[Federal Register: October 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 198)]
[Notices]               
[Page 59174-59175]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc03-61]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7574-2]

 
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS); Administrative Changes

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice; administrative changes in the Integrated Risk 
Information System hotline and records center.

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SUMMARY: IRIS is an EPA data base that contains EPA scientific 
consensus positions on human health effects that may result from 
chronic exposure to chemical substances in the environment. In this 
action, EPA is announcing an upcoming change to the location and phone 
number of EPA's contractor-operated IRIS hotline and publically-
accessible records center.

DATES: On or about October 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The new address of the IRIS Hotline and records center will 
be IRIS Hotline, (Mail Code 28221T) EPA-West Building, 1301 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this administrative 
change, contact Rick Johnson, IRIS staff, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (mail code 8601D), Office of Research and 
Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 
20460, or call (202) 564-3291, or send electronic mail inquiries to johnson.rickc@epa.gov. For information on the IRIS program, contact Amy 
Mills, Program Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment 
(mail code 8601D), Office of Research and Development, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, or call (202) 564-3204, or send electronic mail inquiries to mills.amy@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    IRIS is an EPA data base containing Agency consensus scientific 
positions on potential adverse human health effects that may result 
from chronic (or lifetime) exposure to chemical substances found in the 
environment. IRIS currently provides information on health effects 
associated with more than 500 chemical substances. EPA has provided 
outreach to facilitate the use

[[Page 59175]]

and understanding of the data base. These efforts include a telephone 
hotline which provides answers to public inquiries about access to 
IRIS, the content of specific IRIS health assessments, and risk 
assessment methodologies. EPA also operates a reading room where the 
public may, by appointment, view background files supporting IRIS 
assessments. Further, EPA provides IRIS on the Internet for public 
access at http://www.epa.gov/iris.

Today's Action

    EPA is moving the hotline function and reading room to the Agency's 
combined docket facility, the EPA Docket Center. The hotline will be 
accessed via a new phone number and fax number. The hotline email address will remain as Hotline.IRIS@epamail.epa.gov. The reading room 
address, hotline phone and fax changes will be shown on the IRIS Web 
site no later than October 15, 2003.

    Dated: October 7, 2003.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 03-25936 Filed 10-10-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M