Notices. Notice of public comment period and external peer-review panel meeting

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8244-1; EPA-HQ-Docket ID No. EPA-ORD-2006-0939] Draft Toxicological Reviews of Cyanobacterial Toxins: Anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsin and Microcystins LR, RR, YR and LA AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of public comment period and external peer-review panel meeting. SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)is announcing a forty-five day public comment period and an external peer-review panel meeting to review the external review draft documents entitled, “Toxicological Reviews of Cyanobacterial Toxins: Anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsin and Microcystins LR, RR, YR and LA” (NCEA-C-1743, NCEA-C-1763 and NCEA-C-1765). Cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, are found in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. Cyanobacteria, other freshwater algae, and their toxins are included as microbial contaminants on EPA's Office of Water

(OW)Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). These draft assessments discuss potential human health effects of exposure to these cyanobacterial toxins for four durations—acute, short-term, subchronic and chronic— focusing on noncancer effects due to oral exposure. The public comment period and the external peer review are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on these documents. These documents were prepared by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment

(NCEA)within EPA's Office of Research and Development. EPA will use comments and recommendations from the public and the expert panel meeting to finalize the draft documents. EPA is releasing these draft documents solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. These documents have not been formally disseminated by EPA. They do not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. DATES: The public comment period will begin on November 20, 2006 and continue until January 4, 2007. The public may submit comments via *Regulations.gov* (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below). The peer-review panel meeting will begin on January 10, 2007, at 9 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m. The public may attend the peer-review panel meeting and are invited to provide oral statements at the commencement of the meeting (for more information refer to the instructions for registration below). ADDRESSES: Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, will convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer-review panel meeting to review these draft documents. The external peer-review panel meeting will be held at EPA's Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center (AWBERC) located at 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH. Observers may attend the peer review meeting by filling out the form found on the Web site, *https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/ncea/toxin.htm* , by calling Eastern Research Group, Inc.'s conference line between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST at

(781)674-7374 or toll free at

(800)803-2833, or by faxing a registration request to

(781)674-2906 (include full address and contact information). Pre-registration will begin December 15, 2006. Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for online pre-registration is January 3, 2007. Telephone and fax registrations will continue to be accepted after this date, as will on-site registration, if space allows. Public comments submitted to Regulations.gov by December 29, 2006, will be provided to the external peer review panel prior to the meeting. The draft “Toxicological Reviews of Cyanobacterial Toxins: Anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsin and Microcystins LR, RR, YR and LA” are available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment's home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at *http://www.epa.gov/ncea* . A limited number of paper copies are available from the Technical Information Staff

(TIS)at NCEA's Cincinnati office; telephone:

(513)569-7257; facsimile:

(513)569-7916. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and title of these documents. Copies are not available from Eastern Research Group, Inc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding information about, registration, and logistics for the external peer review workshop should be directed to Eastern Research Group, Inc., 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421-3136 beginning December 15, 2006; telephone:

(781)674-7374 or toll free at

(800)803-2833; facsimile:

(781)674-2906; or e-mail: *meetings@erg.com.* If you have questions about the draft documents, contact Belinda Hawkins, National Center for Environmental Assessment, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive (A-110), Cincinnati, OH; telephone:

(513)569-7523; facsimile:

(513)487-2542; e-mail: *hawkins.belinda@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established an official public docket for this action under docket ID number EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0939. The official public docket consists of the documents referenced in this notice and a list of charge questions that have been submitted to the external peer reviewers. All documents are available on the Internet at *http://www.regulations.gov* by using the search function and corresponding docket identification number. How to Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at http://www.regulations.gov Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding during the last week of June 2006. The Docket Center is continuing to operate. However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of operation for people who wish to make hand deliveries or visit the Public Reading Room to view documents. Consult EPA's **Federal Register** notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006) or the EPA Web site at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm* for current information on docket operations, locations and telephone numbers. The Docket Center's mailing address for U.S. mail and the procedure for submitting comments to *http://www.regulations.gov* are not affected by the flooding and will remain the same. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0939 by one of the following methods: • *http://www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail:* ORD *Docket@epa.gov.* • *Fax:*

