Final MINUTES MINUTES FROM I II I EPA SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD Drinking Water Committee Measures Consultation Public Teleconference April 2, 2008 PURPOSE: The Drinking Water Committee of the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) met on April 2, 2008 via teleconference. The purpose of this teleconference was to offer input and advice to the Agency about their draft document entitled, Drinking Water Program Health Outcome Based Performance Measures for Chemical Contaminants and Microbial Contaminants (Measures Document). There was also an opportunity for panel members to ask questions regarding the methodology and the charge questions and to provide recommendations for improving the metrics that were discussed. Attachment A is the Federal Register Notice announcing the meetings (73 FR 48: Pages 12999-13000 March 11, 2008). A meeting agenda is included as Attachment B. LOCATION: By telephone only. DATE AND TIME: April 2, 2008 from 1:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern Time. PARTICIPANTS: The following individuals participated in this meeting: SAB Committee and Board Members - Drs. Joan Rose (Chair), Mark Borchardt, John Colford, Penny Fenner-Crisp, Jeff Griffiths, Gary King, Joseph Landolph, Desmond Lawler, Christine Owen, Richard Sakaji, Gary Sayler (3 hours), David Sedlak (3 hours), Gina Solomon, Laura Steinberg. The committee roster is included as Attachment C and a set of biographical sketches is included in Attachment D. SAB Staff - Dr. Sue Shallal, Designated Federal Officers (DFO); EPA Presenters - Patricia Hall Other Participants - Other EPA staff and members of the public listened in to the discussions. A partial list of names is attached (Attachment E). MEETING SUMMARY: The meeting followed the agenda (Attachment B). A summary of the meeting follows. Convene the Meeting and Introductory Remarks - Dr. Suhair Shallal, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), opened the meeting at 1:05 PM after allowing time for panel members to dial in to the teleconference. She presented background information on the SAB panel formation process and informed the audience that the SAB operates under the rules and regulations of F AC A where all meetings, during which discussions and deliberations take place, are held in public. She explained that this was a consultation and as such the DWC will provide non-consensus advice. The recommendations of the committee members would be summarized in a letter to be transmitted to the Administrator with individual committee member comments appended. She ------- Final MINUTES also reminded the members of the panel and the audience that the background materials including the charge questions (Attachments F). the Agency's presentation (Attachment G). etc. can be found on the SAB website. Welcome - Dr. Rose then reviewed the agenda and explained the purpose of the teleconference was to address new performance measures developed by OW to link Drinking Water Program actions to public health outcomes with the SAB asked to comment on the appropriateness and adequacy of using measures based on reduced bladder cancer and cryptosporidiosis cases for chemical and microbial contaminants, respectively.. She stated that the meeting will begin with presentations from the Agency and the committee members will be able to ask clarifying questions. The committee would then begin the discussion of the charge questions. She also asked each committee member to introduce themselves and describe their background and expertise. Agency Presentation Patricia Hall of the EPA's Office of Water (OW) presented some of the background regarding the Measures document. She explained that OW had developed new performance measures to link Drinking Water Programs to public health outcomes. She described the process that they followed when developing the performance measures. She said OW considered several possible approaches and the data available to support potential measures, and they also received input from the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC). As a result, OW developed two performance measures. The measures are based on reduced bladder cancer and cryptosporidiosis cases for chemical and microbial contaminants, respectively. OW planned to estimate the annual cases that will be reduced for each measure in 2014 and include these target estimates in EPA's 2008 Strategic Plan. Panel members had the opportunity to ask clarifying questions after the presentation period. Public comments There were no public commenters for this consultation. Committee Deliberation In brief, Dr. Rose read each charge questions and asked if any committee members had comments or questions. The 4 questions dealt with the clarity and completeness of the information presented in the Measures document; the sources of data that are used; the advantages of using annual and/or cumulative measures; and future measures that should be developed. ------- Final MINUTES DWC members expressed concern that bladder cancer reduction and prevention of waterborne cryptosporidiosis are indirect measures and linkages were difficult to verify. Another concern was that there are a number of uncertainties that need to be articulated specifically in more detail and more clearly so that the program is transparent (including dose-response data and occurrence data bases of THHMs and Cryptosporidium oocysts). DWC agreed that the use of both the annual and cumulative measures was appropriate; cumulative measures increase the uncertainties seen in an annual measure. In addition, a cumulative measure is more difficult for the general public to understand. The DWC also recommended that newer and better metrics should be developed so that public health benefits can be more directly measured in the future. This may include research into how data from the cancer registries or improved detection/reporting of endemic waterborne disease could be measured. Dr. Rose reminded panel members that their written comments should be sent to Dr. Shallal by April 7, 2008. Dr. Shallal then asked panel member to include her as a recipient on any correspondence with other panel members. The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:45 PM. Respectfully Submitted: Dr. Suhair Shallal Designated Federal Officer, EPA SAB DWC Measures Consultation I certify that these minutes are accurate to the best of my knowledge: Dr. Joan Rose Chair, EPA SAB DWC Measures Consultation ------- Final MINUTES All attachments are available in hardcopy upon request Attachment A Attachment B Attachment C Attachment D Attachment E Attachment F Attachment G Federal Register notice (73 FR 48:12999-13000 March 11, 2008) Meeting agenda- April 2, 2008 Consultative Panel roster Biographical sketches List of participants Charge Questions powerpoint presentation by Patricia Hall ------- |