July 9, 1998

EPA-SAB-DWC-CON-98-004

Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460

             Subject:      Notification of a Consultation on Alternative Test Systems for the
                          Evaluation of Disinfection By-product Mixtures

Dear Ms. Browner:

       The Drinking Water Committee (DWC) of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) met on
June 18, 1998, in part to conduct a consultation with staff from the Office of Water (OW) on the
Agency's thoughts and early efforts to develop alternative approaches for testing drinking water
disinfection byproduct mixtures for toxicity.  The SAB has developed the consultation as a
mechanism to provide the early reflections of selected members and consultants to the Agency
on technical issues that should be considered in the development of regulations, guidelines,
technical guidance, research, or assessment methods before the Agency has taken a position. A
consultation is conducted under the normal requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act, which include advance notice of the public meeting in the Federal Register.

       As is our customary practice, there will be no formal report from the SAB as a result of
this consultation, nor do we expect any formal response from the Agency. However, the
Committee looks forward to the opportunity of conducting a formal review of the proposed
approach for toxicity testing in the future.

                                        Sincerely,
                                              /signed/
                                        Dr. Joan Daisey, Chair
                                        Science Advisory Board
                                        Dr. Richard J. Bull, Chair
                                        Drinking Water Committee
                                        Science Advisory Board

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