Document Rp9BJYB7x1ZGvepR3LryQ010E

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Atlanta GA 30333 M 28m Ms. Wendy K. Sherman Manager, Vinyl Chloride Panel Chemical Manufacturers Association 1300 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209 Dear Ms. Sherman: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) commends the efforts of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) to assist our agency in addressing key gaps in toxicological information through voluntary research. The purpose of this letter is to reaffirm the importance of your efforts. ATSDR is the lead agency within the Public Health Service responsible for implementing the health-related provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) . As such, one of ATSDR's goals is to evaluate relationships between hazardous substances in the environment, exposure, and adverse human health outcomes. In 1991, ATSDR initiated its Substance-Specific Applied Research Program (SSARP) by determining 117 priority data needs for its 38 highest ranking hazardous substances found at Superfund hazardous waste sites. Identifying and addressing these research needs are crucial to ATSDR in determining the types and levels of hazardous substance exposures that may present significant risks of adverse human health effects. ATSDR is pleased that the CMA vinyl chloride study, "Combined inhalation two-generation reproduction and developmental toxicity study in CD rats," has been initiated and that CMA has updated the agency on the study's progress. Vinyl chloride currently ranks number 4 on ATSDR's priority list of hazardous substances, and it has been found in at least 493 National Priorities List (NPL) sites. BFG 00450 Page 2 - Ms. Sherman Research on this substance is not only important to citizens who live near hazardous waste sites, but also will have implications for workers and others who may be exposed to vinyl chloride during remediation of waste sites. We appreciate the opportunity to work with CMA to assure the success of this very important cooperative research effort. Sincerely yours, Barry E. Jq^rya'Son, Ph.D. Assistant Surgeon General Assistant Administrator BFG 00451