Bob Kay, telephone (404) 498-0382, ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Road,
NE (MS E-32), Atlanta, GA 30333, or calling, toll free, 1-888-42-ATSDR
(1-888-422-8737). You may also reach Bob Kay through e-mail at
bkay@cdc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ATSDR is mandated to conduct public health
assessments under Section 104(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) [42 U.S.C.
9604(i)] and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) [42
U.S.C. 6939a(c)].
The general procedures for the conduct of public health assessments
are included in the ATSDR Final Rule on Health Assessments and Health
[[Page 52401]]
Effects Studies of Hazardous Substances Releases and Facilities (55 FR
5136, February 13, 1990, codified at 42 CFR Part 90).
Areas emphasized in the online learning program include community
involvement, exposure assessment, weight-of-evidence approaches to
decision making, and developing public health action plans to address
any public health hazards found during investigations.
The online learning program may be used by individuals to learn
more about the public health assessment process, by community groups
during meetings, and by individuals and groups as a communication tool
when discussing concerns with the public health assessment team
assigned to a site in their community. The program may also be used by
agents of ATSDR to introduce new staff to the concepts of the public
health assessment process and as a tool to stimulate communications
with community members.
This notice announces the projected availability of the draft
online learning program. The program has undergone extensive internal
review. ATSDR encourages the public's participation and comment on the
further development of this online learning program.
Dated: August 27, 2003.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 03-22376 Filed 9-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P