Science Advisory Board

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) is a United States group of independent scientists selected by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The board provides advice to the agency on the scientific and technical aspects of environmental problems and issues. Upon a request by the Administrator, the board reviews the scientific aspects of any reports or other written products prepared by the agency.{{cite web |title=About the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and the SAB Staff Office |url=https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-science-advisory-board-sab-and-sab-staff-office |date=2021-08-18 |publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |location=Washington, D.C.}} Congress established the board in the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978.United States. Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978. {{USPL|95|477}} Approved October 18, 1978.

Under Administrator Lee M. Thomas, the board conducted risk prioritization studies. His successor, William K. Reilly, commissioned the board to do a “reducing risk report” to inform what significant risk areas the EPA wasn’t addressing adequately.EPA Alumni Association. December 21, 2012. Former Deputy Administrator Hank Habicht talks about management at EPA. [http://www.epaalumni.org/history/video/interview.cfm?id=17 Video], [https://www.epaalumni.org/userdata/pdf/60772C611F145A4D.pdf#page=8 Transcript] (see p8).

The activities of the SAB are subject to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The SAB publishes a list of ongoing and completed advisory activities.{{Cite web |title=Advisory Activities |url=https://sab.epa.gov/ords/sab/f?p=100:17:17486457295695:::17:: |website=Science Advisory Board |date=2021 |publisher=EPA}} Announcements about new SAB activities, formation of review panels and committees, and public meetings are published in the Federal Register.{{cite web |title=Federal Register Notices |url=https://sab.epa.gov/ords/sab/f?p=100:10:5920252171436:::10:: |date=2021-12-07 |website=Science Advisory Board |publisher=EPA}}