Notice of Availability of Draft Reference Dose Document for Methylmercury

Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and publish, and from time to time revise, criteria for water to accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge. EPA is revising its reference dose in support of a revised ambient water quality criterion for methylmercury. Today, EPA is notifying the public of the availability of the draft reference dose document and is also announcing that the draft document is ready for external scientific peer review. EPA is notifying the public about the availability of this draft document and its peer review in accordance with the Agency's new process for developing or revising criteria (63 FR 68354, December 10, 1998). As indicated in the December 10, 1998 Federal Register document, the Agency believes it is important to provide the public with an opportunity to submit scientific information on draft criteria. EPA is soliciting views from the public on issues of science pertaining to the information used in deriving the draft reference dose.