Peer Review Begins on Perchlorate Health Effects Model

In a Federal Register notice this week, EPA announced the final list of peer reviewers for EPA’s draft Biologically Based Dose-Response (BBDR) Model for perchlorate in drinking water and an accompanying draft model report.  The notice also includes details about a January meeting for the reviewers that will be open to outside observers and public comment.   The draft model report is entitled “Biologically Based Dose-Response Models for the Effect of Perchlorate on Thyroid Hormones in the Infant, Breast Feeding Mother, Pregnant Mother, and Fetus: Model Development, Revision, and Preliminary Dose-Response Analyses.”  The peer review charge will guide the peer review experts by identifying the key scientific issues associated with the review of the model and report.
The public peer review meeting will be held from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., eastern time, on January 10; and from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., eastern time, on January 11. The public peer review meeting will be held at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport, located at 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia. To attend the peer review meeting as an observer, either in-person or via teleconference, register no later than January 3, 2017. You may register by sending an email to perchlorate@versar.com (Subject line: Perchlorate Peer Review Registration; and include your name, title, affiliation, full address, email and phone number). Other registration options are listed in the Federal Register notice.  Please indicate which day(s) you plan to attend the meeting and whether you plan to attend via teleconference or in-person. Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The phone number for the teleconference line will be provided to registered observers prior to the meeting.
EPA announced the release of the draft BBDR model for perchlorate in drinking water and accompanying draft model report for purposes of public comment (scientific views) and peer review on September 30, 2016, in the Federal Register (81 FR 67350). The original 45-day public comment period was extended until November 25, 2016. EPA will consider peer reviewer and public comments when finalizing the BBDR model and model report. The draft model and draft model report and public comments submitted during the public comment period may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0438). The Agency will seek peer review of a second report that evaluates methods to apply the final BBDR model to develop a maximum contaminant level goal for perchlorate in drinking water in a future Federal Register notice.