(202)566-1753. • *Mail:* Office of Environmental Information

(OEI)Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is

(202)566-1752. • *Hand Delivery:* The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is

(202)566-1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments in hard copy, please submit one unbound original with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0939. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked “late,” and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to make the comments available online at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through *http://www.regulations.gov* or e-mail. The *http://www.regulations.gov* Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through *http://www.regulations.gov* , your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.* *Docket:* All documents in the docket are listed in the *http://www.regulations.gov* index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in *http://www.regulations.gov* or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: November 13, 2006. Peter W. Preuss, Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E6-19558 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341; FRL-8057-1] Implementation of the Pilot Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program; Request for Comment AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: EPA is requesting comment on the implementation of the pilot phase of the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). VCCEP was designed to collect health effects, exposure, and risk information on chemicals to which children are likely to be exposed, and to make that information available to the public so the public may better understand the potential health risks to children associated with certain chemical exposures. EPA announced the program in December 2000 and the pilot began in 2001 when companies volunteered to sponsor their chemicals under VCCEP. At what is approximately the midpoint in the implementation of the pilot phase of VCCEP, EPA is preparing to evaluate how well it is meeting its objectives for VCCEP. To this end, EPA is seeking comments from participants and observers about the operations and experience under the VCCEP pilot to this point. If requested, EPA will hold a public meeting to take comment on the implementation of the pilot phase of VCCEP. DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 19, 2007. Requests for a public meeting must be received on or before December 11, 2006. ADDRESSES: * To submit comments* : Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341, by one of the following methods. • *Federal eRulemaking Portal* : *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *Mail* : Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Hand Delivery* : OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA East, Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is

(202)564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted during the DCO's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPPT Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC). The EPA/DC suffered structural damage due to flooding in June 2006. Although the EPA/DC is continuing operations, there will be temporary changes to the EPA/DC during the clean-up. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room, which was temporarily closed due to flooding, has been relocated in the EPA Headquarters Library, Infoterra Room (Room Number 3334) in EPA West, located at 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room is

(202)566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is

(202)566-0280. EPA visitors are required to show photographic identification and sign the EPA visitor log. Visitors to the EPA/DC Public Reading Room will be provided with an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times while in the EPA Building and returned to the guard upon departure. In addition, security personnel will escort visitors to and from the new EPA/DC Public Reading Room location. Up-to-date information about the EPA/DC is on the EPA website at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm* . *To request a public meeting* : Submit your request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341, to Catherine Roman by one of the following methods: • *E-mail address* : *roman.catherine@epa.gov* . • *Mail* : Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001, ATTN: Catherine Roman. • *Hand Delivery* : 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, EPA East, ATTN: Catherine Roman. Ask the reception desk to call

