Peer Review of the Examination of Microcosm/Mesocosm Studies for Evaluating the Effects of Atrazine on Aquatic Plant Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a virtual public meeting August 22-24, 2023 from 10:00 AM to approximately 5:00 PM (EDT) for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) to consider and review the Examination of Microcosm/Mesocosm Studies for Evaluating the Effects of Atrazine on Aquatic Plant Communities. These studies are part of EPA’s Ecological Risk Assessment of the herbicide atrazine and are specifically used in assessing the effects to aquatic plant communities. The white paper presents EPA’s reevaluation of 11 atrazine microcosm and mesocosm (‘cosm’) studies identified by the 2012 FIFRA SAP as warranting further review. The reevaluation was submitted for peer review to the FIFRA SAP which provides EPA with independent scientific advice and recommendations on health and safety issues related to pesticides.

The Agency's white paper, draft charge questions, public comments, and additional background materials provided to the FIFRA SAP are available in the dockent at  https://www.regulations.gov (docket ID No. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0154) (see links below). EPA will include any additional materials (e.g., Transcripts and the Meeting Minutes and Final Report) in the docket. Selected documents are accessible through the links below.

Details on the August 22-24, 2023, Meeting:

• Agency White Paper
• Draft Charge Questions
• Meeting Agenda August 22-24, 2023
• FIFRA SAP Member and Ad hoc Expert Reviewer Roster
• Ad hoc Expert Reviewer Biographical Sketch
• Meeting Minutes and Final Report
• Meeting Transcript

For additional information, please see the Federal Register Notices (add links) 88 FR 17843 and 88 FR 42716 or contact the Designated Federal Official, Tamue Gibson, at gibson.tamue@epa.gov.