EPA Proposes Additional SACC Members

The Environmental Protection Agency has begun taking action to appoint additional members to the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). If passed, this action will increase the balance of scientific perspectives – adding experts to the committee who will bring experience in labor, public interest, animal protection, and chemical manufacturing and processing. The committee is currently tasked with providing independent advice on science and technical issues to the EPA, in order to assist in implementing the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

If added, these additional 11 committee members – which will be selected selected by the EPA using public comments it had received – will supplement the 18 members appointed in January 2017. The EPA decided it was necessary to add to the SACC membership after further considering the objectives and scope of activities of the committee. The additional members will allow the committee to be consistent with the statutory requirements.

The SACC – under TSCA – is required to include representatives from the following sectors:  science, government, labor, public health, public interest, animal protection, and industry. Other sectors – if the EPA Administrator determines to be advisable – may also be included. Further, the EPA may choose to include representatives that have specific expertise in the relationship of chemical exposures to women, children and other potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations.

Sources:

http://www.farmfutures.com/epa/epa-increases-membership-chemical-advisory-committee

https://www.epa.gov/tsca-peer-review/members-science-advisory-committee-chemicals