Document RJKY6a2p41onq7vE1jQNvjaRa

~, . 06/30/97 13: 59 ;f . a&/:,jtJ/97 14 :45.;.48 Via Fax 1 -) 216 586 8314 D. STROTHER Pa!Je~EJEU VIA FAX TO: STROTHER, DALE E. BP AMERICA FROM: ATTN: DALE STROTHER TO: FAX PHONE#: 216-586-8314 Job Number: 62040113-009-27-0004 TIME: Mon .Jun 30 14:41:45 1997 6 pages including cover: sheet BP-00010773 13:59 -> ZlEi 585- B3H-D. STROTHER_ Page HHZ if"American Petroleum Institute 1220 L Street. Nonhwest Washington. D.C. 20005 ~ Date: To: From: Re: June 30, 1997 Benzene Task Force (BTF)- Revised Benzene Risk Document interoffice memo EPA's announcement of the external review process for its revised benzene cancer potency factor is in today's Federal Register (attached). The-60-day period for public comment begins now. but as a member of the External Review Panel (ERP) , Rob Schnatter must have his written comments in July 7. Also attached for your consideration are the questions that the ERP was originally asked to address. During their conference call on Friday afternoon, the ERP decided that the issues it considers at the July 16 workshop will not be limited to, or even primarily, these; the exact agenda for that meeting will be determine on the basis of the comments submitted by the members of the ERP. During Friday's conference call, we decided the most convenient way to provide input to Rob for his written comments on EPA's revision-of its cancer potency factor foe benzene would-be to convene at Exxon Biomedical in East Millstone, NJ. this Wednesday (July 2). We plan to hunker down between about 8:00am and 4:00pm. and worlcvery diligently. This work~ill also provide a starting point for APT's own comments on this document If you plan to pitch in. please alert Rob Schnatter (908-783-6016). You may fax (908-973-6009) or e-mail (robert.schnatter@ere.exxon~sprintcom) him any comments you would like us to im::o.rporate. If you need a hotel room, the Marriott in Summerset. NJ is suggested: to make a reserYation, call 732-560-0500. BP-00010774 -> 216 SB6 8314 D. STROTHER P-ege BB3 35172 Federal Register I VoL 62. No. 125 I Monday, June 30, 1997 I Notices determining the appropriate ac:tion to be taken. but will not serve to make prote.stants parties to the proceeding. 1\ny person wishing to become a party rnust file a motion to intc!Vene. Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are available for public inspection. Lois D. Cashell. Secretary. \FRDoc. 97-17015 Filed 6-27-97: !H5 am] BIUJHa CODE 5Tt7..01..P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY {FR~4&-9f Agency Information ColltiC\ion ActiVitieG: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: ln compliance with the Pi!perwork Reduction Acr (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). this notice announces that the followin~ Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Offic" of Management a.nd Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Notification of Eptsodic Releases of Oil and Ha?..ardous Substances. OMB Control Number 2050-0046. expiring 6/ 30/97. The ICR describes the nalure of the information collection and its expected burden and cost: where appropriate it includes the actual data collection lnstrument. DA-res: Comments must be submlt.ted on or before july 30. 1997. J'OR RIRTHEB JNFORIIAnON OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA. (:ZOZ) 2602710. and refer to EPA !CRNo. 1049.05. SUPPLEMENTAR'I' lfo.lt=ORMATION: TiUe: Notification of Episodic Rclr.ases of Oil and Hazardous Substances. (OMB Control Number: 2050-0046: EPA ICR No. 1049.08) expiring 6/30/97. This ICR request~ an extension of a currently approved collectl.cm. Abstract: This ICR addrcsse.