United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-06-12 monographic deposited born digital 51 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-536 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536 P0b002ee1803826ce f:d01536 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536 GAO-01-536 Environmental law Environmental monitoring Public health legislation Public health research Other Written Product A00974

This report reviews the policies and procedures of the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board to ensure that (1)its peer review panelists are independent and the panels are properly balanced and (2) the public is sufficiently informed about the points of view represented on the panels. GAO found that the policies and procedures used by the staff office to ensure the independence of the Board's peer reviewers and the balancing of viewpoints have limitations that reduce their effectiveness. The staff office has not systematically requested certain information that is pertinent to assessing the independence and overall balance of viewpoints represented on the panel--such as previous public positions the panelists have taken on the matter being reviewed--until the first meeting, when the panelists have already been selected. Furthermore, conflicts of interest may not be identified and mitigated in a timely manner. GAO also found that the staff office's policies and procedures for providing the public with information on the backgrounds of the Board's peer review panelists do not adequately inform the public about the points of view represented on the panels. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536.pdf GAO-01-536 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-536 Other Written Product GAO-01-536; EPA's Science Advisory Board Panels: Improved Policies and Procedures Needed to Ensure Independence and Balance; Environmental law Environmental monitoring Public health legislation Public health research Title 18 Section 208 18 U.S.C. 208 Title 5 Part 2640.103 5 CFR Part 2640.103 Title 5 Part 2634 5 CFR Part 2634