EPA Science Advisory Board looks to WEST for biosolids expertise
In December 2021, Dr. Ian Pepper, director of WEST Center, was invited to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Biosolids Panel. The committee was selected after a national search for specialists in the field, and panel input will help to ensure that agency decisions are based on the best and most current science. As stated in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, independent panels of experts provide invaluable service and “are a beneficial means of furnishing expert advice, ideas, and diverse opinions to the Federal Government” [1].
On average, 921 advisory committees consisting of more than 74,525 members advise the President and the Executive Branch agencies on a variety of topics. As of February 2021, the EPA managed 21 committees and 14 subcommittees, and in 2020, it held 45 committee meetings including approximately 619 scientists, public health official, industry representatives, academics, citizens, Tribal groups, and stakeholders [2].
With respect to the formation of the Biosolids Panel, the EPA states the following:
Biosolids, or treated sewage sludge, are produced from wastewater treatment processes and can be beneficially used or disposed. Section 405(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to review sewage sludge regulations to identify any additional pollutants that may occur in biosolids and to set regulations for pollutants identified in biosolids if sufficient scientific evidence shows they may harm human health or the environment.
EPA's goal is to modernize, standardize, and streamline the risk assessment process to efficiently and thoroughly assess risk to chemical pollutants found in biosolids. The EPA’s Office of Water (OW) has developed a draft Biosolids Chemical Risk Assessment and Biosolids Screening Tool (BST) with an accompanying User Guide to identify pollutants, pathways, and receptors of greatest interest and inform decisions regarding the need for refined risk assessment of land-applied biosolids. EPA has requested SAB review.
Panel members, including Dr. Pepper, will provide scientific data, analyses, and interpretations as they conduct a peer review and provide independent advice to the Administrator regarding 1) the overall risk assessment approach, and 2) scientific credibility and usability of the Biosolids Screening Tool.
For more information, contact Dr. Ian Pepper at ipepper@email.arizona.edu.
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