[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47163-47164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6987]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
Economics; Notice of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal
Disease Center, Ames, IA
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture announces a
meeting of the Scientific Review Panel at the National Animal Disease
Center, Ames, Iowa.
DATES: August 23, 2006, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Central Time. Written
requests to make oral comments at the meeting must be received by the
contact person identified herein at least three business days before
the meeting.
ADDRESSES: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Ames,
Iowa 50010. Requests to make oral comments at the meeting may be sent
to the contact person at USDA-ARS, Midwest Area Director, 1815 North
University
[[Page 47164]]
Street, Room 2006, Peoria, Illinois 61604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Shafer, Midwest Area Director,
USDA-ARS, Telephone (309) 681-6602; Fax (309) 681-6684; E-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 4, 2006, the City of Ames received
allegations that wastes from areas at the National Animal Disease
Center (NADC) with animals challenged with prions were not properly
treated prior to discharge to the City wastewater plant. USDA, in
cooperation with the City of Ames, is convening an expert panel to
review scientific information about deactivation of prions and assess
practices used at NADC to treat liquid wastes from areas where animals
with prions are housed and handled that enter the Ames wastewater
treatment system. (Note: For the purposes of this panel and its review,
prions are defined as specific proteins that are abnormally shaped and
can cause transmissible diseases associated with the allegations). This
meeting will initiate implementation of the panel's charge to evaluate
four main issues related to the handling and disposal of potentially
prion-contaminated materials in wastewater from the NADC: (1) Identify
scientifically accepted methods for effectively destroying prions; (2)
Assess the concerns raised regarding NADC's current and past methods
for the destruction of prions; (3) Determine the risk posed to humans
and the environment from the current, as well as previous, methods for
the destruction of prions utilized at NADC; and (4) If remediation is
needed, provide scientifically sound approaches for corrective
action(s) that may be taken. Final conclusions of the review will be
developed during a meeting at a later date, also to be announced. At
the conclusion of its review, the panel will prepare a written report
that documents the panel's findings for the four main issues being
evaluated. On August 23, 2006, between 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon Central
Time, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for verbal
comments of no more than three minutes each in duration. The meeting
will be open to the public, but space is limited. If you want to be
assured of a seat at this meeting, you must register by contacting the
contact person named above at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Please
provide your name, title, business affiliation, address, and telephone
and fax numbers when you register. If you require a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodation due to disability, please
indicate those needs at the time of registration. Pre-registrations
will be limited to 80 people; others may be able to attend on a space-
available basis.
Dated: August 7, 2006.
Caird E. Rexroad, Jr.,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6987 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
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