UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CHARTER
FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE, AND RODENTICIDE ACT
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL

Committee's Official Designation (Title):

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel

Authority:

This charter renews the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP) in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.2. FIFRA SAP is in the public interest and supports EPA in performing its duties and responsibilities. The original Panel was created on November 28, l975, pursuant to Section 25(d) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended by Public Law 94-140, Public Law 95-396, and Public Law 96-539. In accordance with this statute, the Panel terminated on September 30, l981. It was reestablished by the Administrator pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and Section 21(b) of FIFRA on April 25, l983, and then reauthorized as a statutory committee by amendment to the FIFRA dated December 2, l983 (Public Law 98-201). Under FIFRA (Public Law 98-201), the statutory Panel terminated on September 30, l987. It was administratively reestablished on October 1, l987 by the Administrator pursuant to FACA until reauthorized as a statutory Panel by amendment to the FIFRA, dated October 25, l988 (Public Law 100-532). Section 104 of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170) establishes a Science Review Board consisting of sixty scientists who shall be available to the Scientific Advisory Panel on an ad hoc basis to assist in reviews conducted by the Panel.

Objectives and Scope of Activities:

FIFRA SAP will provide comments, evaluations, and recommendations on pesticides and pesticide-related issues as to the impact on health and the environment of regulatory actions.
The major objectives are to provide comments, evaluations, and recommendations on:

The impact on health and the environment of matters arising under Sections 6(b), 6(c) and 25(a) of FIFRA.
Analyses, reports and operating guidelines to improve the effectiveness and quality of scientific analyses made by EPA.
Guidelines to improve the effectiveness and quality of scientific testing and of data submitted to EPA.
Methods to ensure that pesticides do not cause “unreasonable adverse effects on the environment,” as defined in Section 2 (bb) of FIFRA.
Major scientific studies (whether conducted by EPA or other parties) supporting actions under Sections 6(b), 6(c), and 25(a) of FIFRA.
Major pesticide and pesticide-related scientific studies and issues in the form of a peer review.

Description of Committees Duties:

The duties of FIFRA SAP are solely advisory in nature.

Official(s) to Whom the Committee Reports:

The Committee will report to the EPA Administrator through EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS).

Agency Responsible for Providing the Necessary Support:

EPA will be responsible for financial and administrative support. Within EPA, this support will be provided by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Person Years:

The estimated annual operating cost of FIFRA SAP is $1,930,000 which includes 7.0 person-years of support.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

The Committee expects to meet approximately eight (8) times a year. Meetings may occur approximately once every one and a half (1½) months or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). EPA may pay travel and per diem expenses when determined necessary and appropriate. A full-time or permanent part-time employee of EPA will be appointed as the (DFO). The DFO or a designee will be present at all meetings and each meeting will be conducted in accordance with an agenda approved in advance by the DFO. The DFO is authorized to adjourn any meeting when he or she determines it is in the public interest to do so.
As required by FACA, FIFRA SAP will hold open meetings unless the EPA Administrator determines that a meeting or a portion of a meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with subsection c of Section 552(b) of Title 5, United States Code. Interested persons may attend meetings, appear before the committee as time permits, and file comments with the FIFRA SAP.

Duration and Termination:

This charter will be in effect for two years from the date it is filed with Congress. After this two-year period, the charter may be renewed as authorized in accordance with Section 14 of FACA.

Member Composition:

As required by FIFRA, the FIFRA SAP will be composed of seven members, including the Chairperson, and members will be selected from nominees provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Members will serve as Special Government Employees (SGE) or Regular Government Employees (RGE). In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates on the basis of their professional qualifications to assess the effects of pesticides on health and the environment. To the extent feasible, the panel membership will include representation of the following disciplines: toxicology, pathology, environmental biology, and related sciences (e.g., pharmacology, biotechnology, bio-chemistry, bio-statistics).

Subgroups:

EPA, or FIFRA SAP with EPA’s approval, may form FIFRA SAP subcommittees or workgroups for any purpose consistent with this charter. Such subcommittees or workgroups may not work independently of the chartered committee and must report their recommendations and advice to the FIFRA SAP for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered committee nor can they report directly to the Agency.

October 2, 2008
Agency Approval Date

October 24, 2008
Date Filed with Congress