I JJ--U t,          UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

        ""                        WASHINGTON. D C 20460
                                                              SAB-EC-86-004
                                      NOV1"
                                                                          c • ' ic i o«
                                                                      TML A D V ! % ! ir> T h
      The Honorable  Bave  Durenberger
      U.  S*  Senate
      Washington, D. C.   20510

      Dear Senator Durenberger:

           The Executive  Committee of  the Environmental Protection Agency's
      Science Advisory Board  (SAB) has had the  opportunity  to  review  the
      amendments to  the Safe  Drinking  Water Act enacted by  the House  of
      Representatives and the Senate as they pertain  to the additional scientific
      review responsibilities envisioned for the SAB.  The  Executive  Committee
      Is  pleased that both houses  ©f the Congress have confidence In  the  Board
      t©  provide for its  expanded  participation In the development of drinking
      water regulations and standards.

           SAB will  strive to provide  its technical evaluation prior  to proposal
      of  maximum contaminant  level (MCL) goals  and national primary drinking
      water regulations.   Our preference is to  review EPA's scientific documents
      as  early as  possible In the  regulation development  process because  of the
      advantages of  greater flexibility in addressing and resolving technical
      issues before  the Agency has formally proposed  a regulatory decision.

           In behalf of the Executive  Committee I would like to  convey to you
      two of the operating principles  that would govern the Board's implementation
      of  these amendments.  These  Include:

           o  The  EPA has traditionally asked the SAB to  provide its  advice on
              the  scientific adequacy  of documents used to  assess human health
              or environmental risk.   The SAB concurs with  this  role. It prefers
              to focus on Issues pertaining to scientific assessment  rather
              than comment on rulemaking, recognizing that  the latter Involves
              the  weighing of nany other factors besides  science.  In keeping
              with this approach,  the  SAB does  not plan to  evaluate EPA's
              policy goals when It reviews the technical  basis of maximum
              contaminant levels     primary drinking water regulations.

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     o  In addition to reviewing the scientific basis of risk assessments
        for individual pollutants, the Board plans to examine general
        scientific criteria used by the Agency in developing drinking  water
        goals mud standards, and the research needed to support this
        regulatory activity.

     The Board plans to carry out its scientific reviews in a timely manner,
and It IB confident that Its participation in the process for developing
drinking water goals and standards will not delay EPA In reaching decisions
In an expeditious manner.

     The Science Advisory Board hopes that its Independent scientific
reviews will strengthen EPA's ability to further protect the public health
from contaminants in drinking water and Improve the Agency's capability and
credibility In scientific assessment.

                                Sincerely,
                                Norton Nelson, Chairman
                                Executive Committee
                                Science Advisory Board
cc:   Lee  M.  Thomas
      A, James Barnes

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