EPA Announces Experts Selected for the Letter Peer Review of White Paper for Asbestos Part 2 Risk Evaluation under TSCA

Released October 25, 2023

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published the list of seven scientific experts selected to review the “2023 White Paper on the Quantitative Human Health Approach to be Applied in the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2” under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Biographies of these experts are available on regulations.gov and through the Agency’s TSCA Scientific Peer Review Committees website.

As stated in EPA’s Peer Review Handbook, “a letter review takes place when EPA seeks individual written peer review comments from independent experts, typically in the form of correspondence to EPA from the peer reviewer….Each reviewer evaluates the draft technical work product independently without consultation with other reviewers. No collaborative or consensus peer review report is developed." EPA is using a letter review to obtain comments on the White Paper for the Asbestos Part 2 Risk Evaluation.

In the June 22, 2023, Federal Register (88 FR 40819), EPA called for nominations of scientific and technical experts to review the White Paper on the Asbestos Part 2 Risk Evaluation. EPA identified 26 candidates as prospective peer reviewers. These candidates were identified from public and EPA staff nominations. Of the 26 candidates, five individuals did not respond to EPA’s invitation and 13 individuals did not satisfy the selection criteria (including availability) noted in the Federal Register. 

In September 2023, EPA requested public comments on a list of eight candidates, which included all interested and available nominees under consideration after EPA's evaluation based on the selection criteria in the Federal Register Notice (88 FR 40819). During the public comment period, one of the eight candidates withdrew from further consideration resulting in seven candidates.

The final selection of the reviewers depended upon the scientific expertise needed to address the letter peer review charge and obtaining a breadth and balance of different scientific viewpoints across the individual reviewers. EPA’s goal is to seek and obtain a balance of professional and scientific perspectives based on academic, clinical, industrial, and consulting (e.g., expert testimony) experiences. After further considering the expertise, EPA Form 3110-48 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Form), and public comments on the remaining candidates, EPA selected all seven experts to participate in the letter peer review of the White Paper on the Asbestos Part 2 Risk Evaluation. 

For more information, please contact, Tamue L. Gibson, MS, Peer Review Leader, (gibson.tamue@epa.gov).