June 23, 1995

EPA-SAB-EPEC-CON-95-003

Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20460

            Subject:     Notification of a Consultation on the Selection and Use of
                        Case Studies in the Ecological Risk Assessment Guidelines

Dear Ms. Browner:

      The Ecological Processes and Effects Committee (EPEC) of the Science
Advisory Board (SAB) met on June 2, 1995, in part to conduct a consultation with staff
from the Office of Research and Development's Risk Assessment Forum on selection
and use of case studies in the ecological risk assessment guidelines that are being
developed by the Agency.  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 reviewing a draft of the ecological risk assessment guidelines in
Fiscal Year 1996.

                                   Sincerely,
Dr. Genevieve M. Matanoski, Chair                Dr. Mark A. Harwell, Chair
Executive Committee                             Ecological Processes and
                                                 Effects Committee

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