~ the reporting and re-cord keeping activities required to comply with the release notification requil'cments for hu.:u-dous substances and oil :sp=lfied in section 103{a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation. and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), ~s amended. and section 311 of the Clean W:Jter Act (CWA}. These reporting requirements !Ire codified -at 40 CFR parts I 10, 117. and 302. and re_quin: the person In c:harge of a fac:ilily or vP..o;sel to imrnediat('ly notify the National Response Center (NRC) of hazardous substance releases into the environment and oil dlscharl:(es into U.S. waters. The r~ulated cOmmunity is expected to: Gather necessary release data. :such :JS the time. qu<'~ntity. and source of the release: Brief the facility llUlnager: Consult with the environmental compliance t>.xpert; Report the release to the NRC using a toll-free telephone number. a facsimile number. or ~ telex number: and Keep a log of release data such as the time. date. and circumstances of the release. (Thi:s information is expl':cted. but not required under the regulation). There are no recordkceplng requirements ~pecified under CERCLA section 103(a). CWA section 311. or their implenJenting regulations. The person tn charge of the facility or vessel. however. may elect lO maintain a log detailing the time. date. 'lnd circumstances ;:ossociated with thii> reported celease.. The purpo~ of maintaining a log ofrepvrted f'clcase.<; is to track correspondence with response authoritie~ and to document complianuo wHh release nottftcation requirement~ underCERCLA and CW/\. Because the respondent will probably perform thi:> activity. burden and cost estimate~ associated with recordkeeping are included in this ICR. None of the information to be g'lthered for this coUectivn is believed to be confidential. An agency may not condu~;t or sponsor. :tnd a person I!> not required to respond to. a collection of information unless It displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPAs regulations are listed in 10 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter .I 5. The Federal Regimr Notict" required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d). soliciting comments on this co II P.Ction of informa.tion was publisht<d on February 26. 1997 (62 FR 8722). No comments wer-e rcceiveod. Burden StatP.rnent: The a.nnu.al p1.1blic reporting and recordkeeping-burden for this collection of information is estlmatecl ro average 4.1 hours per rcspo~. Burden means the total timl'. effort. or financial resourct>.s expended by persons to ge.neratc. maintain. retain. or disclose or provide Information to or for a Fcd.er.al agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions: devt-lop. acquire. install. and utili?..e technology md systems for the purpost?s of collecting. valld::~ting. and verifying information. processing and m::tintaining information. and disclosing and providing inform:>.tion: adjust the existing ways to comply with any pr"viously appllc:ible instructions and requirements; train personne.l to be able to respvnd to ;, collt-ction of information: se:~rch data :sources: complete and review the collection of information: and transmit or otherwisr. disclose the information. Respondents/Affected Entitles: Facilities or vessels which accidently release hv.ardous substanc~s. &timated Number ofRespondents: 29.Z01. -Frequency ofResponse: One-time telephone call to the NRC in the P.vent of :m episodic release. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burdt?n: 119.737 hours. Esrimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: 0. Send comment.'> on the Agencys need for this information. the accuracy of the provided burden t-stimat.cs. <tnd any suggP~<>ted methods for mil'lim17.lng re.:spondent burden. Jncluding through the use of automate~ collection techniques to the following addresses. Plc~se refer to F..PA ICR No. 1049.08 and OMB Control No. 2050-0046 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Fazmer. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. OPPE Regulatory Information DIVision (2137), 101 M Street. SW. Washlngton. DC 20460 and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Office of Management and Budgeot. Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. 