[Federal Register: November 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 222)]
[Notices]
[Page 63035]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18no99-53]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6477-4]
Nominations for Peer Reviewers for Toxicological Testing
Initiative for Styrene Acrylonitrile Trimer
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response has
retained the Eastern Research Group (ERG) to conduct a scientific peer
review of the proposed toxicological testing initiative and associated
experimental protocols for styrene acrylonitrile trimer
(SAN2), a contaminant at the Reich Farm Superfund site in
Ocean County, New Jersey, which has migrated into the ground water. The
peer review workshop is being organized to assist in conducting the
most scientifically credible and relevant testing for carcinogenicity
of the trimer, particularly during the perinatal period, and for
chronic non-cancer health effects. It is tentatively scheduled to be
held in late February or early March 2000, in Toms River, New Jersey,
and will be open to members of the public as observers. It will be a
one-day meeting and will be conducted in accordance with EPA's 1998
Peer Review Handbook. ERG is seeking nominations of highly qualified
scientists with expertise in one or more of the following nine
disciplines: general toxicology, carcinogenesis, developmental
toxicology, neurotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, genetic toxicology,
veterinary pathology, biostatistics, and analytical chemistry. ERG will
select 10-13 objective peer reviewers based upon demonstrated expertise
of the scientists and the need for balance in affiliation among the
peer reviewers. ERG will consider potential conflicts of interest in
screening nominees for suitability as peer reviewers. All nominations
will be carefully considered, but the source of peer reviewer
nominations will not be a factor in the selection of peer reviewers,
and stakeholders are not guaranteed that any of their nominees will be
selected. A second Federal Register document will be published about
one month prior to the peer review workshop to provide the actual
meeting date, location, and registration information.
DATES: Nominations for peer reviewers must be submitted December 20,
1999. A detailed resume for each nominated scientist should be included
with the submission. The projected date for the peer review workshop is
late February or early March 2000, depending on the availability of the
peer reviewers.
ADDRESSES: Peer reviewer nominations should be sent to Ms Meg Vrablik
at Eastern Research Group, 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421.
Peer reviewer nominations may also be submitted by facsimile at 781-
674-2906, or by E-mail at mvrablik@erg.com. The peer review workshop
will be held in Toms River, New Jersey.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical and logistical inquires,
contact Ms. Vrablik or Ms. Kate Schalk at Eastern Research Group, by
telephone, at 781-674-7272; by facsimile, at 781-674-2906; or by E-
mail, at mvrablik@erg.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Spent process streams from the manufacture of styrene acrylonitrile
polymer by Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) were disposed of at the
Reich Farm property in Ocean County, New Jersey. The waste contains
SAN2 trimer, a chemical mixture which has migrated from the
Reich Farm property into groundwater. Levels of SAN2 trimer
measured in water drawn from groundwater wells have been in the parts
per billion and lower. The site is on the National Priorities List
(NPL) of hazardous waste sites, and remedial activities are currently
underway.
Increased incidences of certain forms of cancer in children,
specifically types of leukemia and neurological cancers, have been
observed in Ocean County, Dover Township and Toms River. To develop
scientific data on the toxicologic and carcinogenic potential of the
SAN trimer and to address concerns of citizens in the area about the
toxicity of this previously untested mixture, Union Carbide undertook
an initial round of toxicology experiments, which consisted of
genotoxicity studies, an acute toxicity study in rats and a 14-day
repeated dose study in rats. The results from these studies are now
available.
The Workgroup for the Toxicity Testing of the SAN2
Trimer was formed to provide guidance to Union Carbide on the testing
of the SAN2 trimer. In late 1998 the National Toxicology
Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences joined the workgroup based upon its commitment to perform
rodent carcinogenicity studies which include perinatal exposures. The
current governmental agencies represented on the workgroup are the US
Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, NTP, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior
Services. Representatives of Union Carbide Corporation and the
consultant representing the Ocean County Department of Health also
participate in the workgroup.
The workgroup has met four times since November 1998, evaluating
the results of the studies previously performed by UCC, and reviewing
additional studies proposed to be performed by the NTP and UCC. The
Workgroup has developed a consensus testing strategy with associated
experimental protocols. A key step in the finalization of this testing
strategy will be an external peer review, in the form of a workshop, to
be held in late February or early March 2000.
The peer review will focus on existing data pertaining to the
toxicology of the SAN2 trimer, the proposed additional
studies and associated protocols, and the variability in composition of
the different batches of SAN2 trimer isolated to date from
spent process streams. Following the peer review workshop, ERG will
issue a report summarizing the workshop. The Workgroup for the Toxicity
Testing of the SAN2 Trimer will consider the results of the
workshop prior to finalizing the testing initiative and experimental
protocols.
Dated: November 8, 1999.
Timothy Fields, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 99-30154 Filed 11-17-99; 8:45 am]
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