SeptS, 1995

EPA-SAB-DWC-CON-95-005

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

            Subject:     Notification of a Consultation on EPA-ILSI Cooperative
                        Projects in Risk Assessment
Dear Ms. Browner:

      The Drinking Water Committee (DWC) of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) met
on August 16-18, 1995, in part to conduct a consultation with staff from the Office of
Water (OW) on various projects conducted under a cooperative agreement between
OW and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). The focus of these projects is
to address scientific questions underlying risk assessment issues related to water
quality.  During the meeting, the Committee received presentations from both EPA staff
and Staff from the ILSI Risk Science Insititute.

      The SAB has developed the consultation as a mechanism to advise the Agency
on technical issues that should be considered in the development of regulations,
guidelines, or technical guidance 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, individual members of the panel may provide comments, or the Committee
may provide more guidance at a later date in a Commentary or through a formal review.
We look forward to further interactions on these issues in the future.

                                    Sincerely,
Dr. Genevieve M. Matanoski, Chair                 Dr. Verne Ray, Chair
Executive Committee                             Drinking Water Committee

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