725 17thStrccl NW. Washington. DC 20503. Dated: June 23. 1997. J~ph Retzer. Director. Regulatorylnfonni'lfion Dlvision. IFR Doc. 97-17034 F1le!d li-27-97: 8:45am] BILUNO COCIE ..S~ ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-585~7] Dr.tft .Carcinogenic Effects of Benz:ene: An Update AGENCY: Environment:!] Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of peer-review workshop and public comment period. SUMMARY: Thi.s notice announces a pCI"rreview workshop and a public f'cvlew and comment period sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Center for Environmental Assessment {NCEAJ of BP-00010775 'Bo/JB/97 1 14:01 11:47:35 Via Fax -> 216 586 8314 D. STROTHER_ Federal Register I VoL 62. No. 125 I Monday. June 30, 1997 I Notices Pa!Je 884 35173 thP. Office of RcsP.arch and Development to review an external review draft document titled. CarcinogenicEIIects of Benzene: An Update (EPA/600/P-97/ OOlA). EPA will consider comments and recommendations from thE> workshop and the public comment period in document revisions. DATES: The workshop will be held on Wednesday. July 16, 1997. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m. The 60-day public rP.view and comment period begin" today and ends August 29. I 997. ADDRESSES: Th(> workshop wtll be h>ld at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. 400 New jersey Avenue. N.W.. Washington. D.C. Eastern Research Group. lnc. (ERG). an EPA contractor, is providing logistical support for the workshop. To attend the workshop. register by July 11 by calling ERG's registration line at 617-674-7371, or send a fax to 617-6H-Z906. Space is limited, and reservations will be <~cceptE'd on a flrst-come-first-ServEd basis. T~re will be a limited time for comments from the public during th> afternoon. Ple~se let ERG know if you wish to make a brief statement not to exceE>d five minutes. The document is available on the Internet at http:l/www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of pape-r copiP.s are 'lV<\i)able from the Center for Environment.;U Research Information. National Risk Management Research Laboratory. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive. Cincinnati. OH 45268: telephone: 513-569-7562: fax: 513569-7566. If you are requestlng a paper copy. please provide your name. m::~iling address. and the document title and number. C-"lrcinogenic Effects of Benz(>ne: An Update (EPA/600/P-97/ OOlA). Copies also are avaH?ble for Inspection at EPA llbr<~ries. The EPA Headquartet"s Library is located at 401 M Street. S.W. Washington. D.C.; the library is opP.n Monday through Friday between 8:00a.m. and 5:00p.m .. exct-pt for Federal holidays. Copies of the document are not available from ERC. Comments may be mailed or delivered to the Technical Information -Staff (8623). NCEA-W IOSG. U.S. Environmental Protection AgE>ncy. 401 M Street. S.W.. Washington. D.C. 20460 (telephone: 202-260-7345). Comments should he in writing and must be postm,...ked by the end-of the comment period. Please submit one unbound original with pages numbered consecutively. and three copies. For attachments. provide an index. number pages consecutively with the comments. and submit an unbound original and thrc~ copies. Electmnic comments may be sent to benzcne.neW@epamail.epa.gov. Please note that all technical comments receiVed in rl"sponse to this notice will be placed ln ~public record. For that reason. commenters should not submit personal Information (such as medical data or home addrcs.-;), Confidential Business Information, or information protected by copyrighl. Due to limited resources. acknowledgments will not be sent. FOR F\JFITHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David B;cyliss. National CE>nter for Environmental Assessment/Washington Offiee (8623). U.S. environmental Protection Agency. 