EPA Accepting Comments on Candidates to Be Ad Hoc Reviewers for Draft TSCA Systematic Review Protocol

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 13, 2022, that it is accepting public comments on candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with its review of the Draft Systematic Review Protocol Supporting TSCA Risk Evaluations for Chemical Substances. This comment period follows a previous 30-day call for nominations that ended on November 17, 2021. EPA will use comments on the potential candidates to assist it in selecting approximately six to eight ad hoc reviewers, depending on a balance of experience, to assist SACC with its review. Biographies of the candidates are available at regulations.gov. Comments are due January 28, 2022, to Docket ID EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0414.
 
As reported in our December 21, 2021, memorandum, the draft protocol incorporates changes to address recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as comments received from SACC and the public. The SACC review of the protocol will take place during a public meeting April 19-21, 2022. According to EPA, this review “will provide a transparent process to ensure that the protocol follows sound science and incorporates independent scientific advice and recommendations.” EPA will announce registration instructions on the SACC website in early March.