Request for Information on Phenol, a Chemical to be Considered by DART IC
Request for Information on Phenol (CAS# 108-95-2), a Chemical to be Considered by OEHHA's Science Advisory Board's Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee
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. This list 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 and, thus, will be added to the Proposition 65 list.
OEHHA has developed a procedure for prioritizing candidate chemicals for consideration under Proposition 65 by the State's qualified experts. The process is described in "Procedure for Prioritizing Candidate Chemicals for Consideration Under Proposition 65 by the State's Qualified Experts," May 1997, (Prioritization Policy). On September 12, 1997, OEHHA released for public comment a draft priority assignment and draft data summary for phenol with respect to its potential to cause reproductive toxicity.
Phenol has now been assigned a final priority of "High". In accordance with OEHHA's Prioritization Policy, OEHHA will review the available reproductive toxicity literature and data on phenol, and prepare a summary of the information in a document referred to as a Hazard Identification Document.
The DART Identification Committee will consider OEHHA's Hazard Identification Document regarding phenol before determining whether or not to add this chemical to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity. Interested parties or members of the public wishing to provide information relevant to an assessment of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of phenol should forward such information to the address given below. The publication of this notice marks the start of a 60-day data call-in period for such information. This period ends on Tuesday, April 15, 2003. The information received during this data call-in period will be reviewed and considered by OEHHA as it develops the reproductive and developmental toxicity Hazard Identification Document on phenol.
OEHHA welcomes public participation and public input as part of these scientific assessments. If there is sufficient public interest, a public workshop or other public forum will be held to encourage scientific dialogue prior to completion of the Hazard Identification Document.
Notification of the availability of the Hazard Identification Document and of the time, date, location, and agenda of any workshop and of the meeting of the DART Identification Committee where phenol will be discussed will be provided in future notices published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and posted on OEHHA's Home Page. It is anticipated that the hazard identification document will be made available for a 60-day public comment period prior to the DART Identification Committee meeting at which phenol will be considered.
Relevant information on phenol should be sent in triplicate by mail or fax to:
Cynthia Oshita
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 Implementation
1001 I Street, 19th Floor
P.O. Box 4010
Sacramento, CA 95812-4010
Fax (916) 323-8803
Telephone (916) 445-6900
Relevant information may also be delivered in person or by courier to the above address.
In order to be considered, the relevant information must be postmarked (if sent by mail) or received at OEHHA (if hand-delivered or sent by fax) by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 15, 2003.
- Phenol