Posted on February 03, 2023 by Lynn L. BergesonBy Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
On January 31, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invited nominations of scientific experts from a diverse range of disciplines to be considered for appointment to the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). 88 Fed. Reg. 6255. The SAB is a chartered Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) that provides independent scientific and technical peer review, consultation, advice, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the scientific bases for EPA’s actions and programs. The EPA Administrator appoints members for a two- or three-year term, and the members serve as Special Government Employees who provide independent expert advice to EPA. Nominations are due March 2, 2023.
According to the notice, members selected to the chartered SAB may also be asked to participate on the following standing committees of the SAB:
- The Agricultural Science Committee, which provides advice on matters that have been determined to have a significant direct impact on farming and agriculture-related industries;
- The Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee (CACC), which provides advice on EPA guidance documents, methodologies, and assessments that evaluate human health effects resulting from exposure to environmental hazards, as well as selected toxicological reviews of environmental chemicals available on EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS);
- The Climate Science Committee, which provides advice on climate change science and the effects of climate change;
- The Drinking Water Committee, which provides advice on the scientific and technical aspects of EPA’s national drinking water program;
- The Economic Analysis Committee, which provides advice on the economic analysis of EPA programs;
- The Environmental Justice Science Committee, which provides advice on the scientific and technical aspects of environmental justice to improve the environment and/or public health in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental health hazards and risks; and
- The Radiation Advisory Committee, which provides advice on radiation protection, radiation science, and radiation risk assessment.
The selection criteria for the SAB and the SAB committees include:
- Demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in relevant fields;
- Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively on committees;
- Background and experiences that would help members contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographical, social, cultural, educational backgrounds, professional affiliations; and other considerations; and
- For the committee as a whole, the collective breadth and depth of scientific expertise are considered.
Posted on March 02, 2022 by Lynn L. Bergeson
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 28, 2022, the implementation of a new process by which the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will assess the science that informs decisions regarding EPA proposed rules. EPA states that the new process “will restore opportunities for peer review and strengthen the independence of” SAB. According to EPA, the new Science Supporting EPA Decisions process strengthens peer review at EPA by:
- Restoring SAB’s role by having structured opportunities to conduct peer review of critical scientific and technical actions developed by EPA;
- Strengthening the independence of SAB’s role by scoping and identifying the peer review need for EPA decisions;
- Ensuring EPA considers and develops peer reviewed science early in its rule-making development process; and
- Restoring public faith in EPA by ensuring the use of peer reviewed science to inform decision making.
The process is effective immediately. EPA posted a February 28, 2022, memorandum from Associate Administrator for Policy Victoria Arroyo, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development Christopher Frey, and Director of the SAB Staff Office Thomas Brennan that outlines the new process. EPA notes that the memorandum “was issued at the direction of the Administrator and supersedes prior procedures.”
Posted on August 31, 2017 by Lynn L. BergesonBy Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
On September 6, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT), the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittees on Environment and on Oversight will hold a joint hearing on “Examining the Scientific and Operational Integrity of EPA’s IRIS Program.” The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:
- Dr. Kenneth Mundt, Principal, Ramboll Environ;
- Dr. James Bus, Senior Managing Scientist, Exponent; and
- Dr. Thomas Burke, former Deputy Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) and EPA’s Science Advisor under former President Obama; Johns Hopkins University.
President Trump’s proposed budget request for fiscal year 2018 would have eliminated EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program, although the IRIS Program is included in the final budget request. The EPA Science Advisory Board’s (SAB) August 29-30, 2017, meeting included an update from ORD’s National Center for Environmental Assessment on the IRIS Program. According to the presentation, IRIS is working to increase transparency and full implementation of systematic review; modernize the IRIS Program; modularize product lines; and enhance accessibility. Other IRIS improvements include implementing “next generation IRIS” and improved management practices. During the meeting, the SAB agreed to send a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in support of the IRIS Program.
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