(202)564-4780. Such deliveries should be made during normal working hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *For general information contact* : Colby Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)554-1404; e-mail address: *TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov* . *For technical information contact* : Catherine Roman, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-4780; e-mail address: *roman.catherine@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general. This action may, however, be of particular interest to those chemical manufacturers (including importers) who produce or import chemical substances that are subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), individuals or groups concerned with chemical testing and children's health, and animal welfare groups. Because other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* . Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at the estimate. vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggested alternatives. vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. Background A. What Action is the Agency Taking? EPA is requesting comment from stakeholders, interested parties, and the general public on the implementation of the VCCEP pilot and is also evaluating the progress of the VCCEP pilot toward meeting its objectives. VCCEP was designed to collect health effects, exposure, and risk information on chemicals to which children are likely to be exposed, and to make that information available to the public so the public may better understand the potential health risks to children associated with certain chemical exposures, and to allow EPA and others to evaluate the risks of these chemicals so that mitigation measures may be taken as appropriate. EPA announced VCCEP in a December 26, 2000 **Federal Register** notice (Ref. 1) and requested chemical manufacturers and importers to participate in a VCCEP pilot by voluntarily committing to sponsor an information collection on 23 chemicals. The VCCEP pilot is intended to allow EPA to gain insight as to how best to design and implement VCCEP in order to effectively provide the Agency and the public with the means to understand the potential health risks to children associated with exposure to chemicals to which children may be exposed. EPA intends the VCCEP pilot to be the means of identifying efficiencies which can be applied to the subsequent implementation of VCCEP. Several factors were considered in selecting the 23 chemicals for the VCCEP pilot; they included substantial production/importation (one million lbs. or more per year), presence in the environment, and biomonitoring evidence of presence in humans. A detailed description of the selection process used by EPA is in the document entitled *Methodology for Selecting Chemicals for the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) Pilot* (Ref. 2). The requested commitment for the VCCEP pilot was for Tier 1 information, with the potential for EPA to request participants to make additional commitments to Tier 2 and Tier 3 information based on an evaluation of the Tier 1 submission. As part of their Tier 1 commitments, sponsors were asked to include an expected submission date that, as described in the December 2000 notice, is based on the amount of time EPA considered necessary to gather the information (or perform testing, if necessary) and prepare the assessments. Other guidance on timeliness provided in the December 2000 notice included the following: • Within 6 months from the publication of the December 2000 notice was the recommended deadline to commit to Tier 1. • Within 4 months after announcing EPA's Data Needs Decision was the recommended deadline to commit to upper tiers. • Within 1 month after receiving a chemical assessment was EPA's goal to make it publicly available on the VCCEP website. During 2001, 35 companies and 10 consortia voluntarily committed to sponsor 20 of the 23 chemicals in the VCCEP pilot. Three of the twenty-three chemicals were not sponsored and remain unsponsored. Also in 2001, EPA arranged for a third party, Toxicology for Excellence in Risk Assessment (TERA), to organize and facilitate public Peer Consultation meetings to evaluate the chemical assessments to be submitted by the chemical sponsors. At a Peer Consultation meeting, a panel of scientific experts with extensive and broad experience in toxicity testing, exposure evaluation, or the specific chemical discuss the chemical assessment and offer their opinions on its adequacy and possible additional data needs. This discussion is held at a public meeting where interested parties may also present comments. TERA prepares a report summarizing the opinions expressed at the public meeting and submits this report to EPA. EPA considers this report when it reviews the chemical assessment prior to forming its decision regarding additional data needs of the chemical. In terms of progress, by the end of August 2006, the VCCEP pilot sponsors had submitted Tier 1 chemical assessments for 12 of the 20 chemicals; all 12 chemical assessments had been evaluated in public Peer Consultation meetings; summary reports of the Peer Consultation meetings for the 12 chemical assessments were made available; and EPA had reviewed the Peer Consultation reports and issued Data Needs Decisions for 6 of the 12 chemicals. EPA is in the process of developing Data Needs Decisions for the remaining 6 chemicals. In its six Data Needs Decisions, EPA decided that additional data were needed for three chemicals. A consortium of three companies organized by the American Chemistry Council