401 M Street. S.W.. Washington. D.C. 20460. Telephone: 202-260-5726:fax:Z02-260-87I9:email: benzene.new@epamall.epa.gov. SUPPLEMHlARY INFOAM.AliON: This draft document is the r!'sult of a t"equest from the Office ofMobile Sources. Office of Air and Radiation. for an update of the 1985 document titled. Interim Quantitative Cancer Unit Ri:sk Estimates Due to Inhal'ltion of Benzem:. The draft report updates the scientific basis for sefecting a cancer unit risk of lx>.n7-ene. Information on the- toxicity. metabolism, epid(>miology. and genotoxicity are considened together in the evaluation of the cancer unit risk P.Stimate for the p~obablllty ofdevelo;>ping cancer from low-dose exposure to benzE>nc. After the workshop. EPA will consider the peerpanel and public comments before preparing a final report for the Office of Mobile Sources. D.,tP.d; June 23. 1997. Richard Haroe:~ty. /\cling Director, Nariona/ CP.nter fur EnVirorunental .A,s.s,>,;.o;ment- [FR Doc. 97-17036 Filed 6-Z7-97: 8:45am] BILata COPE~ EN~RONMENTALPROTECnON ACENCV [FR L~85o-g) Proposed CERCLA Adminlstl1iltiYe Agreement; Commercial Decal, Inc. Superfund Site AGENCY: Envlt'"onmental ProtE>ction Agency. ACTION: Notice: request for publiccomment. SUMMARY: In accordanC(' with the Agency's May 24. 1995, '"Guidance on Agrt'ements with Prospectiv~ Purch:~sers ofContaminatf.d Property."' notice is hereby given of a propo.....,d prospective purchaser agr-eement ("agreement"') with the City ofMount Vernon. New York ("'City") concerning the par-cel of real property which includes the Commercial Decll. Inc. Superfund Site in Mount Vl'Inon. Wcstche:5ter County, New York {the property"). Under the agreement. the City will pay $283.050.45 to the Hazardous Substances SupECfund fn exchange for a covenant not to $Ue pursuant to sections 106 and 107{a) of CERCLA. 42 U.S.C. 9606 ~nd 9607(a), and h1 settlement of compeUng bankruptcy claims of the City and the Agency against the property. following the ;::ffectiveness of this agreement, the City intends to make a bid for the property at a b<1nkruptcy auction presently scheduled to be held In U.S. Bankruptcy Court on July t 7, 1997. For fourteen (14) days following the datE! of publication of this notlc:e. the Agency wtll receive written comment'< relating to the ~reement. The Agency will consider '1.11 comments received and may modify or withdraw its consP.nt to the agreement if comments received disclose facts or consideration.-; which indicate that the agreement is inapproprll'lte. improper, or inadequate. The Agency':; response to any comments received wi!! be avail::tbiP for public lnspeciion at thA U.S. nvironmental Protection Agency. Region fl. Office of Regional Coul'lS~l. New York/C~ribbean Superl'und Branch. 290 Broadway, l 7th Floor. New York. NY 10007-1866. DATEs: Comment.~ must be :submitted on or before July 14. 1997. ADORESSI:s: The proposed agr~mcnt and additional baG!-..gtound Information relating to the ,;ettlement are >~vailable for public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Region 11. Office of Regional Counsel, New York/Caribbc:m Superfund Branch, 290 Broadway. l7th Floor, New York. NY I 0007-1866. A copy of the proposed agree~nt may be obtained from the individual listed below. Comments should refere-nce the Commer-Cial Dec;U. Tnc. Superfund Site. Mount Vernon. New York and EPA Ind!.'x No. TICERCLA-97-0205. and should be addressed to the imHviduallisted below. FOR FURTHER INFCI'IMATJCN CONTACT: Carl P. Garvey. Assista'1t Regional Counsel. New York/Caribbean Superfund Branch. Office ofRegiona.l Counsel. B.S. Environmental Protection Agt:ncy, 290 Broadway. 17th Floor. New York. NY 10007-1866..Telephcne: (212) 6373181. D~tt('(l: June Z4. 