Announcement of the Carcinogen Identification Committee Meeting Scheduled for November 17, 2020, Prioritization: Chemicals for Consultation by the Carcinogen Identification Committee

This notice announces the beginning of a 45-day public comment period on the seven chemicals or chemical groups listed below.  These chemicals will be discussed at a public meeting of the Proposition 65 Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2020.  The meeting will be held virtually.  The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last until all business is conducted or until 5:00 p.m.  The agenda for the meeting and instructions on how to participate will be provided in a future public notice. 

The CIC is the state’s qualified experts on carcinogenicity for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).  The CIC will provide the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) with advice on the prioritization of these chemicals for possible preparation of hazard identification materials.  At a later date, OEHHA will select chemicals for preparation of hazard identification materials and announce those decisions in a separate notice.  No listing decisions will be made for these chemicals at the CIC’s next meeting.

OEHHA is the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 65.  The evidence of hazard used in this current round of prioritization is an epidemiologic data screen and an animal data screen.  Chemicals or chemical groups passing either data screen were then subjected to a preliminary toxicological evaluation.  This screening follows the procedure described in the 2004 OEHHA document, “Process for Prioritizing Chemicals for Consideration under Proposition 65 by the State’s Qualified Experts”. 

The seven chemicals or chemical groups are:

  • Bisphenol A
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Coal dust
  • Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE)
  • Methyl bromide
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salts and transformation and degradation precursors
  • Trifluralin

The CIC will consider these chemicals at its November 17, 2020 meeting.  OEHHA will send public comments received on the prioritization document for these chemicals to CIC members prior to the meeting.

Copies of the prioritization document for these chemicals are available or may be requested by emailing Tyler.Saechao@oehha.ca.gov or calling (916) 445-6900.

Interested parties may provide comment on the potential for exposure in California and the extent of the scientific evidence pertaining to the selection of any of these chemicals for possible preparation of hazard identification materials.  OEHHA must receive written comments and any supporting documentation no later than October 19, 2020, the designated close of the written comment period.

Because of limited in-office staffing during the COVID-19 emergency, OEHHA strongly recommends that the public submit written information electronically, rather than in paper form.  Comments may be submitted electronically through our Comment Submissions.  Comments submitted in paper form can be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the address below, but delays may occur if staff are unable to timely access them.

All non-electronic submissions should be directed to:

Tyler Saechao
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
1001 I Street
P. O. Box 4010, MS-12B
Sacramento, California 95812-4010

Telephone: 916-445-6900
Fax:  916-323-2265

OEHHA is subject to the California Public Records Act and other laws that require the release of certain information upon request.  If you provide comments, please be aware that your name, address, and e-mail may be available to third parties.

Comments received during the public comment period will be posted on the OEHHA web site after the close of the comment period.

If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Saechao at Tyler.Saechao@oehha.ca.gov or (916) 445-6900.