(ACC)has agreed to proceed to Tier 2 of the VCCEP pilot and sponsor the additional information collection for one of the chemicals. The Tier 1 sponsor of the other two chemicals with additional data needs informed the Agency that it will not commit to participate in Tier 2 for those chemicals. For the other three chemicals for which Data Needs Decisions have been issued, EPA concluded that the Tier 1 assessments provide sufficient information to adequately characterize the risk to children of exposure to those chemicals, and EPA considers the evaluation of these three chemicals to be completed for purposes of the VCCEP pilot. To summarize the activity and progress of the VCCEP pilot through August 2006, the table in this unit indicates how many chemicals have completed successive stages in the VCCEP pilot: Stages in the VCCEP Process Number of chemicals which have completed each stage Sponsor commitment to provide Tier 1 information 20 Tier 1 chemical assessment submitted 12 * Tier 1 chemical assessment has gone through Peer Consultation 12 Peer Consultation report available 12 EPA issued a Data Needs Decision (3 chemicals had Tier 2 data needs, 3 chemicals did not have Tier 2 data needs.) 6 Received a sponsor commitment to provide Tier 2 information 1 OR Agency informed it will not receive sponsor commitment to provide Tier 2 information 2 * As noted on the VCCEP website, the submission of chemical assessments for four chemicals (ethylbenzene, ethylene dichloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene) has been delayed due to other commitments to develop the data as part of another effort or program. The most recent information on the progress of specific chemicals in the VCCEP pilot is presented on the VCCEP website ( *http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep* ). Since the Fall of 2001, EPA has kept the public informed of activities in the VCCEP pilot through the VCCEP website. The website describes VCCEP and how it was developed. It also lists the chemicals and their sponsors, the date of sponsor commitments to each tier, the submission dates of chemical assessments, the dates of upcoming public Peer Consultation meetings, and the completion dates of Peer Consultation reports and EPA's Data Needs Decisions. Most importantly, the website makes the cited information available to the public by providing links to the chemical assessments, the Peer Consultation reports, and EPA's Data Needs Decisions. In terms of timeliness for EPA, TERA, and the sponsors meeting the scheduled goals for the VCCEP pilot, the following observations are made: • All sponsors committed to Tier 1 by the 6-month deadline. • As part of their Tier 1 commitments, the sponsors for 5 of the 12 chemicals for which EPA has received a chemical assessment as of August 2006, provided a projected submission date for their Tier 1 chemical assessment. The chemical assessment for only one of the five chemicals (decabromodiphenyl ether) was received by EPA by the projected submission date. • Some of the projected submission dates originally provided by the sponsors were subsequently revised at the request of the sponsor, or due to TERA scheduling of Peer Consultation meetings. • EPA made all the chemical assessments available on the VCCEP website within 1 month of receipt. • Although a recommended deadline for scheduling the Peer Consultation meetings was not specified in the December 2000 notice, the meetings for the 12 chemicals for which EPA has received a chemical assessment as of August 2006 were held within an average of 2.4 months of receiving the chemical assessment. • Although a recommended deadline for TERA to issue its report summarizing a Peer Consultation meeting was not specified in the December 2000 notice, TERA issued its reports for the 12 chemicals for which EPA has received a chemical assessment as of August 2006, within an average of 4.1 months after each meeting. The notice announcing VCCEP (Ref. 1, p. 81714) stated that EPA expected to evaluate the VCCEP pilot at 3 and 6 years after its initiation. EPA chose not to conduct an evaluation at 3 years because a sufficient number of chemicals had not gone through the public Peer Consultation process and, as a consequence of this, there was insufficient information to prepare a useful evaluation. Consequently, EPA decided to conduct a single evaluation at a point 5 years, approximately midway, into the program (i.e., 2006). B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? Congress gave EPA the authority to implement TSCA for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment, in part, by requiring testing and, if necessary, by restricting the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of certain chemical substances. VCCEP is a voluntary program which focuses on collecting information and developing data necessary to protect children from risks associated with chemical substances to which they are likely to be exposed. This notice seeks public involvement in a midpoint evaluation of how the VCCEP pilot is meeting its objectives and the overall objectives of VCCEP. III. Request for Comment EPA is requesting comment from stakeholders, interested parties, and the general public on the implementation of the VCCEP pilot, what modifications might be made to make the VCCEP pilot run more