1997. WilllamJ. Munynskl ActingRegional AdministratDr. [FR Doc. 97-17037 FtlP-d 6-27-97: 8:15 amj BILUNO ~ , _ _ _ BP-00010776 1<1:02 _ HfihH/97 14:48:45. Via Fax 1 JlN-Z7-1~ 13!52 -) Zlo 58& 8314 D. STROTHER EXXl:N Bl 0"8) I CR_ SCI~ Page HltS P.02 CARCIN~E:NIC EfF'ECTS 0-F BENZENF;j AN U?OATf: QUESTIONS FOR THE PE:ER REVIEW PANEL l. Context: The docmment before you is highly focused for purposes of c:onsidering the dose--response 'ssues for beuzenc':) cancer baz:ard. EPA sun no need tQ review the question of whether berrzene is or is uot n human curc:inogen. We trust thnt the .structure of this docurni'nt supports the purpose to focus on key issues involved in selec:ting .a quantitative nppronch to estimating bemene risks especially at environntel)tal exposure levels. Tbe risk charac;te.l'i21ltion por'tion Qf the doc:ume,lt is ltaended to <:aptu~ the key findines and tell the story or benzeite risks ns we cnn besl char:tctelize them today. Question: Does this do~ument, its formnt. and ger1eral ~ontent adequately fulfiU the isltent! 2. CoiTt~t; tn EPA's ~"rent risk nssessmeut for Ben~ene (EPA, t98S), three epidemiological Sh1dies (Rinsky, !981. Ott. %978. Wong, 1983) were used to derive 3 unit risk estimate. Risk estimates for ench cohol"t were calcutnted using R linear model and then combineCI by averaging. In this reevall.latiQn EPA prrJpo,cs to only use the updated Rin$ky cohor't as the singulltr b~1sis for dose respomre nnSIIysis. Questlmt: Has EPA ndequately mpp1.1r1ed its preferem:e ror using Rinsky, 1987 c:ohort (e.g plionlm workerS) for dose-response lUHd)'sis nnd risk derivation? 3. r..:(Jnfext: EPA'S drnfr 1996 Canl"el." Risk Asseun!ent Guidelines rec~m1mend a prnctice whe.eby n risk assessors selection or n low dose risk extrap0l1Uion mGdel wCJuld be prefere11tinUy innuenc:ed by under:5tlllsdings ;tbout mode-of-action. Mode-or-a~tiQn vi~wpoints must be supported by a rf)\SOlll'lbl~ level-of scientific con9ensus, oth-erwise an EPA ~efault model may be ndopted. The sel~t:tion or :.l low ctose linenr model c~n be both a default<~~ well R5 ajusdfie~ model-ofchoice undt-r the pn>pos~d.new guitreflnes. In this reotssessntent, E:PA is using some oft he fundnmental principles of the proposed guidelines. EPA has discussei1 the mode-of~l~tion inform:ltion :rnd sugeest.ecUha&: a linear low dose model i.s approprinte in the nbsenc:e of S\ satisfactory understanding about the iow dose mode-of-action .and in recognition of some liJH:ur and possibl;r supn1 linear circumstances uflow doe r~spon-se. PA bas nottd thnt a rnn& of ri1k ~stimates, (i.e., 4.7 x I oJ to 2.5 x lO""), is defined by using A linear 1nodel, (he Riusky cuhort, and using Crump. Rinsky and Paustenbaek estimatu of cahort exposure. EPAs l9S5 dsk estint::te of recorc1 f1>r benz.ene (i.~, l.6 J~: 1o-~ per ppm is based on tb~ aeometeric menu-or three risk estimates rrom the Rinsky l..S~l cohort with Cnmtp e.xposure plus the cohorts of Ott aud Wong) is just outside of this range. EPA didn't see nny compelling scientific basis for selecting a specific risk estilnHtt from the rnnge. BP-00010777  'H6i38197 14:49:24 Via Fax y ' JLN-27-1.99'7 13= !;)3 -> 216 586 8314 D. STROTHER EXXON B IO"'ED I o::tL SCIENCES Pa.!JC HH6 P.03 Question: 3.1 Dose the discussion or the various mode-or-acrio11 hypotheses nppropmtely descnbe the current thinking and c:~pture consen11us where suel1 exist~? 3.2 Ir the rationnlc for specifie modd selecdon (e.g., llnenr nt low dose) adequately cxplnined and supportc:d. .3.3 h thel"e :mother rnode-ting ttpproncb thnt could he supported by consensus lnfor'm~nJon'! ... 3.4 From the srandpoint or uuurtninty nbout the cohort'J exposure, the range ofrbk.c could be viewed a~ hnving approllimn~ely equnl scientifi(" merit. Does the panel see & .scientific rationale rorse!ecting nrnoug the risk estimntes? 4. Context: Um;ertainti~ nre importam to identify so that the current risk chnrncteri:zation will be properly used by ri~k m:mngers. Tit~ uncemdnti~ also rrame the res~ch :agenda f'or rrmking 1t future difieren~e i11 EPA's r-isk chn.raeteriz..'l.tion ror benzene. Question: Hnve the major uncertainties with this risk chnr:tC[ef"i2ation been ftae&ed and dG usthe racarch needi cotpturc the key nds which would di~tly inlpa~t the next zenerati~n re:u5e$Srnectt of beu:~:ene risk to adults :u well speciAl sub-population groups induding children! ....... TOTI=L P.e3 TOTAL P.05 BP-00010778