EPA Accepting Comments on Candidates to be ad hoc Reviewers for Draft TSCA Systematic Review Protocol
(WASHINGTON, January 13, 2022) - EPA is accepting public comments on candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with their review of the draft EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Systematic Review Protocol (protocol). This comment period follows a previous 30 day call for nominations that ended on November 17, 2021. Comments on the potential candidates will be used to assist the agency in selecting approximately six to eight ad hoc reviewers, depending on a balance of experience, to assist the SACC with their review. Biographies of these candidates are available at regulations.gov and through the SACC website.
The draft protocol, released in December 2021 for public comment, incorporates changes to address the National Academies of Science recommendations as well as comments received from the SACC and the public. The SACC review of the protocol will take place during a public meeting on April 19-21, 2022. This review will provide a transparent process to ensure that the protocol follows sound science and incorporates independent scientific advice and recommendations. Registration instructions will be announced on the SACC website in early March.
Public comments on the peer review candidates must be submitted on or before January 28 to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0414 on www.regulations.gov.
The SACC serves as a primary scientific peer review mechanism of the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and is structured to provide scientific advice, information and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the scientific basis for risk assessments, methodologies, and pollution prevention measures and approaches for chemicals regulated under TSCA.
For additional information, please see the Federal Register notice posted October 27, 2021, the docket (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0414), or contact the Designated Federal Official, Todd Peterson, Ph.D. (peterson.todd@epa.gov or 202-564-8450).