efficiently, and how well the VCCEP pilot is meeting the objectives of VCCEP. The main objectives of VCCEP are: • To collect exposure, hazard, and risk information on chemicals to which children are likely to be exposed. • To make the information available to the public so the public may better understand the potential health risks to children associated with certain chemical exposures. The Agency is particularly interested in receiving your feedback with regard to the list of questions in this Unit III. Commenters should not feel that they must confine their comments to the following specific questions, nor should they feel they must respond to any or all of the questions. Commenters, however, should attempt to provide comments on the aspects of the VCCEP pilot with which they have had experience and/or have formed a definite opinion. To be most helpful in the Agency's evaluation, please provide enough detail to explain or illustrate conclusions that you have reached based on your experiences. • Have the hazard, exposure, and risk assessments submitted by the sponsors provided sufficient information to enable the Peer Consultation panel to adequately evaluate these aspects as they relate to children from the chemicals in question? Have the Data Needs Assessments prepared by the sponsors been fair and unbiased? • Has the Peer Consultation process been open, transparent, timely, and useful as a forum for scientists and experts from various stakeholder groups to exchange views on sponsors' assessments and recommended data needs? How might it be improved? • Has the Peer Consultation process been efficient? If not, what improvements could be made? • Has the Peer Consultation panel adequately considered both toxicology and exposure information in developing its results? • Does the Peer Consultation process provide a scientifically rigorous and effective means for eliciting comments and opinions from the assembled experts on the Peer Consultation panel and those attending the public meeting, and for assisting EPA in developing decisions? • Have the communications related to the Peer Consultation process, activities and outcomes been effective and have they facilitated public understanding and use of the information generated from this process? • Should the time allowed for sponsor commitment remain the same, i.e., 6 months to commit to Tier 1, and 4 months to commit to subsequent Tiers? (The commitment period is the time for the sponsor to decide whether to participate in VCCEP, form a consortium, and notify the Agency.) • How can the timeliness of activities under the VCCEP pilot be improved? Should specific due dates be established for each step in the process? If so, how should a missed due date be addressed? • Should the sponsor be requested to commit to more than one tier at a time? Is it better to run the VCCEP pilot with commitments at each tier, i.e., three commitments, or to run the VCCEP pilot with two commitments, i.e., to Tier 1 and to Tiers 2/3? • Are there any ways in which EPA's contributions to the VCCEP pilot's evaluation and data needs decision process could be improved or made more effective? • Has the VCCEP pilot made significant progress with respect to its objectives? • The VCCEP pilot was designed to ensure that health effects, exposure, and risk information are made available to the public to enable a better understanding of the potential health risks to children associated with certain chemical exposures. Does the VCCEP website provide easy access to and adequate explanation of the information generated by the VCCEP pilot? Commenters should follow the guidance provided in Unit I.B. and under ADDRESSES when preparing and submitting their comments. IV. Comments Document EPA will prepare a Comments Document summarizing the comments received in response to this notice and at a public meeting, if held. The Comments Document will identify any common themes and will assist EPA in determining what modifications might be made to make the program run more efficiently and/or better meet the objectives of VCCEP. Significant program modifications which the Agency is considering as a result of this evaluation will be discussed with stakeholders before implementing. At this time, once the Comments Document is complete, EPA expects to make the Comments Document available to the public on the VCCEP website. The Comments Document will not be published in the **Federal Register** , nor will a notice of availability be published in the **Federal Register** announcing its appearance on the VCCEP website. However, if you provide your e-mail address, EPA will notify you by e-mail when the Comments Document is available on the VCCEP website at *http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep* . V. Public Meeting If there are requests to do so, EPA will hold a public meeting to discuss and take comment on the implementation of the VCCEP pilot. To request a public meeting, follow the directions under ADDRESSES . VI. Materials in the Docket An official docket was established for this VCCEP pilot evaluation under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0341. The docket includes information considered by EPA in developing this notice such as the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other information related to this action. In addition, interested parties should consult documents that are referenced in the documents that EPA has placed in the public docket, regardless of whether these referenced documents are physically located in the public docket. For assistance in locating documents that are referenced in documents that EPA has placed in the public docket, but that are not physically located in the docket, please consult the technical contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . The public docket is available for review as specified under ADDRESSES . 