[Federal Register: September 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 186)]
[Notices]
[Page 56447-56449]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27se05-51]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7974-6; E-Docket No. ORD-2005-0026]
Draft All-Ages Lead Model
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of external review draft for public review and comment.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of
Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment
(NCEA) is announcing the availability of an external review draft of
the newly developed All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, for public
review and comment. EPA is releasing this draft model solely for the
purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information
quality guidelines. This model has not been formally disseminated by
EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any
Agency policy or determination.
DATES: The period for submission of comments on the external review
draft of the AALM begins September 27, 2005, and ends October 27, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The external review draft of the AALM will be available on
or about September 27, 2005. Internet users will be able to access this
model and the accompanying user's guide on the NCEA home page under
Recent Additions; the URL is http://www.epa.gov/ncea/. The EPA numbers
are: EPA/600/C-05/013 for the model and EPA/600/R-05/102 for the user's
guide. A limited number of CD-ROM copies will be available. For
information on copies of the draft documents, contact Ms. Diane Ray by
phone (919-541-3637), facsimile (919-541-1818), or e-mail
ray.diane@epa.gov) to request a CD-ROM copy. Please provide the
draft's title, All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, the EPA
numbers, EPA/600/C-05/013 and EPA/600/R-05/102, and your name and
address to facilitate processing of your request. Public comments on
the external review
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draft of the AALM may be submitted electronically, by mail, by
facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed
instructions as provided in the section of this notice entitled
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details on the period for
submission of comments from the public, contact the Office of
Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile:
202-566-1753; or e-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
For technical information, contact Robert Elias, Ph.D., NCEA,
facsimile: 919-541-1818, or e-mail: elias.robert@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AALM represents EPA's latest efforts to
develop tools to model human lead exposure, and it builds on EPA's
prior experience in lead modeling. EPA's Uptake Biokinetic (UBK) Model
for Lead underwent peer review by the Science Advisory Board's (SAB)
Indoor Air Quality and Total Human Exposure Committee in November 1991
(56 FR 55127, October 24, 1991). Subsequently, the Integrated Exposure
Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) Model for Lead in Children Version 0.99d was
released in March 1994 (U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response; available from NTIS, PB94-501517). The purpose of the IEUBK
model is to provide risk assessors and risk managers with a tool for
rapidly evaluating the impact of possible sources of lead in a specific
human setting where there is a concern for human exposure to lead. The
IEUBK model has been widely accepted in the risk assessment community
as a tool for implementing the site specific risk assessment process
when the issue is childhood lead exposure. Version 1.0 of IEUBK is
currently available at the following URL, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/lead/ieubk.htm
.
Recognizing the need to expand the IEUBK model to include older
childhood and adult lead exposure and to add several features not
available with the model, EPA initiated work on the AALM in 1998, when
the exposure module was expanded to a full age range (0-90 years) and
revised to incorporate several new model features and user options. In
1999, additional AALM development was accomplished with the expansion
of the uptake and biokinetic modules. Since then, further refinement
and preliminary testing of the AALM software has been carried out. The
goal is to reduce uncertainty in lead exposure assessments for adults
and children.
After the end of the comment period on the external review draft of
the All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) Version 1.05, EPA will present the draft
at a public meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2005,
for review by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) Ad Hoc All-Ages Lead
Model (AALM) Review Panel. Public comments received during the external
review comment period will be provided to the SAB review panel. There
will be a subsequent Federal Register notice informing the public of
the exact date and time of that SAB review panel meeting.
How To Submit Comments to EPA's E-Docket
EPA has established an official public docket for information
pertaining to the external review draft of the AALM, Docket ID No. ORD-
2005-0026. The official public docket is the collection of materials,
excluding Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute that is available for public
viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the
Headquarters EPA Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the OEI
Docket is 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail:
ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
An electronic version of the official public docket is available
through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, E-Docket.
You may use E-Docket at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view
public comments, to access the index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to view those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select
search, then key in the appropriate docket identification number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in E-Docket.
Information claimed as CBI and other information with disclosure
restricted by statute, also not included in the official public docket,
will not be available for public viewing in E-Docket. Copyrighted
material also will not be placed in E-Docket but will be referenced
there and available as printed material in the official public docket.
Persons submitting public comments should note that EPA's policy
makes the information available as received and at no charge for public
viewing at the EPA Docket Center or in E-Docket. This policy applies to
information submitted electronically or in paper form, except where
restricted by copyright, CBI, or statute.
Unless restricted as above, public comments submitted on computer
disks that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be transferred to
E-Docket. Physical objects will be photographed, where practical, and
the photograph will be placed in E-Docket along with a brief
description written by the docket staff.
You may submit public comments electronically, by mail, by
facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by
EPA, include the appropriate docket identification number with your
submission. Please adhere to the specified submitting period. Public
comments received or submitted past the closing date will be marked
``late'' and may only be considered if time permits.
If you submit public comments electronically, EPA recommends that
you include your name, mailing address, and an e-mail address or other
details for contacting you. Also include these contact details on the
outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter
accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be
identified as the person submitting the public comments and allows EPA
to contact you in case the Agency cannot read what you submit due to
technical difficulties or needs to clarify issues raised by what you
submit. If EPA cannot read what you submit due to technical
difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, it may delay or
prohibit the Agency's consideration of the public comments.
To access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet Home
Page, select ``Information Sources,'' ``Dockets,'' and ``EPA Dockets.''
Once in the system, select ``search,'' and key in Docket ID No. ORD-
2005-0026. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means
EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other contact
details unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
Public comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to
ORD.Docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. ORD-2005-0026. In contrast
to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an
``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail directly to the
docket without going through EPA's E-Docket, EPA's e-mail system
automatically captures your email address, and it becomes part of the
information in the official public
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docket and is made available in EPA's E-Docket.
You may submit public comments on a disk or CD ROM mailed to the
OEI Docket mailing address. Files will be accepted in WordPerfect,
Word, or PDF file format. Avoid the use of special characters and any
form of encryption.
If you provide public comments in writing, please submit one
unbound original, with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies.
For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the
main text, and submit an unbound original and three copies.
Dated: September 21, 2005.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 05-19253 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P