Organizational Statement for EPA-sponsored Public Meetings to Discuss Exposure Modeling

10/20/2006

Overall Vision

Since 2002, EPA has been holding public meetings for the purpose of discussing and exchanging information regarding technical model-related pesticide exposure issues in the context of FIFRA and FQPA

Mission Statement

The mission of these meetings is as follows:

Improve the quality of the science of estimating environmental exposure through the exchange of technical information in specific areas as defined by the Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED) of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).
Provide a forum for cooperative exchange of facts and technical information on technical issues related to pesticide exposure modeling between EFED and key stakeholders with similar technical expertise.
Focus on aquatic exposure issues in the near- to mid-term.

NOTE - EPA will not discuss issues of EPA policy at these meetings. Should such issues arise, they will be identified by the EFED management representative and forwarded to appropriate Agency personnel for resolution. Further, the purpose of the meetings is not to achieve consensus on the issues discussed but rather to allow participants to provide input individually.

Organization

The meetings are facilitated by EFED (a designated co-chair of the Water Quality Tech Team). The facilitator will be responsible for posting Federal Register notices for upcoming meetings and on an EPA-sponsored list server, drafting the agenda, and for organizing the meetings. Stakeholder input will be sought on the agenda, which will focus on technical areas identified by EFED. The final meeting agenda will be approved by the meeting facilitator and should reflect relevant stakeholder input. An EFED management representative (Branch Chief level or above, or an alternate designated by the Director of EFED) will attend all public meetings to ensure that the meetings are limited to information exchange rather than policy development

Meeting Administration

Public meetings will be held approximately triannually, or at the call of the meeting facilitator.
All meetings will be public with announcements of date, time, and venue made by OPP/EFED in advance (at least 30 days) in the Federal Register.
The Federal Register notice will include a draft meeting agenda developed by OPP/EFED. Comments will be solicited on the meeting agenda, as well as though an EPA-sponsored public list server, and the final agenda will reflect relevant public input.
Space will be adequate to accommodate a reasonable number of people (up to 60 participants). The Federal Register notice will provide information regarding how to register for the meeting, and how to request special accommodation, if needed.
EPA will provide a list server communications structure to share the agenda, minutes, and relevant background documents and to facilitate participation in the meeting.
Minutes will be written for all meetings and will be made publicly available via the OPP web site.
The meetings will be examined periodically and will be held until the EFED Division Director determines the meetings are no longer needed.

Public Meeting Attendance

All meetings will be announced in advance in the Federal Register and will be open to the public. It is anticipated that core participants will be scientists with balanced representation from stakeholders, including:

Anticipated Public Meeting Attendance
EFED-OPP/EPA	ORD/EPA
Office of Water/EPA	Regional Offices/ EPA	State Agencies
US Geologic Survey/DOI	ARS/USDA	Industry
NRCS/USDA	NGOS	AWWA
SFIREG	Academics	Consultants