Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for Methyl Isocyanate and Announcement of the October 21, 2010 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee Meeting

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead agency for the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) advises and assists OEHHA in compiling the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity as required by Health and Safety Code section 25249.8. The Committee serves as the State’s qualified experts for determining whether a chemical has been “clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause reproductive toxicity.”

Methyl isocyanate will be considered for possible listing under Proposition 65 by the DARTIC at its next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 2010. The meeting will be held in the Coastal Hearing Room at the Cal/EPA Headquarters building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California. Thursday’s 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 will be provided in a future public notice.

OEHHA announces the availability for public review of the document entitled: “Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Methyl Isocyanate.” The DARTIC will consider this document in making a listing decision for this chemical. In preparing these hazard identification materials, OEHHA considered information received from its recent request for information relevant to the evidence of reproductive toxicity of methyl isocyanate. The data call-in period for methyl isocyanate opened on June 27, 2008, and closed on August 26, 2008.

Copies of the document are available from OEHHA’s web site. The document may also be requested from OEHHA’s Proposition 65 Implementation Office by calling (916) 445-6900.

This notice marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period on this document. OEHHA must receive comments and any supporting documentation by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. We encourage you to submit comments in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Comments transmitted by e-mail should be addressed to sam.delson@oehha.ca.gov. Comments submitted in paper form may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the addresses below:

Mailing Address:
Sam Delson
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
P.O. Box 4010, MS-19B
Sacramento, California 95812-4010

Fax: (916) 323-8803

Street Address: 1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814

OEHHA will organize and index the comments received and forward the information to the DARTIC members prior to the meeting.

** NOTE: This is an updated notice from the one published in the California Regulatory Notice Register (CRNR). This UPDATED Notice will be published in the CRNR on August 13. Changes include the following:

  • The release of the hazard identification materials for sulfur dioxide is postponed.
  • Sulfur dioxide will not be considered for Proposition 65 listing by the DARTIC at its October meeting.
  • Sulfur dioxide will be considered at a future DARTIC meeting, likely in Spring of 2011.
  • The Committee will only meet on Thursday, October 21, 2010.
  • The Committee will NOT meet on October 20, 2010.