1. EPA. Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program. **Federal Register** (65 FR 81700, December 26, 2000) (FRL-6758-5). Available on-line at: *http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep/pubs/ts00274d.pdf* . 2. EPA. Methodology for Selecting Chemicals for the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) Pilot. December 5, 2000. Available on-line at: *http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep/vccepmth.htm* . List of Subjects Environmental protection, Chemicals, Child health. Dated: November 9, 2006. James B. Gulliford, Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. E6-19574 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8243-7] 2007 Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards—Call for Nominations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces the initiation of an EPA recognition and leadership program for excellence in water quality trading, “Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards,” and solicits nominations for possible award to water quality trading programs and policies which have achieved or are expected to achieve environmental and economic benefits. Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards will encourage and recognize exemplary water quality trading programs and policies. This recognition program will enable EPA to identify successful and innovative water quality trading programs and policies that most closely align with U.S. EPA's *Water Quality Trading Policy* and cooperate with those programs in order to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution. This program will also help EPA promote water quality trading and create a network of water quality trading leaders throughout the country. DATES: Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, January 16, 2007. Nominations received after this deadline will not be considered. ADDRESSES: Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards; ATTN: Chris Lewicki; U.S. EPA; Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds; Assessment and Watershed Protection Division; Room 7303K; Mail Code 4503-T; 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.; Washington, DC 20004; telephone 202-566-1293. Nominations must be submitted by express mail, courier service, or hand delivery to the address in this section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Lewicki; U.S. EPA; Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds; Assessment and Watershed Protection Division; Room 7303K; Mail Code 4503-T; 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.; Washington, DC 20004; telephone 202-566-1293; e-mail *lewicki.chris@epa.gov.* Additional information on water quality trading is available at: *http://www.epa.gov/waterqualitytrading.* I. Background Water quality trading is an innovative approach to achieve water quality goals more efficiently. Trading is based on the fact that sources in a watershed can face very different costs to control the same pollutant. Trading programs allow facilities facing higher pollutant control costs to meet their regulatory obligations by purchasing environmentally equivalent (or superior) pollutant reductions from another source at lower cost, thus achieving the same water quality improvement at lower overall cost. This recognition program will enable EPA to identify successful water quality trading programs and policies that most closely align with U.S. EPA's Water Quality Trading Policy and cooperate with those programs in order to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution. This program will also help EPA promote water quality trading and create a network of water quality trading leaders throughout the country. II. Award Information From the nominations submitted to EPA's Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards, EPA will select those programs and policies that best meet the evaluation criteria described below. EPA will recognize those programs and policies that are selected as leaders in the field of water quality trading. III. Eligible Applicants Nominations for a Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Award must be for water quality trading programs or policies that have been, are being, or will be implemented in the United States, and may be either self-nominated or nominated by a third party. The following sectors are encouraged to apply: Corporations; industry; individuals; non-governmental organizations and other associations; institutions; and local, state, and tribal governments. In order to be considered for recognition, nominations must have a satisfactory compliance record with respect to environmental regulations and requirements. IV. Evaluation Criteria Recognition will be given based on the following evaluation criteria:

