[CPEO-MEF] Report on Science Advisory Groups from MilWaste available

[Dori Digenti <ddigenti@mtholyoke.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2003

Military Waste Cleanup Program
Center for Environmental Literacy
Mt. Holyoke College

Military Waste Cleanup Program Publishes Report on Science Advisory Groups

South Hadley, Massachusetts --- The Military Waste Cleanup Program (MilWast=
e)=20
has issued a report on =93Scientific Advisory Groups at EPA, ATSDR, and NAS=
:=20
Structure, Role, and Nomination Processes,=94 authored by MilWaste consulta=
nt=20
Rachel Massey. The report investigated the National Academy of Science/Nati=
onal=20
Research Council (NAS/NRC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and =
the=20
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and found importa=
nt=20
differences among the three organizations=92 science advisory processes. Ch=
ief=20
among these is that NAS/NRC, a privately funded organization, has very limi=
ted=20
public participation in its science advisory structure and nominations=20
processes. However, NAS/NRC does receive significant project funding from=
=20
public agencies, including the Department of Defense, the EPA, and others. =
The=20
report includes two cases, one from the State of Colorado attorney general=
=92s=20
office and one from the Chemical Weapons Working Group in Kentucky, in whic=
h=20
the objectivity of specific NRC review boards was questioned. NRC has publi=
shed=20
reports that impact risk assessment and remediation decisions for thousands=
 of=20
US cleanup sites, including a review that is currently in progress on the=
=20
health implications of perchlorate.

Analysis of EPA=92s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) process revealed=20
opportunities for public input to nominations and public comment on reports=
.=20
ATSDR, like NAS/NRC, does not allow direct public participation, but has=
=20
created a progressive model, the Community-Tribal Subcommittee, albeit with=
=20
mixed results. The report offers clear instructions for finding out more ab=
out=20
the advisory board processes of each organization.

Key recommendations of the report include increased public participation in=
=20
advisory group nominations, increased transparency in science advisory grou=
p=20
processes, close adherence to the organizations=92 own policies on conflict=
s of=20
interest, and more direct community participation on science advisory board=
s,=20
especially from communities directly impacted by the boards=92 recommendati=
ons.

According to MilWaste Program director Dori Digenti, =93this is a report th=
at=20
communities around the country affected by military contamination asked us =
to=20
do, and it serves as a tool for communities to use in order to participate =
more=20
fully in cleanup decisions. It also helps everyone better understand the ro=
le=20
of science in cleanup, a role which has increased in prominence, influence,=
 and=20
especially controversy over the past several years.=94

Rachel Massey, author of the report, is a research associate at the Global=
=20
Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, and has consulte=
d to=20
numerous environmental organizations, including the Public Interest Researc=
h=20
Group, Environmental Research Foundation, and Clean Water Action, on issues=
 of=20
science and the environment. She received a 2003 =93Project Censored=94 awa=
rd for a=20
report investigating the use of pesticides as part of =93Plan Colombia,=94 =
the US-
led war on drugs program. Rachel holds an MSc in Environmental Change and=
=20
Management from Oxford and a Masters of Public Affairs from Princeton=20
University.

The Military Waste Cleanup Program supports communities and scientists in t=
heir=20
efforts to understand technical, environmental, and human health issues rel=
ated=20
to military and nuclear environmental cleanup. MilWaste accomplishes its go=
als=20
through research, education, networking, and outreach activities. The Progr=
am=20
is located at the Center for Environmental Literacy at Mt. Holyoke College,=
 a=20
liberal arts college for women located in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

The report is available in pdf format on the MilWaste website, at=20
http://www.milwaste.org/publications/SABfinalreport.pdf.

For further information, contact the Military Waste Cleanup Program at 413-=
538-
3246, milwaste@milwaste.org.



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