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Pesticide News Story: EPA Releases Preliminary Risk Assessment for Pentachlorophenol
As part of the six-phase public participation process, EPA has published in the Federal Register a notice announcing the availability of the preliminary risk assessment (PRA) for pentachlorophenol ("penta"). This assessment does not include the exposure and risks posed by hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and dioxins, which are contaminants of penta. PRA chapters for both will be released in early 2005.
The preliminary assessment focuses specifically on potential risks to workers as well as potential ecological and environmental risks from their uses. The assessment is a cooperative reevaluation between EPA and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency under NAFTA. As part of the public participation process, the Federal Register notice will start the 60-day public comment period for the PRA. The PRA can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/. The Federal Register notice, published on November 30, 2004, can be found at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPAFR-CONTENTS/2004/November/Day-30/contents.htm.