(1)Actual or anticipated environmental improvement;

(2)actual or anticipated economic benefits;

(3)transparency of trades;

(4)accountability of meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits;

(5)accounting for the fate and transport of the pollutant and the possible different forms of the pollutant being traded in the design of a pollutant credit;

(6)mechanisms for managing uncertainty of non-point source pollutant credits (this criterion will apply only for those programs or policies that include trading with non-point sources of pollutants);

(7)stakeholder involvement; and

(8)actual or anticipated evaluation of the trading program or policy. V. Selection Process Nominations will be judged according to the evaluation criteria (see Section IV) by a panel of national water quality trading experts. The panelists will provide recommendations to EPA, who will then consider the expert panel's recommendations when making the final selections. In addition to the expert panel's recommendations, EPA may also consider additional factors in making its final selection such as diversity of programs and policies. EPA reserves the right to contact nominees for additional information should it be deemed necessary. VI. Nomination Submission Information A. Content of Nomination Package Each nomination must include all the information listed below.

(1)Contact information:

(a)Name of water quality trading program or policy being nominated;

(b)Name of the organization(s) responsible for creating the water quality trading program or policy;

(c)Name, telephone number, postal address, and e-mail of person to contact with questions regarding the nomination; and

(2)A description of the water quality trading program or policy and how it addresses the evaluation criteria (see Section IV). B. Form of Nomination Package Nominations should not exceed 20 double-spaced pages in length of 12 point font (including all tables, timelines, charts, graphs, maps, pictures, and all other supporting materials). Nominations that exceed the 20 double-spaced page limit will not be considered. Send two printed hard-copies of the nomination and two compact discs

(CDs)with the nomination in a Microsoft Word (.doc) format to the address as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. VII. Award Notice EPA anticipates announcing its selections in the spring or summer of 2007. EPA will mail letters to all nominees and any third parties that made nominations indicating whether or not the water quality trading program or policy that was submitted for nomination was selected for recognition in EPA's 2007 Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Awards. Dated: November 13, 2006. Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water. [FR Doc. E6-19556 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with section the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commission announces that it intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)a request for an extension without change of the existing recordkeeping requirements under 29 CFR part 1602 et seq., Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under Title VII and the ADA. The Commission is seeking public comments on the proposed extension. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before January 19, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 10th Floor, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507. As a convenience to commentators, the Executive Secretariat will accept comments totaling six or fewer pages by facsimile (“FAX”) machine. This limitation is necessary to assure access to the equipment. The telephone number of the FAX receiver is

(202)663-4114. (This is not a toll free number.) Receipt of FAX transmittals will not be acknowledged, except that the sender may request confirmation of receipt by calling the Executive Secretariat staff at

(202)663-4070 (voice) or

(202)663-4074 (TDD). (These are not toll-free telephone numbers.) Copies of comments submitted by the public will be available for review at the Commission's library, Room 6502, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel or Mona Papillon, General Attorney, at

(202)663-4660 or TDD

(202)663-4074. This notice is also available in the following formats: large print, braille, audio tape and electronic file on computer disk. Requests for this notice in an alternative format should be made to the Publications Center at 1-800-669-3362. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

(EEOC)enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability. Sections 709(c) of Title VII and section 107(a) of the ADA authorize the EEOC to issue recordkeeping and reporting regulations that are deemed reasonable, necessary or appropriate. EEOC has promulgated recordkeeping regulations under those authorities that are contained in 29 CFR part 1602 et seq. Those regulations do not require the creation of any particular records but generally require employers to preserve any personnel and employment records they make or keep for a period of one year. The EEOC seeks extension of these regulations without change. Overview of This Information Collection *Collection title:* Recordkeeping under Title VII and the ADA. *OMB number:* 3046-0040. *Description of affected public:* Employers with 15 or more employees are subject to Title VII and the ADA. *Number of responses:* 627,000. *Reporting hours:* One. *Number of forms:* None. *Federal cost:* None. *Abstract:* Section 709(c) of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-8(c) and section 107(a) of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. 12117(a) require the Commission to establish regulations pursuant to which employers subject to those Acts shall make and preserve certain records to assist the EEOC in assuring compliance with the Acts' nondiscrimination in employment requirements. This is a recordkeeping requirement. Any of the records maintained which are subsequently disclosed to the EEOC during an investigation are protected from public disclosure by the confidentiality provisions of section 706(b) and 709(e) of Title VII which are also incorporated by reference into the ADA at section 107(a). *Burden statement:* The estimated number of respondents is approximately 627,000 employers. The recordkeeping requirement does not require reports or the creation of new documents; it merely requires retention of documents that the employer has made or kept. Thus, the burden imposed by these regulations is minimal. The burden is estimated to be less than one hour per employer. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and OMB regulation 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the Commission solicits public comment to enable it to:

