Meetings: Ranch Hand Advisory Committee,

[Federal Register: September 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 182)]

[Notices]

[Page 50250-50251]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21se98-74]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

Advisory Committee on Special Studies Relating to the Possible Long-Term Health Effects of Phenoxy Herbicides and Contaminants (Ranch Hand Advisory Committee); Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Department of Health and Human

[[Page 50251]]

Services. The meeting will be open to the public.

Name of Committee: Advisory Committee on Special Studies Relating to the Possible Long-Term Health Effects of Phenoxy Herbicides and Contaminants (Ranch Hand Advisory Committee).

General Function of the Committee: To advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health concerning its oversight of the conduct of the Ranch Hand Study by the Air Force and provide scientific oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Army Chemical Corps Vietnam Veterans Health Study, and other studies in which the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary for Health believes involvement by the Committee is desirable.

Date and Time: The meeting will be held on October 26, 1998, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and October 27, 1998, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Riverwalk, 217 North St. Marys St., Tarantella Room, rm. 4, San Antonio, TX.

Contact Person: Ronald F. Coene, National Center for Toxicological Research (HFT-10), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-6696, or FDA Advisory Committee Information Line, 1-800-741-8138 (301-443-0572 in the Washington, DC area), code 12560. Please call the Information Line for up-to-date information on this meeting.

Agenda: On October 26, 1998, the VA will present an overview and data collection issues from the pilot study of the Army Chemical Corps Vietnam Veterans Health Study, and discuss considerations for the main health study. On October 27, 1998, the Air Force Health Study presentations will: (1) Provide Cycle 5 Health Exam information, summary, status, and proposed schedule for committee review; (2) report on the latest findings, as well as the status of special studies on half-life, adipose tissue analysis, glucose clamp, and multiple analyte; (3) present proposed measurements for the Cycle 6 Health Exam; (4) report the status of scanning and records maintenance; (5) present a summary of the biological archive; (6) discuss the release of the 1984 preliminary birth defects report; and (7) present the status of public release data.

Procedure: Interested persons may present data, information, or views, orally or in writing, on issues pending before the committee. Written submissions may be made to the contact person by October 16, 1998. On October 26, 1998, oral presentations from the public will be scheduled between approximately 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Time allotted for each presentation may be limited. Those desiring to make formal oral presentations should notify the contact person before October 16, 1998, and submit a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or arguments they wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed participants, and an indication of the approximate time requested to make their presentation.

The Commissioner approves the scheduling of meetings at locations outside of the Washington, DC, area on the basis of the criteria of 21 CFR 14.22 of FDA's regulations relating to public advisory committees.

Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2).

Dated: September 11, 1998. Sharon Smith Holston, Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

[FR Doc. 98-25112Filed9-18-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160-01-F