Draft Hazard Identification Documents for Propachlor and Phenol

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 (DART) Identification Committee of OEHHA's Science Advisory Board advises and assists OEHHA in compiling the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity, which is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 25249.8. The DART Identification 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.

On July 16, 1999, OEHHA requested information in relation to the preparation of a draft hazard identification document on propachlor, a chemical to be considered by the DART Identification Committee for possible addition to the Proposition 65 list. The data call-in period ended on August 16, 1999. No information or data were received on propachlor.

OEHHA requested information in relation to the preparation of a draft hazard identification document on phenol on February 14, 2003. The data call-in period ended on April 15, 2003. Comments received during the data call-in period were considered during the preparation of the draft hazard identification document on phenol.

OEHHA has prepared the draft hazard identification documents for propachlor and phenol and announces the availability of the draft documents entitled: "Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Propachlor," and "Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Phenol." Copies of the draft documents are available from the Proposition 65 Implementation Office and may be requested by calling (916) 445-6900. This notice marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period. Comments should be submitted in triplicate and directed to:

the Proposition 65 Office
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 Implementation
P.O. Box 4010
1001 I Street, 19th floor
Sacramento, California 95812-4010

FAX (916) 323-8803

P65Public.Comments@oehha.ca.gov

In order to be considered, comments must be postmarked (if sent by mail) or received at OEHHA (if hand-delivered or sent by fax) by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2003.

OEHHA will organize and index the comments received and forward the information to the DART Identification Committee members prior to the meeting at which the candidate chemicals will be considered. The next meeting of the DART Identification Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2003. The meeting will be held the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building, Sierra Hearing Room, at 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California. 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 will be provided in a future public notice published in advance of the October 16 meeting.