(1)Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2)Evaluate the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3)Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. For the Commission. Dated: November 9, 2006. Naomi Churchill Earp, Chair. [FR Doc. E6-19605 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6570-01-P EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ACTION: Notice of information collection under review: ADEA waivers. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Commission or EEOC) announces that it intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)a request for an extension without change to existing collection requirements under 29 CFR 1625.22, Waivers of rights and claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The Commission is seeking public comments on the proposed extension. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before January 19, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 10th Floor, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507. As a convenience to commentators, the Executive Secretariat will accept comments totaling six or fewer pages by facsimile (“FAX”) machine. This limitation is necessary to assure access to the equipment. The telephone number for the FAX receiver is

(202)663-4114. (This is not a toll-free number.) Receipt of FAX transmittals will not be acknowledged, except that the sender may request confirmation of receipt by calling the Executive Secretariat staff at

(202)663-4070 (voice) or

(202)663-4640 or TTY

(202)663-7026. This notice is also available in the following formats: large print, braille, audio tape and electronic file on computer disk. Requests for this notice in an alternative format should be made to the Publications Center at 1-800-669-3362. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EEOC enforces the ADEA of 1967, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 621 *et seq.* , which prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment who are age 40 or older. Congress amended the ADEA by enacting the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA), Pub. L. 101-433, 104 Stat. 983(1990), to clarify the prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of age. In Title II of OWBPA, Congress addressed waivers of rights and claims under the ADEA. The provisions of Title II of OWBPA require employers to provide certain information to employees (but not to EEOC) in writing when asking those employees to waive or release ADEA claims. The regulation at 29 CFR 1625.22 reiterates those requirements. The EEOC seeks extension without change of the information collection requirements contained in this record keeping regulation. Overview of This Information Collection *Collection title:* Disclosure requirements under Title II of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA), 29 CFR Part 1625. *OMB number:* 3046-0042 *Type of respondents:* Business, state or local governments, not for profit institutions. *Description of affected public:* Any employer with 20 or more employees that seeks waiver agreements in connection with exit incentive or other employment termination programs (hereinafter, “Exit Program”). *Number of responses:* 13,713. *Reporting hours:* 41,139. *Number of forms:* None. *Federal cost:* None. *Abstract:* This requirement involves providing adequate information in waiver agreements offered to a group or class of persons in connection with an Exit Program, to satisfy the requirements of the OWBPA. *Burden statement:* The only paperwork burden involved is the inclusion of the relevant data in waiver agreements under the OWBPA. The rule applies to those employers who have 20 or more employees and who offer waivers to a group or class of employees in connection with an Exit Program. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and OMB regulations 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the Commission solicits public comment to enable it to:

(1)Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2)Evaluate the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3)Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. For the Commission. Dated: November 9, 2006. Naomi Churchill Earp, Chair. [FR Doc. E6-19606 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6570-01-P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES Notice of Open Special Meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) SUMMARY: The Advisory Committee was established by Pub. L. 98-181, November 30, 1983, to advise the Export-Import Bank on its programs and to provide comments for inclusion in the reports of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to Congress. *Time and Place:* Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at Ex-Im Bank in the Main Conference Room 1143, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571. *Agenda:* Agenda items include a briefing of the Advisory Committee members on challenges for 2007, their roles and responsibilities and an ethics briefing. *Public Participation:* The meeting will be open to public participation, and the last 10 minutes will be set aside for oral questions or comments. Members of the public may also file written statement(s) before or after the meeting. If you plan to attend, a photo ID must be presented at the guard's desk as part of the clearance process into the building, and you may contact Teri Stumpf to be placed on an attendee list. If any person wishes auxiliary aids (such as a sign language interpreter) of other special accommodations, please contact, prior to November 29, 2006 Teri Stumpf, Room 1209, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571, Voice:

(202)565-3502 or TDD

(202)565-3377. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teri Stumpf, Room 1209, 811 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20571,

(202)565-3502. Howard A. Schweitzer, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 06-9266 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]

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