[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15574-15575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7878]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[ATSDR-180]
Availability of the Draft Document, Public Health Assessment
Guidance Manual (Update), Public Comment Draft
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 of the
draft document, Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update). The
draft is a revision and update of the 1992 Public Health Assessment
Guidance Manual.
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SUMMARY: 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
Effects Studies of Hazardous Substances Releases and Facilities (55 FR
5136, February 13, 1990, codified at 42 CFR part 90). The revision of
the 1992 Guidance Manual sets forth in detail the public health
assessment process as developed and modified by ATSDR since 1992 and
presents the methodologies and guidelines that will be used by ATSDR
staff and agents of ATSDR in conducting public health assessments.
Areas emphasized in this updated guidance include community
involvement, exposure assessment, and weight-of-evidence (WOE)
approaches to decision making about hazards associated with sites.
Availability
The draft Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update) will be
available to the public on or about March 25, 2002. A 60-day public
comment period will be provided for the draft manual, which will begin
on the date of this publication. The close of the comment period will
be indicated on the front of the draft manual. Comments received after
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.
[[Page 15575]]
ADDRESSES: Requests for the draft manual should be sent to: 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. Upon receipt of the request, one copy of the
report will be forwarded free of charge. ATSDR reserves the right to
provide only one copy of this draft document free of charge. The
document may also be accessed at the ATSDR home page News section at
www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
One copy of all comments and supporting documents should be sent to
the above address by the end of the comment period noted above. All
written comments and data submitted in response to this notice and the
draft manual should bear the docket control number ATSDR-180.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained by
contacting Dr. Allan S. Susten, ATSDR (Mailstop E-32), 1600 Clifton
Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 498-0007 or (toll
free) 1-888-42-ATSDR, 1-888-422-8737, or Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ATSDR is required by CERCLA to conduct
public health assessments at all sites on, or proposed for inclusion
on, the National Priorities List [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(6)(A)] and may also
conduct public health assessments in response to a request from the
public [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(6)(B)]. In addition, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) may request the conduct of a public health
assessment under RCRA [42 U.S.C. 6939a(b)].
The ATSDR public health assessment is the evaluation of data and
information on the release of hazardous substances into the environment
in order to assess any past, current or future impact on public health
and develop or recommend appropriate public health actions which could
include health studies or actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or
prevent human health effects.
The ATSDR public health assessment includes an analysis and
statement of the public health implications posed by the site under
consideration. This analysis generally involves an evaluation of
relevant environmental data, the potential for exposures to substances
related to the site, available toxicologic, epidemiologic and health
outcome data, and community concerns associated with a site where
hazardous substances have been released. The public health assessment
also identifies populations living or working on or near hazardous
waste sites for which more extensive public health actions or studies
are indicated.
This notice announces the projected availability of the draft
Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (Update). The manual has
undergone extensive internal review and will be subjected to scientific
and technical review by the ATSDR Board of Scientific Counselors. ATSDR
encourages the public's participation and comment on the further
development of this manual.
Dated: March 27, 2002.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 02-7878 Filed 4-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P